JPH0798068B2 - Operation mode setting circuit for stimulator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operation mode setting device for a stimulator for activating the paralyzed part of a motor paralyzed patient.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention relates to an operation mode setting device for a stimulator for activating the paralyzed part of a motor paralyzed patient, and detects a remaining functional motion of the paralyzed patient and digitizes a control signal into a functional electrical stimulation computer. To this control signal,
The functional electrical stimulation computer is provided with a stimulator for outputting stimulation data stored in a storage means and stimulating a plurality of electrodes embedded in a paralyzed patient to activate a paralysis function, and at least one detection is performed. By using the control signals obtained from the means, the operation modes of a plurality of biological functions are set, and a large number of operation modes are set by the detecting means of a small number of biological functions.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in order to recover the paralyzed limbs of a patient with severe paralysis of the extremities, functional displacements of electromyogram, EEG, jaw, shoulder, neck, etc. , The signals from the detection means (sensors) attached to the above-mentioned parts are used for the functional electrical stimulat
ion: hereinafter referred to as FES) A computer is used to apply an electrical stimulus programmed by the above-mentioned FES computer to an electrode embedded near a nerve or muscle, and the patient is caused by muscle contraction caused thereby. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-160455 discloses a stimulator capable of performing the intended limb movement. Such an FES computer-based stimulator can exercise not only the limbs but also the respiratory muscles, trunk muscles, urogenital organs, and other motor functions, and in particular, muscle atrophy and muscle shortening caused by motor paralysis caused by stroke or spinal cord injury , The therapeutic effects of muscle and joint contracture, bone atrophy, muscle spasticity and circulatory disorders are remarkable. Various types of such stimulators have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-217174 discloses a stimulator (14) as shown in FIG.
In Fig. 3, (1a) to (1n) are the residual voice, joint, muscle displacement, respiration, and bioelectric potential (electroencephalogram, EMG,
Biological action potential), and other detection means for detecting various biological signals obtained from the living body. These detection means (1a) to
The detection signal from (1n) is supplied to the FES computer (3) as a control signal obtained by digitizing the detection signal by the analog-digital conversion circuit which constitutes the signal processing device (2). The FES computer (3) stores the stimulus data for each control signal in the storage means (4) in the computer, recognizes various control signals input by the signal processing device (2), and stores the storage means ( Select the stimulus data stored in 4). The stimulation data stored in the storage means (4) is created by a large-sized stimulation pattern data generation computer (6) for each patient. In other words, the ROM writer (7) writes the stimulus data in the ROM, and the FES computer (3)
It is designed to be inserted into the storage means (4). Above
The stimulating pulse train is created based on the stimulating data selected by the FES computer (3) and the plurality of electrodes (5) embedded in the living body are stimulated so that the paralyzed portion is activated.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-described conventional stimulator, the voice detection means (1
a), joint / muscle displacement detection means (1b), respiration detection means (1
c) ... A large number of biopotential detecting means (1n) and the like are attached to the operable part of the patient to obtain a control signal for holding the paralyzed part of the patient, for example, the cup by hand. Thus, the detection means for outputting a plurality of control signals in order to set the various biological function operation modes is required. However, in reality, the number of remaining functions of the patient is at most two to three, and the electric resistance change caused by the expansion and contraction of the carbon fiber attached to the shoulder is taken out as in the conventional case, and only this on / off control signal is extracted. When the stimulation pattern data is selected from the storage means by using, one operation mode is selected for one control signal, for example, the operation of holding the cup with the hand because only the operation of grasping the hand can be selected, and the cup is opened with the hand. There is a drawback that many detecting means must be added to the patient in order to perform the releasing motion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and an object thereof is to obtain an operation mode setting device for a stimulator capable of setting many operation modes with a small number of biological function detecting means.

[Means for solving problems]

As shown in FIG. 1, the stimulator operation mode setting device (15) of the present invention detects the remaining functional motion of the paralyzed patient (9) and digitizes the control signal to the functional electrical stimulation computer (3). By supplying the control signal, the stimulation data stored in the storage means (4) in the functional electrical stimulation computer (3) is output to stimulate the plurality of electrodes embedded in the paralyzed patient (9). The stimulator for activating the paralysis function is provided, and the operation mode of a plurality of biological functions is set by using the control signal obtained from at least one detecting means (1b).

[Action]

The operation mode setting circuit for a stimulator of the present invention can perform a plurality of biological function operations based on a control signal obtained from one detection means.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the stimulator operation mode setting circuit of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 of the present example, the same parts as those in FIG. (15) shows the operation mode setting circuit for the stimulator of this example as a whole, and the detection signal detected by the microphone or sensor such as the voice detection means (1a), joint, muscle displacement detection means (1b) is the first Is supplied to a plurality of input terminals of the multiplexer (6), the multiplexer (6) selects the output of a predetermined detection means (1a) or (1b), and the output detection signal constitutes the signal processing means (2). Amplifier circuit (2a) and analog-digital conversion circuit (A /
D) is supplied to (2b). The detection signal digitized by the A / D (2b) serves as a control signal and is supplied to the FES computer (3), the counter (timer) (7), and the demultiplexer controller (13). The FES computer (3) has a storage means (4) and holds a flag indicating the operation mode when setting the operation program area (4a), the stimulation data (4b), and the operation mode of the stimulator described later. It has a flag area (4c) to enable.

FES computer (3) in operation program area (4a)
Is stored in the stimulation data area (4b). This stimulus data is obtained by, for example, measuring the threshold values of nerves and muscles or maximum stimulation intensity for electrical stimulation and combining the movements of individual muscles by electrical stimulation when a hand gripping operation is performed. Stimulation data of a plurality of channels is output from the FES computer (3) by making a stimulation pattern of a plurality of channels by preliminarily checking the hand reinforcement motion and designating an address based on a control signal. ON / OFF of the control signal repeatedly output from the joint / muscle detecting means (1b)
The OFF signal is measured for a predetermined time, and the operation mode is changed according to the pulse width or the number of pulses. That is, the operation mode is set to change the operation of holding the cup with the hand (9a), the operation of holding the cup, the operation of releasing the cup from the hand, and the like. For this reason, for example, if only the neck swings up and down among the remaining functions of the paralyzed patient (9), the joint and muscle detection means (1b) when swinging the neck up and down once
The counter (7) counts the “on” or “off” period of the control signal (1b ₁ ) obtained in step ( ₁ ) for a predetermined period, and the result is one operation mode predetermined by the number of pulses and the pulse width. , A flag for selecting the address of the operation mode for holding the cup with the hand (9a) is stored in the flag area (4c) of the storage means (4) via the FES computer (3). This flag specifies the address of the stimulus pulse in the operation mode of gripping the cup with the hand, and the stimulus data is sent from the signal output means (8) having the D / A (8a) and the isolator (8b) to the demultiplexer (10). The cup is gripped by the hand (9a) of the paralyzed patient (9) supplied through (11). At this time, a control signal is supplied from the demultiplexer controller (13) to the demultiplexer (10) via the control bus (12) to select desired stimulation data.

Next, when the patient (9) slowly shakes his / her head up and down twice, the detection signal (1b ₂ ) shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. When the counter (7) counts this and supplies it to the FES computer (3), a second flag corresponding to this is set and, for example, the stimulus data for holding the cup with the hand (9a) is stored in the storage means ( FES extracted from the stimulus data area (4b) in 4)
Computer (3) → D / A (8a) → Isolator (8c)
To the demultiplexer (10) via the data line (11). Demultiplexer controller (1
The control signal for switching from 3) is the demultiplexer (10).
A stimulation pulse for holding a cup is supplied to predetermined electrodes of the electrodes (5a), (5b), ... (5m) embedded in the hand (9a) of the patient (9) to be supplied to the patient.

Next, when it is desired to release the cup, the detection signal (1
As shown in b ₃ ), the paralyzed patient (9) shakes his / her head slowly up and down once, and then the second time, the counter (7) measures it, and the FES computer (3) A predetermined flag is set based on this measurement result, and the stimulus data is selected based on this flag and the data line (1
1) to the demultiplexer (10), and the demultiplexer controller (13) feeds the demultiplexer (1
By controlling the switching so that a predetermined stimulation data pulse is output from 0), each electrode (5) of the hand (9a) of the paralyzed patient (9)
A stimulation pulse train for releasing the cup is supplied to the predetermined electrodes (a) to (5 m).

In the above-described stimulator operation mode setting device, the case where the ON / OFF period (pulse width) and the number of pulses in the control signal are counted has been described, but the control signal (hereinafter referred to as ON / OFF signal) is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation in the case where the counter (7) only counts the ON period of) will be described.

The ON / OFF signal from the signal processing means (2) of the stimulator is the first
In step ST ₁ , it is judged whether it is an ON signal or not.
Returning to step ST ₁ , if the signal is an ON signal, the counter (7) is activated to start counting (second step ST ₂ ).
Next, it is judged that the ON / OFF signal has become the OFF signal, and "NO"
Stop counting if it be a third returns to step ST ₃ "YES" (at the third step ST ₃₎ counter (7), holds the count value in the fourth step ST ₄ below. By repeating the above-described operation for a predetermined period (fifth step ST ₅ ), a control signal having a predetermined pulse number and pulse width can be obtained. (6th
According to step ST ₆ ), if the predetermined stimulation data is output according to the pulse number and the pulse width, it is possible to combine a plurality of ON / OFF signals by using one remaining function of the paralyzed patient. A plurality of operation modes can be set by outputting a signal. Such operation mode setting is, as shown in FIG. 3, A to operate the paralyzed part of the patient (9).
Every time N operation mode (ST ₁ ), (ST ₃ ), (ST ₅ ) ... (ST ₇ ) is selected, A to N operation mode processing (ST ₂ ), (S
T ₄ ), (ST ₆ ) ... (ST ₈ ) may be performed. For example, when detecting changes in the electrical resistance of carbon contained in a rubber tube installed in the neck of a paralyzed patient, and making a combination of multiple ON / OFF signals, if the patient moves up and down once in the A operation mode When the robot is brought to the cup position, the hand performs the operation process of gripping the cup, and when the neck is shaken up and down twice, the operation mode process of holding the cup in the B operation mode is performed, and when the neck is shaken up and down three times, the C operation is performed. If the head is shaken N times, if it is defined as N operation mode processing, it is possible to set a plurality of operation modes only by counting the number of pulses. By increasing or decreasing the swinging speed of the head, it is possible to set a plurality of operation modes by detecting the pulse width. As a matter of course, it is obvious that the operation mode may be set by the combination of the pulse width and the pulse number as described in FIG. In addition, the operation mode may be set for a plurality of paralyzed parts.

Since this example is configured as described above, it is possible to set a large number of operation modes even if the number of control inputs input to the stimulator is small, and the apparatus can be downsized while having multiple functions, and the number of detecting means. And the burden on the patient is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

The present invention has a feature that a large number of operation modes can be set with a small number of detecting means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of an operation mode setting device for a stimulator of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowchart examples of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a conventional stimulator. . (1a) is voice detection means, (1b) is joint and muscle detection means,
(2) is signal processing means, (3) is FES computer,
(4) is a memory means, (5a), (5b), (5m) are electrodes,
(7) is a counter, (13) is a demultiplexer controller, (9) is a paralyzed patient, and (10) is a demultiplexer.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasunobu 3-7 Arikozaki, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture (72) Inventor Nozomi Hoshimiya Sanjo 10-5-5, Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Miyanomori Housing 403-111 (72) Inventor Seiichi Ishikawa 1-57, Tenjin-cho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo Inside the Tokyo plant of NEC Sanei Co., Ltd. (72) Masahiko Tanaka 1-57, Tenjin-cho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo Inside the plant of NEC Sanei Co., Ltd. (72) 56) References JP 59-160455 (JP, A) JP 60-153875 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A residual control operation of a paralyzed patient is detected and supplied with a digitalized control signal to a functional electrical stimulation computer, which stores the control signal in a storage means in the functional electrical stimulation computer. A stimulator for outputting stimulation data and stimulating a plurality of electrodes embedded in a paralyzed patient to activate a paralysis function, and using the control signal obtained from at least one detection means to perform a plurality of biological functions. 2. An operation mode setting circuit for a stimulator, which is configured to set the operation mode of.