Intelligent traditional Chinese medicine ear acupoint massage earphone

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of smart wearable device technology, and discloses a smart TCM auricular massage earphone, comprising an earphone body, a high-precision acupoint detection array, adaptive flexible electrode contacts, a multimodal composite stimulation mechanism, and a smart control system. The high-precision acupoint detection array is mounted on the earphone body for scanning the shape of the auricle and locating the coordinates of acupoints on the ear. Several adaptive flexible electrode contacts are provided, all mounted on the earphone body and corresponding to the ear. The multimodal composite stimulation mechanism includes a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and an infrared stimulation component, both mounted on the earphone body, and connected to the several adaptive flexible electrode contacts. This invention can provide synergistic or sequential stimulation of acupoints on the ear, ensuring accurate stimulation location and stable contact, while simultaneously performing audio playback and data interaction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart wearable device technology, and in particular to a smart traditional Chinese medicine ear acupressure massage earphone. Background Technology

[0002] In the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), auricular acupoints have a close correspondence with the human body's internal organs, meridians, and systems. Stimulating acupoints on the ear can regulate Qi and blood, balance the internal organs, relieve fatigue, and improve sleep, among other health benefits and therapeutic effects. With the rapid development of smart wearable devices and sensing technology, some auricular massage devices have gradually appeared on the market. However, most of these devices use rigid contacts or fixed electrodes, resulting in poor fit to the shape of the auricle and problems such as unstable contact, stimulation deviation, and discomfort. Furthermore, the stimulation mode is usually a single electrical pulse, lacking composite waveforms, acupuncture technique simulation, and multimodal synergistic stimulation, making it difficult to achieve the depth and effect of traditional TCM stimulation. In addition, the control systems of existing devices lack sufficient intelligence, failing to adjust the stimulation intensity, waveform, and rhythm in real time based on dynamic parameters such as auricle shape, usage scenario, and audio content, making personalized therapy difficult.

[0003] Therefore, a smart TCM auricular acupressure massage earphone is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent traditional Chinese medicine ear acupoint massage earphone, which aims to solve or improve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides an intelligent traditional Chinese medicine auricular acupressure massage earphone, comprising: The earphone itself; A high-precision acupoint detection array is installed on the earphone body to scan the shape of the auricle and locate the coordinates of acupoints on the ear. An adaptive flexible electrode contact is provided, and a plurality of the adaptive flexible electrode contacts are all mounted on the earphone body, and the adaptive flexible electrode contacts correspond to the ear. A multimodal composite stimulation mechanism, comprising a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and an infrared stimulation component, wherein both the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and the infrared stimulation component are mounted on the earphone body, and the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element is connected to a plurality of the adaptive flexible electrode contacts. An intelligent control system is installed on the earphone body, and the high-precision acupoint detection array, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, and the infrared stimulation component are all electrically connected to the intelligent control system.

[0006] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein the earphone body includes an earphone frame and two ear cups, the two ear cups are respectively installed on both sides of the earphone frame, and the inner sidewall of the ear cups is provided with a sound outlet; The inner walls of both earmuffs are equipped with the high-precision acupoint detection array, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, the infrared stimulation component, and several adaptive flexible electrode contacts. The intelligent control system is installed on the outer wall of one of the earmuffs.

[0007] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein the multimodal composite stimulation mechanism further includes a bone conduction unit and an audio processing chip, both of which are mounted on the earcups and are electrically connected to the smart control system.

[0008] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein the high-precision acupoint detection array includes a plurality of miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors electrically connected to the intelligent control system, the plurality of miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors are installed on the inner sidewalls of the two earcups, and the plurality of miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors are arranged in a rectangular array.

[0009] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein a heart rate sensor and a skin conductance sensor are installed on the earcups, and both the heart rate sensor and the skin conductance sensor are electrically connected to the smart control system.

[0010] According to the present invention, an intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein the infrared stimulation component includes a plurality of miniature near-infrared LEDs installed on the inner sidewall of the earcup, and the plurality of miniature near-infrared LEDs are electrically connected to the intelligent control system.

[0011] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein the smart control system includes a control panel, a controller, a switch and a volume adjustment button, wherein the control panel, the controller, the switch and the volume adjustment button are all mounted on the earcups, and the controller has a built-in Bluetooth module; The control panel, the switch, the volume adjustment button, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, the bone conduction unit, the audio processing chip, the plurality of miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors, the plurality of miniature near-infrared LEDs, the heart rate sensor, and the skin conductance sensor are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0012] According to the present invention, the adaptive flexible electrode contacts of a smart TCM acupoint massage earphone are made of shape memory alloy wire.

[0013] According to the present invention, a smart TCM auricular massage earphone is provided, wherein a length adjuster is installed on the earphone frame.

[0014] The present invention discloses the following technical effects: This invention uses a high-precision acupoint detection array to scan the shape of the auricle and locate the coordinates of acupoints on the ear. The collected data is transmitted to an intelligent control system. The intelligent control system controls a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and an infrared stimulation component to output microcurrent pulses and infrared light to the adaptive flexible electrode contacts of the corresponding acupoints. The composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element can simulate the composite waveform of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture techniques. Combined with infrared light, it can provide synergistic or sequential stimulation to the same or different acupoints on the ear. The adaptive flexible electrode contacts achieve three-dimensional adaptive fit to the acupoints on the ear, ensuring accurate stimulation position and stable contact. The earphone body synchronously plays audio to realize the intelligent output of acupoint massage stimulation and media audio. The intelligent control system can adjust the stimulation parameters based on the audio content or usage scenario, and synchronously perform audio playback and data interaction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0017] The components include: 1. Headphone frame; 2. Earcups; 3. Length adjuster; 4. Adaptive flexible electrode contacts; and 5. Intelligent control system. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 This invention provides a smart traditional Chinese medicine auricular massage earphone, comprising: The earphone itself; A high-precision acupoint detection array is installed on the earphone body to scan the shape of the auricle and locate the coordinates of acupoints on the ear. Adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4, a plurality of adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 are provided, and the plurality of adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 are all mounted on the earphone body, and the adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 correspond to the ear. The multimodal composite stimulation mechanism includes a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and an infrared stimulation component. Both the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and the infrared stimulation component are mounted on the earphone body. The composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element is connected to several adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4. The intelligent control system 5 is installed on the earphone body. The high-precision acupoint detection array, composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and infrared stimulation component are all electrically connected to the intelligent control system 5.

[0021] With this setup, the present invention scans the shape of the auricle and locates the coordinates of acupoints on the ear using a high-precision acupoint detection array. The collected data is transmitted to the intelligent control system 5. The intelligent control system 5 controls the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and the infrared stimulation component to output microcurrent pulses and infrared light to the adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 of the corresponding acupoints. The composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element can simulate the composite waveform of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture techniques. Combined with infrared light, it can provide synergistic or sequential stimulation to the same or different acupoints on the ear. The adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 achieve three-dimensional adaptive fit to the acupoints on the ear, ensuring accurate stimulation position and stable contact. The earphone body synchronously plays audio to realize the intelligent output of acupoint massage stimulation and media audio. The intelligent control system 5 can adjust the stimulation parameters based on the audio content or usage scenario, and synchronously perform audio playback and data interaction.

[0022] Further optimization of the design: The headphone body includes a headphone frame 1 and two earcups 2. The two earcups 2 are respectively installed on both sides of the headphone frame 1, and the inner side wall of the earcups 2 is provided with a sound outlet. The inner walls of both earmuffs 2 are equipped with a high-precision acupoint detection array, a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, an infrared stimulation component, and several adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4. The intelligent control system 5 is installed on the outer wall of one of the earmuffs 2.

[0023] Further optimization of the scheme: the multimodal composite stimulation mechanism also includes a bone conduction unit and an audio processing chip. Both the bone conduction unit and the audio processing chip are installed on the earcups 2, and both the bone conduction unit and the audio processing chip are electrically connected to the intelligent control system 5.

[0024] During operation, the bone conduction unit and audio processing chip work together to form a more comprehensive multimodal stimulation system with the original composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and infrared stimulation component.

[0025] The audio processing chip receives instructions from the intelligent control system 5 and processes the audio signals (media audio and therapeutic audio) to ensure clear and smooth audio output. The bone conduction unit transmits the processed audio signals to the user's auditory system via bone conduction, without blocking the ear canal. This ensures the fit between the adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4 and the acupoints on the ear, allowing the user to enjoy audio while simultaneously receiving acupoint stimulation, enhancing the immersive experience. Furthermore, the vibration of the bone conduction unit acts as a gentle physical stimulus, working in conjunction with microcurrent and infrared stimulation to further enhance the therapeutic effect of the ear acupoints, making it suitable for users with hearing impairments or those who are not comfortable with in-ear audio.

[0026] Further optimization of the scheme: the high-precision acupoint detection array includes several micro bioelectrical impedance sensors electrically connected to the intelligent control system 5. The micro bioelectrical impedance sensors are installed on the inner sidewalls of the two earmuffs 2 and are arranged in a rectangular array.

[0027] The miniature bioelectrical impedance sensor detects differences in bioelectrical impedance in different parts of the auricle to identify the auricle contour, acupoint distribution, and skin condition. Compared with traditional detection methods, the rectangular array arrangement can improve the density and accuracy of data acquisition and reduce scanning blind spots. The acquired bioelectrical impedance data and auricle morphology data are synchronously transmitted to the intelligent control system 5. The controller accurately locates the coordinates of acupoints on the ear, eliminating the influence of factors such as skin condition and wearing deviation, further improving the accuracy of acupoint location and providing more reliable data support for subsequent precise stimulation.

[0028] The design has been further optimized by installing a heart rate sensor and a skin activity sensor on the earcups 2. Both the heart rate sensor and the skin activity sensor are electrically connected to the intelligent control system 5.

[0029] The heart rate sensor and skin conductance sensor transmit the collected physiological data to the controller of the intelligent control system 5 in real time. The controller analyzes and processes the data to determine the user's current physiological state (such as fatigue, tension, relaxation, or sleep), and automatically adjusts the waveform and intensity of the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, the irradiation intensity of the infrared stimulation component, and the content and volume of the audio playback according to the physiological state, to achieve "physiological state adaptive physiotherapy". For example, when the controller detects that the user's heart rate is too fast or the skin conductance is abnormal (tension state), it will reduce the stimulation intensity, switch to soothing audio, and adjust the stimulation waveform to simulate the "tonifying method" of traditional Chinese medicine to help the user relax; when the controller detects that the user's heart rate is stable and the user is in a relaxed state, it can maintain or moderately increase the stimulation intensity to enhance the physiotherapy effect.

[0030] The scheme is further optimized. The infrared stimulation component includes several miniature near-infrared LEDs installed on the inner wall of the earmuff 2. All of the miniature near-infrared LEDs are electrically connected to the intelligent control system 5.

[0031] The controller of the intelligent control system 5 sends instructions to the miniature near-infrared LED lamps based on acupoint location data and the physiotherapy plan, controlling the LED lamps' on / off state, irradiation intensity, and irradiation duration. The near-infrared light output by the miniature near-infrared LED lamps can penetrate the surface of the ear skin and act deep on the acupoints, promoting local blood circulation and improving nerve conduction, forming a synergistic effect with the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation. The evenly arranged LED lamps ensure that the target acupoints and surrounding areas receive uniform infrared stimulation, avoiding excessive or insufficient local stimulation, further enhancing the stability and effectiveness of the physiotherapy. At the same time, the miniature design does not affect the fit and wearing comfort of the adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4.

[0032] The intelligent control system 5 further optimizes the design and includes a control panel, a controller, a switch, and a volume adjustment button. The control panel, controller, switch, and volume adjustment button are all installed on the earcups 2. The controller has a built-in Bluetooth module. The Bluetooth module is used to connect to external Bluetooth audio devices to achieve intelligent mixing and output of therapeutic audio and media audio. The control panel, switch, volume adjustment button, composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, bone conduction unit, audio processing chip, several miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors, several miniature near-infrared LEDs, heart rate sensor and skin conductance sensor are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0033] The power switch controls the entire headset's on / off state, while the volume control buttons allow manual adjustment of audio playback volume and the vibration intensity of the bone conduction unit. The control panel allows users to manually set therapy modes, stimulation intensity, and stimulation duration, and view physiological data and therapy records, enabling human-computer interaction. The controller, as the core component, receives signals from all sensors and buttons, controlling the actions of various actuators (composite waveform microcurrent stimulation elements, miniature near-infrared LEDs, bone conduction units, etc.). The built-in Bluetooth module connects to external Bluetooth audio devices (phones, tablets) to achieve intelligent mixing and output of therapeutic audio and media audio, allowing users to simultaneously listen to their selected media audio and therapy guidance audio, enhancing the user experience.

[0034] The controller is electrically connected to the control panel, switches, volume adjustment buttons, and all electrical components. It can integrate and process acupoint detection data, physiological monitoring data, and user operation commands to achieve a combination of automatic adjustment and manual control of stimulation parameters, taking into account both intelligent and personalized needs. At the same time, it can realize data interaction through Bluetooth module, and can synchronize physiotherapy records and physiological data to external devices to facilitate long-term health management for users.

[0035] Further optimizing the design, the adaptive flexible electrode contact 4 is made of shape memory alloy wire. The adaptive flexible electrode contact 4 uses shape memory alloy wire and flexible circuitry to drive the miniature medical silicone electrode to achieve three-dimensional adaptive fit, ensuring accurate stimulation positioning and stable contact. The soft properties of medical silicone reduce pressure and friction on the auricular skin, improving comfort during extended wear, while avoiding skin allergies. It adapts to users with different auricular shapes, ensuring stable contact in various wearing postures.

[0036] To further optimize the design, a length adjuster 3 is installed on the headphone frame 1. When wearing the headphones, users can adjust the distance between the two earcups 2 by adjusting the length adjuster 3, ensuring that the earcups 2 fit snugly against the auricle. This ensures that components such as the miniature bioelectrical impedance sensor, adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4, and miniature near-infrared LEDs inside the earcups 2 can make good contact with the ear. This avoids acupoint positioning deviations and poor stimulation contact caused by loose earcups 2, and also prevents discomfort caused by overly tight earcups 2. This further improves the headphone's adaptability and reliability, ensuring that different users can obtain accurate acupoint stimulation and a comfortable wearing experience.

[0037] The design has been further optimized by installing a sweat sensor on the inside of the earcups 2. The sweat sensor is electrically connected to the controller and is used to detect the content of electrolytes and metabolites in the user's sweat.

[0038] The sweat sensor collects real-time sweat data from the user and transmits it to the controller. Combined with physiological data from the heart rate sensor and skin conductance sensor, the controller automatically matches the corresponding physiotherapy plan, adjusts the waveform of the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element (e.g., a gentle tonifying waveform for Qi deficiency, and a heat-clearing and purging waveform for damp-heat constitution), the irradiation duration of the miniature near-infrared LED light, and the TCM physiotherapy guidance played by the bone conduction unit (e.g., soothing breathing guidance for Yin deficiency). Users can also manually switch to the syndrome differentiation mode through the control panel to select a customized physiotherapy plan for their corresponding constitution, making the ear acupoint stimulation more in line with the TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment concept and improving the targeted nature of the physiotherapy.

[0039] Further optimization of the design involves laying a flexible heating film on the inner wall of the earcup 2 and around the adaptive flexible electrode contacts 4. The flexible heating film is made of graphene material and is electrically connected to the controller of the intelligent control system 5. A temperature adjustment module is added to the controller, and a temperature adjustment button is added to the control panel to adjust the heat therapy temperature (38-45℃).

[0040] The heat-assisted stimulation structure works synergistically with the original multimodal stimulation. The controller controls the flexible heating film to generate heat, producing a gentle heat therapy effect. This effect acts on acupoints on the ear and surrounding skin, promoting blood circulation in the ear, relaxing auricular muscles, and enhancing the penetration effect of composite waveform microcurrent and near-infrared stimulation. This aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine treatment concept of "warming and unblocking the meridians," thereby improving overall health and enhancing the body's immunity. Simultaneously, the heat therapy temperature can be manually adjusted via the control panel or automatically adjusted by the controller according to the user's physiological state (e.g., automatically increasing the temperature in winter and decreasing it in summer), avoiding high-temperature burns and improving wearing comfort and therapeutic effect.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0042] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart TCM auricular acupressure massage earphone, characterized in that, include: The earphone itself; A high-precision acupoint detection array is installed on the earphone body to scan the shape of the auricle and locate the coordinates of acupoints on the ear. Adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4), a plurality of such adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4) are provided, and a plurality of such adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4) are mounted on the earphone body, and the adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4) correspond to the ear; The multimodal composite stimulation mechanism includes a composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and an infrared stimulation component. The composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and the infrared stimulation component are both installed on the headphone body. The composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element is connected to several of the adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4). The intelligent control system (5) is installed on the headphone body. The high-precision acupoint detection array, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element and the infrared stimulation component are all electrically connected to the intelligent control system (5).

2. The intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The headphone body includes a headphone frame (1) and two ear cups (2). The two ear cups (2) are respectively installed on both sides of the headphone frame (1), and the inner sidewall of the ear cups (2) is provided with a sound outlet. The inner walls of both earmuffs (2) are equipped with the high-precision acupoint detection array, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, the infrared stimulation component and several adaptive flexible electrode contacts (4), and the intelligent control system (5) is installed on the outer wall of one of the earmuffs (2).

3. The intelligent TCM ear acupressure massage earphone according to claim 2, characterized in that: The multimodal composite stimulation mechanism also includes a bone conduction unit and an audio processing chip. The bone conduction unit and the audio processing chip are both mounted on the earmuff (2), and the bone conduction unit and the audio processing chip are both electrically connected to the intelligent control system (5).

4. The intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone according to claim 3, characterized in that: The high-precision acupoint detection array includes several micro bioelectrical impedance sensors electrically connected to the intelligent control system (5). Several of the micro bioelectrical impedance sensors are installed on the inner sidewalls of the two earmuffs (2), and the micro bioelectrical impedance sensors are arranged in a rectangular array.

5. The intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone according to claim 4, characterized in that: The earmuff (2) is equipped with a heart rate sensor and a skin activity sensor, both of which are electrically connected to the intelligent control system (5).

6. The intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone according to claim 5, characterized in that: The infrared stimulation component includes several miniature near-infrared LEDs installed on the inner sidewall of the earmuff (2), and all of the miniature near-infrared LEDs are electrically connected to the intelligent control system (5).

7. The intelligent TCM auricular massage earphone according to claim 6, characterized in that: The intelligent control system (5) includes a control panel, a controller, a switch and a volume adjustment button. The control panel, the controller, the switch and the volume adjustment button are all installed on the earcups (2). The controller has a built-in Bluetooth module. The control panel, the switch, the volume adjustment button, the composite waveform microcurrent stimulation element, the bone conduction unit, the audio processing chip, the plurality of miniature bioelectrical impedance sensors, the plurality of miniature near-infrared LEDs, the heart rate sensor, and the skin conductance sensor are all electrically connected to the controller.

8. The intelligent TCM ear acupressure massage earphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adaptive flexible electrode contact (4) is made of shape memory alloy wire.

9. The intelligent TCM ear acupressure massage earphone according to claim 2, characterized in that: A length adjuster (3) is installed on the headphone frame (1).

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