A muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group

Abstract

An electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) device for the soleus muscle group includes an electrical stimulation generating unit, a working mode setting module, and an electrical stimulation output control module. The electrical stimulation generating unit generates an electrical stimulation signal. The working mode setting module configures at least one working mode, including configuring the frequency and duration of the electrical stimulation signal. The frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset frequency range, and the duration of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset time range. The upper limit of the frequency range is less than a first threshold, and the lower limit of the time range is greater than a second threshold, thereby increasing the basal metabolic rate of the soleus muscle group. The electrical stimulation output control module transmits the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group according to one of the working modes configured by the working mode setting module. This addresses the technical problem that existing EMS devices have limited effectiveness in increasing basal metabolic rate and struggle to achieve sustained and effective metabolic enhancement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and more specifically to a muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of electronic technology and the needs of medical practice, electronic technology has been increasingly applied to the medical field. In the treatment of functional rehabilitation, electrical stimulation has become one of the important means. It uses biological responses such as muscle contraction and sensory recovery generated by electrical stimulation to control and replace biological functions, thereby achieving the purpose of treatment and functional recovery.

[0003] Currently available EMS devices typically employ a high-frequency, short-duration, and high-intensity stimulation mode. These devices are primarily used for muscle massage and relaxation, and to simulate exercise training. However, this mode is unsuitable for sustained metabolic regulation. The short-duration stimulation cannot sustainably increase the basal metabolic rate. Furthermore, while the high stimulation intensity may provide immediate training effects, it is unsuitable for prolonged use and may cause user discomfort. These issues limit the effectiveness of existing EMS devices in increasing the basal metabolic rate, making it difficult to achieve sustained and effective metabolic enhancement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main technical problem solved by this invention is that existing EMS devices have limited effectiveness in improving basal metabolic rate, making it difficult to achieve continuous and effective metabolic enhancement.

[0005] According to a first aspect, one embodiment provides a muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group, the muscle electrical stimulation device comprising:

[0006] An electrical stimulation generating unit is used to generate electrical stimulation signals;

[0007] A working mode setting module is used to configure at least one working mode; wherein configuring the working mode includes configuring the frequency and working time of the electrical stimulation signal, wherein the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset time range, the upper limit of the frequency range is less than a first threshold, and the lower limit of the time range is greater than a second threshold, so as to increase the basal metabolic rate of the soleus muscle group.

[0008] An electrical stimulation output control module is used to transmit the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group according to one of the working modes configured by the working mode setting module.

[0009] In some embodiments, the voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a voltage threshold, wherein the voltage threshold is 5V.

[0010] In some embodiments, configuring the operating mode further includes configuring the stimulation-to-interval time ratio and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal, wherein the stimulation-to-interval time ratio of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a time ratio threshold, and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a pulse width threshold.

[0011] In some embodiments, the frequency range is [0.1Hz, 1Hz], and the time range is [2 hours, 6 hours].

[0012] In some embodiments, the frequency range includes a first frequency range and a second frequency range, and the time range includes a first time range corresponding to the first frequency range and a second time range corresponding to the second frequency range. When the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the first frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the first time range. When the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the second frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the second time range.

[0013] In some embodiments, the electrical stimulation output control module includes an electrode patch whose shape matches the shape of the muscle contour of the soleus muscle group. The electrode patch is used to adhere to the user's soleus muscle group and transmit electrical stimulation signals in the configured working mode to the soleus muscle group.

[0014] In some embodiments, the electrode patches are of multiple types, and the size of different types of electrode patches is matched with the size of different soleus muscle groups; there are multiple of each type of electrode patch for application to different locations of the soleus muscle group.

[0015] In some embodiments, the muscle electrical stimulation device further includes a user interface for configuring different operating modes and displaying the frequency and duration of the electrical stimulation signal in the selected operating mode.

[0016] In some embodiments, the muscle electrical stimulation device further includes a communication module for sending device usage information of the muscle electrical stimulation device to a user's mobile device, so that the user can use the mobile device to manage data of the muscle electrical stimulation device. The device usage information includes the working mode configured by the user on the muscle electrical stimulation device and the working status of the muscle electrical stimulation device.

[0017] In some embodiments, the muscle electrical stimulation device further includes an overload protection module, which is used to detect the current and voltage parameters during the process of transmitting the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group using the electrical stimulation output control module. When the current parameter is greater than a preset current threshold or the voltage parameter is greater than a preset voltage threshold, an abnormal warning is issued and the operation of the muscle electrical stimulation device is stopped.

[0018] According to the above embodiment of the muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group, since the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal configured in the configured working mode is within a preset frequency range, wherein the upper limit of the frequency range is less than a first threshold, and the working time of the electrical stimulation signal configured in the configured working mode is within a preset time range, wherein the lower limit of the time range is greater than a second threshold, the basal metabolic rate of the soleus muscle group can be increased when the electrical stimulation signal is transmitted to the soleus muscle group according to the frequency and working time of the electrical stimulation signal in the configured working mode. Therefore, the muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group proposed in the above embodiment can achieve continuous and effective metabolic enhancement. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a muscle electrical stimulation device targeting the soleus muscle group.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another type of electrical muscle stimulation device targeting the soleus muscle group.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another type of electrical muscle stimulation device targeting the soleus muscle group.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another type of electrical muscle stimulation device targeting the soleus muscle group.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another type of electrical muscle stimulation device targeting the soleus muscle group. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by associated similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to this application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of this application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0025] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are only for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a necessary order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0026] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0027] Existing EMS devices suffer from the following main problems: 1. Inappropriate operating frequency design in specific work scenarios: Existing EMS devices generally use an operating frequency range of 1-100Hz. These devices are primarily used for muscle massage and relaxation, and exercise training simulation; their operating mode is not suitable for continuous metabolic regulation needs. 2. Limited working time: Existing EMS devices typically use a short working time mode of 15-30 minutes. This short-term stimulation cannot effectively and continuously increase the basal metabolic rate. 3. Lack of targeting: Existing EMS devices are mostly designed for whole-body use, lacking specific optimization for specific muscle groups (such as the soleus muscle), reducing the stimulation effect on the target muscle group. 4. Inappropriate intensity design: Existing EMS devices generally use a relatively strong stimulation intensity. While this design can achieve immediate training effects, it is not suitable for prolonged use and may cause discomfort. These problems result in limited effectiveness of existing EMS devices in increasing the basal metabolic rate, making it difficult to achieve sustained and effective metabolic enhancement.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 1In this embodiment of the invention, a muscle electrical stimulation device for the soleus muscle group is provided. The muscle electrical stimulation device 10 includes an electrical stimulation generating unit 101, a working mode setting module 102, and an electrical stimulation output control module 103, which are described in detail below.

[0029] The electrical stimulation generating unit 101 is used to generate an electrical stimulation signal. The waveform of the electrical stimulation signal is a square wave, and the electrical stimulation generating unit 101 can ensure the generation and output of a stable electrical stimulation signal.

[0030] In this embodiment, the voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a voltage threshold, which is 5V. Existing EMS devices generally employ strong stimulation intensity. While this design can achieve immediate training effects, it is unsuitable for prolonged use and may cause discomfort. This embodiment, by setting the voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal to be less than the voltage threshold, controls the voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal, ensuring the safety and comfort of the muscle electrical stimulation device during prolonged use by the user.

[0031] In some embodiments, the voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal can also be adjusted while ensuring that it is below a voltage threshold, and multiple adjustable voltage intensities of the electrical stimulation signal at different intensity levels are provided.

[0032] The working mode setting module 102 is used to configure at least one working mode. Configuring the working mode includes configuring the frequency and duration of the electrical stimulation signal. The frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset frequency range, and the duration of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset time range. The upper limit of the frequency range is less than a first threshold, and the lower limit of the time range is greater than a second threshold, in order to increase the basal metabolic rate of the soleus muscle group.

[0033] Existing EMS devices generally operate within a frequency range of 1-100Hz. These devices are primarily used for muscle massage and relaxation, and for simulating exercise training; their operating mode is not suitable for sustained metabolic regulation needs. Furthermore, existing EMS devices typically operate for short periods of 15-30 minutes, which is insufficient to sustainably and effectively increase the basal metabolic rate. In this embodiment, the preset frequency range is [0.1Hz, 1Hz], and the preset time range is [2 hours, 6 hours]. Using electrical stimulation signals with frequencies below 0.1Hz results in excessively long intervals, making it difficult to maintain a sustained metabolic effect. Using electrical stimulation signals with frequencies above 1Hz increases the risk of muscle fatigue and is unsuitable for prolonged use. Electrical stimulation signals within the [0.1Hz, 1Hz] frequency range can effectively increase the user's basal metabolic rate. It's worth noting that different frequencies of electrical stimulation signals within the [0.1Hz, 1Hz] range produce slightly different effects. Within this range, lower frequencies result in longer recovery times after a single electrical stimulation session, making them suitable for first-time users of muscle electrical stimulation devices. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, significantly enhance metabolism but may increase user fatigue. Therefore, configuring the electrical stimulation signal frequency within a preset range is sufficient to boost the basal metabolic rate, and different frequencies within this range will achieve different stimulation effects. Furthermore, users can choose their working time within a preset time range [2 hours, 6 hours] for flexible use in daily activities such as office work or study.

[0034] In some embodiments, configuring the operating mode further includes configuring the stimulation-to-interval time ratio and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal, wherein the stimulation-to-interval time ratio of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a time ratio threshold, and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a pulse width threshold.

[0035] In this embodiment, assuming a pulse width threshold of 200 microseconds, and since the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal is less than the threshold, the pulse width is set to 100 microseconds. It is known that the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal refers to the duration of the pulse signal, i.e., the stimulation time. The time between the end of one pulse and the beginning of the next is called the interval. Therefore, based on the pulse width and interval of the electrical stimulation signal, the stimulation-to-interval ratio can be configured, ensuring that this ratio is less than the time ratio threshold. By using an intermittent stimulation method with a pre-defined stimulation-to-interval ratio, electrical stimulation of the soleus muscle group is performed, avoiding muscle fatigue and ensuring a sustained effect.

[0036] In some embodiments, a 100-microsecond pulse can be generated every 4 seconds, thus accumulating 1,800 to 5,400 effective stimuli over a continuous working period of 2 to 6 hours. The total amount of these effective stimuli is calculated to reach the threshold requirement for increasing the basal metabolic rate.

[0037] In some embodiments, the frequency range includes a first frequency range and a second frequency range, and the time range includes a first time range corresponding to the first frequency range and a second time range corresponding to the second frequency range. When the frequency of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the first frequency range, the operating time of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the first time range. When the frequency of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the second frequency range, the operating time of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the second time range.

[0038] In this embodiment, the frequency range of [0.1Hz, 1Hz] includes a first frequency range of [0.1Hz, 0.3Hz] and a second frequency range of [0.5Hz, 1Hz]. The time range includes a first time range (4 hours, 6 hours) corresponding to the first frequency range and a second time range (2 hours, 4 hours) corresponding to the second frequency range. When the frequency of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the first frequency range [0.1Hz, 0.3Hz], the working time of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within (4 hours, 6 hours). When the frequency of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within the range [0.5Hz, 1Hz], the working time of the configured electrical stimulation signal is within [2 hours, 4 hours].

[0039] In some embodiments, when the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured in a first frequency range [0.1Hz, 0.3Hz], since the first frequency range [0.1Hz, 0.3Hz] is a lower frequency range within the [0.1Hz, 1Hz] frequency range, a longer working time can be set accordingly, i.e., the working time range can be configured as (4 hours, 6 hours), ensuring a continuous increase in muscle basal metabolic rate. Conversely, when the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured in a second frequency range [0.5Hz, 1Hz], since the second frequency range [0.5Hz, 1Hz] is a higher frequency range within the [0.1Hz, 1Hz] frequency range, a shorter working time can be set accordingly, i.e., the working time range can be configured as [2 hours, 4 hours], thereby achieving adaptive selection and adjustment of the frequency and working time of the electrical stimulation signal.

[0040] In some embodiments, when configuring the working mode, the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal can be configured to 0.25Hz. Setting the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal to 0.25Hz ensures that the muscles get sufficient rest without excessively prolonging the rest time, thus minimizing user discomfort while maintaining the stimulation effect.

[0041] The electrical stimulation output control module 103 is used to transmit electrical stimulation signals to the soleus muscle group according to one of the working modes configured by the working mode setting module 102.

[0042] In this embodiment, the electrical stimulation output control module 103 includes an electrode patch whose shape matches the shape of the muscle contour of the soleus muscle group. The electrode patch is used to adhere to the user's soleus muscle group and transmit the electrical stimulation signal in the working mode configured by the working mode setting module 102 to the soleus muscle group.

[0043] In some embodiments, the electrode patch can be an irregular elliptical shape. This irregular elliptical shape needs to match the muscle contour of the soleus muscle group. Optimizing the shape of the electrode patch based on the anatomical characteristics of the soleus muscle group improves the specificity and targeting of the muscle electrical stimulation device. In contrast, most existing EMS devices are designed for whole-body use and lack specific optimization for specific muscle groups (such as the soleus muscle), reducing the stimulation effect on the target muscle group.

[0044] In some embodiments, there are multiple types of electrode patches, and the size of different types of electrode patches is matched with the size of different soleus muscle groups. For different users, since the size of their soleus muscle group is different due to the different body sizes of the users, by designing electrode patches of different sizes and attaching them to different positions of the user's soleus muscle group, it is possible to better adapt to users of different body types and achieve more accurate signal transmission.

[0045] In some embodiments, multiple of each electrode patch are used, and multiple electrode patches are applied to different locations in the soleus muscle group to increase the number of stimulation points during electrical stimulation and improve the uniformity of stimulation.

[0046] In some embodiments, the electrode patch is specifically designed for the soleus muscle group and is an electrode structure suitable for prolonged wear, thus enabling better electrical stimulation of the user's soleus muscle group.

[0047] In some embodiments, unlike the short-term use mode of traditional devices (15 to 30 minutes), the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 of this embodiment achieves effective and continuous stimulation of slow-twitch muscle fibers through low-intensity continuous activation. This prolonged low-intensity stimulation continuously activates the energy metabolism system of the target muscle group, promoting an increase in basal metabolic rate. Intermittent stimulation avoids muscle fatigue, ensuring a sustained effect. Furthermore, this embodiment focuses on using electrical stimulation technology to activate muscles at low intensity for extended periods rather than short bursts, making it more acceptable for users to wear the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 for extended periods and to increase their basal metabolic rate during use.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments, a muscle electrical stimulation device 10 for the soleus muscle group further includes a user interface 104. The user interface 104 is used to allow the user to configure different working modes and to display the frequency and working time of the electrical stimulation signal in the user-selected working mode. For example, if the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal in the user-selected working mode is 0.25Hz and the working time is 4 hours, then the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is 0.25Hz and the working time is 4 hours, which can be displayed on the user interface 104.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments, a muscle electrical stimulation device 10 for the soleus muscle group further includes a communication module 105. The communication module 105 is used to send device usage information of the muscle electrical stimulation device to the user's mobile device, so that the user can use the mobile device to manage the data of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10. The device usage information includes the working mode configured by the user on the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 and the working status of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10. The working status of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 includes "normal operation", "standby state" and "parameter setting state". In the "normal operation" state, the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 will perform electrical stimulation on the soleus muscle group according to the set working mode, thereby inducing muscle contraction. In the "standby state", the muscle electrical stimulation device is usually in a low power consumption mode, waiting for user operation or instructions. In the "parameter setting state", the user can configure different working modes and adjust the frequency or working time of the corresponding electrical stimulation signal through the user operation interface 104. Users manage the device usage information of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 using mobile devices. This mainly refers to the user setting and changing the working mode of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 on the mobile device, or the mobile device displaying the working status of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 intuitively through charts or dashboards, so that the user can quickly understand the status of the device.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 4In some embodiments, a muscle electrical stimulation device 10 for the soleus muscle group further includes an overload protection module 106. The overload protection module 106 is used to detect the current and voltage parameters during the process of transmitting the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group using the electrical stimulation output control module 103, to prevent overvoltage and overcurrent. When the current parameter is greater than a preset current threshold or the voltage parameter is greater than a preset voltage threshold, an abnormal warning is issued and the operation of the muscle electrical stimulation device 10 is stopped to protect the circuit and the user's safety.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments, a muscle electrical stimulation device 10 for the soleus muscle group further includes a charging interface module 107, wherein the charging interface module 107 is used to provide a power input interface for the muscle electrical stimulation device 10, and a power module 20 is connected through the charging interface module 107, the power module 20 being used to provide continuous working power to the muscle electrical stimulation device 10.

[0052] The above examples illustrate the present invention only to aid in understanding it and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the principles of this invention.

Claims

1. A muscle electrical stimulation device for a musculus group of the biceps brachii, characterized in that, The muscle electrical stimulation device includes: An electrical stimulation generating unit is used to generate electrical stimulation signals; A working mode setting module is used to configure at least one working mode; wherein configuring the working mode includes configuring the frequency and working time of the electrical stimulation signal, wherein the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is within a preset time range, the upper limit of the frequency range is less than a first threshold, and the lower limit of the time range is greater than a second threshold, so as to increase the basal metabolic rate of the soleus muscle group. An electrical stimulation output control module is used to transmit the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group according to one of the working modes configured by the working mode setting module.

2. The muscle stimulation device of claim 1, wherein, The voltage intensity of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a voltage threshold, wherein the voltage threshold is 5V.

3. The muscle electrical stimulation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The configuration of the working mode further includes configuring the stimulation-to-interval time ratio and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal, wherein the stimulation-to-interval time ratio of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a time ratio threshold, and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation signal is less than a pulse width threshold.

4. The muscle electrical stimulation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The frequency range is [0.1Hz, 1Hz], and the time range is [2 hours, 6 hours].

5. The muscle electrical stimulation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The frequency range includes a first frequency range and a second frequency range, and the time range includes a first time range corresponding to the first frequency range and a second time range corresponding to the second frequency range. When the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the first frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the first time range. When the frequency of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the second frequency range, the working time of the electrical stimulation signal is configured to be within the second time range.

6. The muscle electrical stimulation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical stimulation output control module includes an electrode patch whose shape matches the shape of the muscle contour of the soleus muscle group. The electrode patch is used to adhere to the user's soleus muscle group and transmit the electrical stimulation signal in the configured working mode to the soleus muscle group.

7. The muscle electrical stimulation device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The electrode patches come in several types, and the size of different types of electrode patches is matched to the size of different soleus muscle groups; there are multiple of each type of electrode patch, which are used to be applied to different positions of the soleus muscle group.

8. The muscle electrical stimulation device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The muscle electrical stimulation device also includes a user interface, which allows the user to configure different working modes and displays the frequency and duration of the electrical stimulation signal in the selected working mode.

9. The muscle electrical stimulation device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The muscle electrical stimulation device also includes a communication module, which is used to send the device usage information of the muscle electrical stimulation device to the user's mobile device so that the user can use the mobile device to manage the data of the muscle electrical stimulation device. The device usage information includes the working mode configured by the user on the muscle electrical stimulation device and the working status of the muscle electrical stimulation device.

10. The muscle electrical stimulation device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The muscle electrical stimulation device also includes an overload protection module, which is used to detect the current and voltage parameters during the process of transmitting the electrical stimulation signal to the soleus muscle group using the electrical stimulation output control module. When the current parameter is greater than a preset current threshold or the voltage parameter is greater than a preset voltage threshold, an abnormal warning is issued and the operation of the muscle electrical stimulation device is stopped.

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