Device for magnetic field stimulation of user's body tissue according to electronic pulse method for pelvic floor optimization

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for magnetic field stimulation of a user's body tissue, comprising an adjustable seat (2) for the user, at least one magnetic field generator (15) for generating a pulsating magnetic field in the area of ​​the seat (2), an adjustment device (7) for adjusting one or more of the pulsating magnetic field parameters including pulse duration, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude and / or for adjusting the seat (2), and a display device (10) for displaying information for reference. The adjustment device (7) is constructed in such a way that it is used to manually and / or automatically adjust one or more of the magnetic field parameters and / or the setting of the seat (2) depending on personal information collected beforehand about the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for magnetic field stimulation of body tissue of a user, in particular according to an electronic pulse method for pelvic floor optimization. The device for magnetic field stimulation is particularly suitable for use in digital telemedicine. Background Art

[0002] The device is used to stimulate motor nerve units and reflex arcs through afferents of the peripheral nervous system in order to bring the skeletal muscles of the pelvis to contract and relax the detrusor vesicae muscle of the bladder. The device is particularly designed for the treatment of pelvic floor weakness and related urinary incontinence symptoms, bladder stimulation and the treatment of erectile dysfunction in blood flow related diseases. In addition, it is designed for a large number of preventive and therapeutic applications in the fields of physical therapy, orthopedics and dermatology.

[0003] DE 298 08 990 U1 discloses a seating or reclining furniture for magnetic field therapy, which has one or more generator devices for generating a magnetic field. The generator device can be embedded in the upholstery of the corresponding seat or reclining furniture. In addition, the generator device can be equipped with coils for generating the magnetic field, which can be used for whole-body or partial-body therapy with full-core metal coils arranged in rows or circles.

[0004] DE 10 2017 122 942 A1 relates to a relaxation bed for relaxation and / or treatment of a user, with a lying surface having a seat surface, a backrest and a leg support, wherein there is a device for generating a magnetic oscillation field in the area of ​​the lying surface and a device for generating a rocking movement and / or a swinging movement of the lying surface. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to specify a device for magnetic field stimulation which allows a comfortable and user-specific magnetic field therapy.

[0006] The device for magnetic field stimulation of a user's body tissue comprises an adjustable seat for the user, at least one magnetic field generator for generating a pulsating magnetic field in the area of ​​the seat, an adjustment device for adjusting one or more of the pulsating magnetic field parameters including pulse duration, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude and / or for adjusting the seat, and a display device for displaying information for reference.

[0007] According to the invention, the adjustment means are designed to manually and / or automatically adjust one or more of the magnetic field parameters and / or the setting of the seat as a function of previously acquired personal information about the user.

[0008] The magnetic field generator comprises a programmable pulse generator, whose pulse duration, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude are adjustable. The pulse generator generates low-frequency pulses (preferably in the range of 1-100 Hz) and is connected to one or more magnetic coils 15, which generate a pulsating magnetic field in the seat surface and / or backrest and / or foot part of the seat.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat and / or the pulsating magnetic field are set automatically using information available about the user.

[0010] In order to determine which user wants to use the device, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that there is a device for automatically identifying the user. The user can be identified optically and / or acoustically, for example by facial recognition, fingerprint recognition or voice recognition by means of a camera or a combination of these methods. Another possibility is to identify the user's identity information in the form of a chip card, RFID chip or the like.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the invention, provision is made for setting means to input and / or read out personal information about the user, wherein the information includes in particular information about the user's physical characteristics and / or health status. The setting means may optionally include buttons and / or a touch screen and / or a device for voice input.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the personal information of the current user is compared with the information of other users, and the magnetic field parameters for the current user are adjusted taking into account the parameters set in the case of other users. In other words, the magnetic field treatment successfully performed on other users is also performed on the current user with a similar diagnosis or disease.

[0013] Information about the effects of different settings of the pulsating magnetic field on body tissue can be displayed to the user on a display device. In particular, this information can also relate to the various indications that can be treated with the device, and it can intuitively and concisely illustrate the most complex urological and gynecological changes and defects of the pelvic floor, bladder and bladder sphincter system.

[0014] In a special embodiment of the invention, a device for generating illumination and light effects is provided in order to improve the comfort of the user during the treatment and to increase the success of the treatment.

[0015] Likewise, an infotainment system may be provided for playing music, timbre effects and sound effects for the information and comfort of the user.

[0016] Furthermore, a microphone may be provided for recording voice information for voice control and / or for identifying the user (voice recognition).

[0017] The operating device can have keys and / or a touch-sensitive display device (touch screen).

[0018] The personal information collected by the user is preferably stored and evaluated in the device itself and / or also in a control center. The center can be a telemedicine center, which evaluates the user data and provides auxiliary information for treating the user on request. The device for magnetic field therapy is connected to the control center via a communication system.

[0019] In addition, in a preferred development of the invention, there is a grip for the user in the area of ​​the seat. Thus, the user can actively tighten his muscles during the treatment and improve the success of the treatment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention emerge from the drawings and their description.

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective side view showing a magnetic stimulation device,

[0022] Figure 2 A perspective front view of the magnetic stimulation device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] according to Figure 1 and 2 The device for magnetic field stimulation comprises a base 1, on which a seat in the form of a comfortable adjustable armchair 2 can be mounted. The design of the device for magnetic field stimulation according to the invention does not play a role in the function of the invention and should only be shown here by way of example. In addition, parts of the existing technical equipment are only shown schematically.

[0024] The seat 2 comprises an adjustable seat surface 3, a backrest 4 and a footrest 5, so that the user can assume a comfortable sitting or lying position for him. The seat 2 is adjusted manually or automatically via an operating console 7 using sitting or lying positions previously stored by the user and which can be called up again. In addition, the seat 1 comprises armrests 6, wherein an operating console 7 is arranged on one or both armrests 6. The operating console 7 is equipped with buttons and / or a touch screen.

[0025] The device preferably has a visor 9. An infotainment system for playing music, timbre and sound effects and lighting effects is arranged in or at the visor 9. The infotainment system comprises at least one integrated screen 10 in the user's field of vision, a microphone 13, a loudspeaker 11 or a Bluetooth headset with an integrated microphone and an illumination device 12. A camera 14 pointing toward the user can also be provided. The device is not only used for communication with an (external) telemedicine center, but also for providing treatment information to the user, for the correct implementation of "high-intensity mental training" and for use as a multifunctional infotainment system.

[0026] The device for magnetic field stimulation preferably includes a plurality of functional modules, which enable different functions of the device. These functional modules can be selected by the user and support, supplement and improve the user's treatment with the magnetic stimulation device. The functional modules of the magnetic stimulation device are connected and / or in dialogue with the user and the control center via the equipment of the infotainment system, in particular the operating console 7, the screen 10, the loudspeaker 10, the microphone 13 and the camera.

[0027] This information and entertainment module is mainly aimed at rPMS users who are unable to perform advanced mental training. Since the training lasts up to 20 minutes, this time can be used for subsequent courses to provide users with information about urinary or fecal incontinence, muscle atrophy, risk of falling or the current situation for capacity improvement. In particular, sarcopenia is a serious aging phenomenon, the loss of muscle mass begins in the 4th decade of life and accelerates to 3% per year between the ages of 50 and 80, and it is especially based on the degeneration of the alpha motor neurons of the spinal horn and the decoupling of motor units or the infiltration of connective tissue and adipose tissue. The decline in skeletal muscle strength mainly involves only the degeneration of fast-twitsch fibers. Therefore, the decline in muscle mass and muscle strength has a special impact on the lower limbs, and what is more serious is that walking is a daily necessity and also affects the core. Because this force distribution box is not only a stabilizing element for all body movements, but also is crucial for balance and balance ability. In the case of unsafe walking, however, the risk of falling and thus the risk of death increases (Freiberger E, Sieber C, Pfeifer K. Physical activity, exercise, and sarcopenia-future challenges. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2011; 161 (17-18): 416-425). Therefore, falls and fractures are the most common causes of death in people over 65 years of age or often lead to subsequent family accommodation, which is even more worrying considering that 25.7% of all women aged 65 to 79 need medical treatment for falls.

[0028] Therefore, the significance of rPMS is not only in the treatment of urinary incontinence, myofascial pain syndrome, sexual dysfunction or in the improvement of sports performance. Rather, it provides the possibility of preventing the aging-induced muscle degeneration of the dominant walking muscles and the associated balance disorders without exerting one's own strength.

[0029] With this infotainment system, the user (user / athlete) is however also informed of the additional benefits of specific materials concerning training physiology and optimal nutritional requirements for muscle strengthening training. Thus, there are research results for improving performance through acid buffering in the case of short-term lactic acid loads present here or repeated high-intensity loads due to the supplementation of certain dipeptides. The user may also be interested in, for example, how to evaluate the use of so-called BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) in the "resistance training" simulated here with rPMS, or the importance of rest periods during rPMS treatment.

[0030] If rPMS is preferably focused on reducing fat (eg visceral fat), it is important for the user to learn, for example, how fat burning can be accelerated by the liver via a possible activation of the so-called PPARa (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha).

[0031] Infotainment, however, is not limited to health-related information, but provides other information such as alerts for weather, business news, and breaking news / emergency reports.

[0032] The magnetic field stimulation device according to the invention is equipped with a facial recognition software via the screen 10 and the camera 14, by which the necessary user data as well as the name and associations from previous conversations (such as favorite beverages, coffee with or without milk and sugar, the names of children, their upcoming class activities, marriage, names of dogs, cats, etc.) are made available to the therapist in the screen at the beginning of the user setting in the display. Facial recognition or artificial intelligence also provides the possibility of greeting the user in a personalized manner on the basis of the language software, asking about his health or paying tribute to his beauty, etc. The farewell via the language software is also not composed of the usual formulaic words, but of a personalized and witty farewell greeting, which always depends on the symptoms, pain conditions, sexual dysfunction or sports ambitions.

[0033] The context of this device's personal address to the user is the high prevalence of urinary incontinence combined with depressive symptoms (20.6%-43.0%) (Avery J, Stocks N. Urinary incontinence, depression, and psychosocial factors - a review of population studies. EMJ. 2016; 1(1): 58-67), which can be influenced by personalized address and the "care" associated with it.

[0034] A sound system with speakers 11 is installed on both sides in the visor 9 of the device, which not only provides a unique sound and tone experience, but is also used to play the user's preferred music for a short period of time based on facial recognition or user recognition. Or as an emotional therapy, it opens up the possibility of creating a therapeutic program by mixing deep vibration tones.

[0035] The operating console 7 with touch screen consists of a swiveling (360 degrees) screen placed vertically on the right armrest of the device, which not only allows the therapist to program the treatment process, but also provides the user with the possibility of interrupting the treatment or asking about the remaining time of the treatment with a click of the fingertip. It also contains an "emergency button" that can be used to notify the therapist if the user feels unwell or suffers any other adverse effects. Alternatively or in addition to the touch screen, an input keyboard can be provided.

[0036] Depending on whether the device is operated by a doctor or medical management center or by a physiotherapist on the basis of medical prescriptions and involves more than pure exercise or preventive pelvic floor training, the touchscreen program determines the data protection access rights for accessing or electronically forwarding the user and treatment data stored there. This is done by entering an electronic key, which is only available after the user's prior consent.

[0037] The device is particularly suitable for use in digital telemedicine. During the user's first consultation, the telemedicine center consulted by the device collects the user's medical records by means of a digital questionnaire (tablet version) adapted to the diagnosis (urology / gynecology), which is compared by software with the collected data of other previous users. In the case of an unusual diagnosis, the system signals the need for further inquiries and checks the current prescribing decision on consistency or conflict with its own treatment recommendations. If the treatment recommendation involves pelvic floor training with the device technology of repetitive peripheral magnetic field stimulation (rPMS), the user is informed of the possible contraindications and side effects of the treatment in a digital consent form. The same applies to the release of medical confidentiality, so that the operator of the pelvic floor training can make corresponding device settings. In any case, the user has the possibility of obtaining medical advice from the doctor at any time regarding important treatment issues or unexpected side effects.

[0038] The treatment information module available for the first treatment consultation consists of a large number of animation sequences, which relate to the various symptoms that can be treated by the device and which vividly and concisely explain the most complex urological and gynecological changes and defects of the pelvic floor, bladder and bladder sphincter system. These animation sequences are presented to the user via the infotainment system. Based on this, the user should be able to understand almost simultaneously with the real action of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) according to which operating principle the treatment is carried out and on what the cure or alleviation of the disease is based.

[0039] Thus, users of stress urinary incontinence learn, for example, how an increase in the strength of the pelvic floor muscles, naturally pulling the urethra in the direction of the pubic bone (“Petros’ Holistic Theory”), leads to a natural closure of the urethra’s curvature in contrast to surgical incontinence treatments using TVT / TOT, where the activation of the performance centers of the central nervous system (CNS) by muscle contraction strengthens the sustainability of the treatment results. Patients with overactive bladder (OAB syndrome) or urge incontinence can, in turn, understand how to reduce the irritability and emptying state of the bladder by blocking the emptying central pathways in the CNS. Or incontinence patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy learn how important it is to use rPMS to integrate the pelvic floor into the surgically damaged bladder sphincter system, thus compensating for this defect. In addition, users with hip arthritis, pelvic pain syndrome, osteitis pubis or low back pain / disc events learn how rPMS-related solutions in the context of the main myofascial structures can significantly reduce pain.

[0040] The core or core strength is one of the most important discoveries in current sports medicine and training methodology (HibbsA, Thompson KG, French DN et al. Optimizing Performance by Improving CoreStability and Core Strength. Sports Med. 2008; 38(12): 995-1008). This is because the transfer of energy between the lower and upper extremities, or the technique and accuracy of punching, throwing or kicking movements, all depend on the balance of the imaginary "muscle box" of the pelvis and trunk (proximal stability for distal mobility). The core is composed of the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, deep lumbar muscles and pelvic floor multi-layered muscle system. However, although there are many training options for the abdominal, pelvic, diaphragm and deep back muscles, training methods such as Pilates, yoga or "rubber band assisted rocking gait" can only provide inadequate training of the actual pelvic floor.

[0041] As a result, trunk and pelvic muscles often achieve impressive performance gains, but inadequate pelvic floor training can lead to dangerous discrepancies in muscle balance and coordination, as well as unnecessary technical deficiencies and overloads in the distal muscles being trained. The practical goal of reducing injury frequency in sports such as football, rugby, volleyball, golf, tennis, hockey, and running is difficult to achieve because only an adequately trained core can minimize the forces applied to the extremities (Leetun DTet al. Core stability measures as risk factors for lower extremity injury in athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004: 36: 926-934).

[0042] An athlete, whether from competitive, club or ambitious mass sports, will not only be able to make the myofascial chains visible through animated images, but will also be able to illustrate why the energy transfer of the limbs or trunk can only take place through the center (core strength). He will also be able to show how the power increase and core coordination associated with rPMS optimizes the energy transfer between the lower and upper limbs. Only in this way can an 8-week core strength training course reduce the susceptibility to injury by 42% or shorten the recovery time after injury by 62% (Peate WF, Bates G, Lunda K et al. Core strength: Anew model for injury prediction and prevention. J Occupat Med Toxicol 2007:2:3).

[0043] Numerous studies have shown that mental training not only leads to better performance (Feltz DL, Landers DM. The effects of mental practice on motor skill learning and performance: ameta-analysis. J Sports Psychol. 1983; 5: 25-27), but also can initiate significant muscle growth in the case of focused visualization (Corbin CB. Mental practice. In: Morgan MP. (Ed.). Ergogenic aids and muscular performance. 1972: pp. 93-118: New York, Academic Press). Thus, a 35% increase in muscle strength was achieved through 12 weeks of pure mental training (15 minutes / day) (Ranganathan VK, Siemionow V, Liu JZ et al. From mental power to muscle-power- gaining strength by using mind. Neurophysiologia. 2004; 42(7): 944-956).

[0044] This also leads to an enlargement of the corresponding cortical representation in the precentral gyrus of the somatosensory cortex (cerebral cortex), i.e. the representation center of the activity of the corresponding muscle group in the periphery of the body, which occurs not only through mental stimulation, but also through unconscious control and proprioceptive feedback after the corresponding muscle response. This is particularly important for the sustainability and retention of the achieved muscle enhancement, since each natural muscle contraction is affected by the enhanced central signaling, so that more muscle fibers can be addressed. It is therefore possible to counteract the decoupling of motor units from the neural supply that is increasingly common in the elderly (HughesVA, Frontera WR, Wood M et al. Longitudinal muscle strength changes in olderadults: influence of muscle mass, physical activity, and health. J GeontolBiol Sci Med Sci. 2001; 56(5): B209-217).

[0045] In order to fully exploit the potential of "passive" rPMS training, it is necessary to accompany the series of contractions of the pelvic floor muscles associated with rPMS by attempting self-contractions on the basis of a specific "visualization protocol", in which the user is encouraged to imagine a strong muscle load on the pelvic floor. Self-contraction during rPMS training is a frustrating task, since electromagnetically induced action potentials prevent self-contraction. However, a correct visualization operation leads to an enlargement of the imprint in the representation centers of the cerebral cortex, while activating and strengthening the "silent" and inhibiting synaptic connections there.

[0046] High mental effort training (HMET) is particularly effective when a person trains with a too low MVC (Maximal Voluntary Contraction) of, for example, 30% (Jiang CH et al. The level of effort, rather than muscle exercise intensity determines strength gain following a six-week training. Life Sci. 2017;178:30-34), especially because the individual, rPMS-induced muscle contractions are not limited to stimulation using HMET. Above all, people who are not ready for higher intensity rPMS training due to age or sensitivity benefit greatly. If this means that only part of the pelvic floor is covered by rPMS, then the overall muscle contraction, which is very important for muscle growth and central perception, is neglected. If low-intensity rPMS is combined with HMET, the lack of intensity can be almost completely compensated.

[0047] Visualization procedures do not involve a general contraction of the pelvic floor, but differ according to the respective indication. For example, HMET for stress urinary incontinence is based on the threat of an imminent incontinence situation under physiological stress, while in the case of urge incontinence or OAB, the mental focus is on blocking the emptying stimulus. Pain syndromes, in turn, are based on myofascial sclerosis (tight bands) and the dissolution of muscle nodes. In addition, visualization during core strength training is based on typical sequences of movements in the respective sport.

[0048] For effective visualization, it is not enough to simply give the user an instruction. Often, he needs continuous input, which can only be achieved by a properly trained therapist or visual timing of animations.

[0049] To this end, the contraction instructions presented on the screen with animations are electronically coupled to the incontinence or core strength programs of the rPMS. Thus, the user always receives his corresponding contraction instructions with millisecond accuracy relative to the intervention time of the rPMS (generally 8 seconds), because the visual instructions act inversely during the interruption time of the rPMS (4 seconds).

[0050] Users can use the touch screen to decide whether they prefer to hear a male or female voice, or see a male or female instructor, and whether the timbre of the voice sounds very deep, bright, warm, or dominant. The visualizations are also available in commonly used foreign languages.

[0051] The purely mental "high brain training" is enhanced when the user combines his mental contraction effort with an attempt to tense the muscles. Ideally, this can be optimized if the user tenses the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles with traction or traction resistance by integrating two handles 8 into the armrests on both sides, thus coordinating the affected muscles according to the physiological movement sequence. This active resistance training is only suitable for core training, amyotrophy, stress incontinence and spastic paraplegic users (paraplegia, stroke, multiple sclerosis).

[0052] Reference numerals list

[0053] 1 Base

[0054] 2 seats

[0055] 3 Seating surface

[0056] 4 Backrest

[0057] 5-pin parts

[0058] 6 Armrests

[0059] 7 Operation table

[0060] 8 Handle

[0061] 9 Lens hood

[0062] 10. Screen

[0063] 11 Speakers

[0064] 12 Lighting devices

[0065] 13 Microphone

[0066] 14 Camera

[0067] 15. Magnetic Field Generator

Claims

1. A device for magnetic field stimulation of a user's body tissue, comprising: an adjustable seat (2) for a user, at least one magnetic field generator (15) for generating a pulsating magnetic field in the area of ​​the seat (2), an adjusting device (7) for adjusting one or more of the pulsating magnetic field parameters including pulse duration, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude and for adjusting the seat (2), and a display device (10) for displaying information for reference, It is characterized in that The adjustment device (7) is constructed to manually and / or automatically adjust one or more of the magnetic field parameters and / or the setting of the seat (2) depending on personal information about the user collected in advance, and a handle (8) for the user is arranged in the area of ​​the adjustable seat (2).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The magnetic field generator has one or more magnetic coils (15) which are arranged in the seat surface (3) and / or the backrest (4) and / or the foot section (5) of the adjustable seat (2).

3. The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjustable seat (2) and / or the parameters of the pulsating magnetic field are automatically set using personal information available about the user.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that Means (13, 14) for automatically identifying a user are provided.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that An adjustment device (7) is provided for inputting and / or reading out personal information about the user, which is information about the user's physical characteristics and / or health status.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that Personal information about the current user is compared with information about other users, and magnetic field parameters for the current user are adjusted taking into account parameters previously set for other users.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that Information about the way in which different settings of the pulsating magnetic field act on body tissue can be displayed on the display device (10).

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that Means (12) for producing lighting and light effects are provided.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that An infotainment system (10, 11, 12, 13) is provided for playing music, timbre effects, lighting effects and sound effects.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that A microphone (13) is provided for collecting voice information for voice control and / or for identifying a user.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The adjustment device (7) has a touch-sensitive display device.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The personal information collected by the user is stored and evaluated in the device itself and / or in a control center.

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