Multifunctional physiotherapy electrode sheet based on graphene

Abstract

The application discloses a multifunctional graphene-based physiotherapy electrode sheet, which comprises an insulating substrate made of insulating silicone rubber material, a second terminal is installed at one side end of the insulating substrate, a mounting recess is formed on the top surface of the insulating substrate, a non-woven fabric gasket, a conductive heat film sheet and a multifunctional sheet are arranged in a stack from top to bottom in the mounting recess, wherein the conductive heat film sheet is made of graphene composite conductive material and is electrically connected to the second terminal, temperature sensors are installed at multiple positions in the multifunctional sheet, the temperature sensors are electrically connected to the second terminal and are used for detecting the temperatures of different positions of the conductive heat film sheet, and the multifunctional sheet is connected with external equipment through the second terminal and a lead wire; the multifunctional sheet is integrally formed with upper connecting strips and lower connecting strips which are arranged at a certain distance and are uniformly arranged on the top surface and the bottom surface of the multifunctional substrate respectively, the strip structure design in the form of a fence enables the multifunctional sheet to be bendable in the longitudinal direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical rehabilitation and physiotherapy equipment technology, specifically a multifunctional physiotherapy electrode sheet based on graphene. Background Technology

[0002] In the fields of medical rehabilitation and daily healthcare, physiotherapy electrodes, as key components connecting physiotherapy instruments to the human body, directly affect the therapeutic effect and user experience. Traditional physiotherapy electrodes mostly use a metal conductive layer or ordinary conductive rubber as the conductive medium, in conjunction with heating elements. However, these types of electrodes generally suffer from the following problems:

[0003] First, the conductive and heating layers of traditional electrode pads are mostly rigid or semi-rigid structures, making it difficult to fully conform to the complex curved surfaces of the human body, such as joints, neck, and waist. Poor fit leads to a reduction in the effective conductive area, resulting in excessively high local current density, which can easily cause stinging sensations or even burns to the skin. At the same time, uneven heating can also reduce the effectiveness of thermotherapy and affect patient comfort.

[0004] Secondly, existing methods for monitoring the temperature of electrode plates are relatively limited. Typically, a single temperature sensor is placed only at the center or edge of the electrode plate, which cannot comprehensively reflect the temperature distribution across the entire heating surface. When heat accumulates due to bending, displacement, or poor local contact of the electrode plate, a single sensor cannot detect the risk of localized overheating in a timely manner, posing a safety hazard.

[0005] Furthermore, although some multifunctional electrode sheets integrate multiple functions such as conductivity, heating, and temperature measurement, their internal structure is complex, the connection between functional layers is not stable enough, and the layers are prone to slippage or separation due to repeated bending, which affects the product's service life and reliability.

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, while existing technologies have attempted to employ flexible circuit boards or elastic connection structures, these approaches often come at the cost of compromise: some improve fit but sacrifice comprehensive temperature measurement, while others enhance heating uniformity but result in excessively thick and heavy structures. Therefore, there is a need for a novel therapeutic electrode pad that can achieve accurate multi-point temperature measurement, ensure good flexibility and fit, and possess a compact structure and reliable connections. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multifunctional physiotherapy electrode based on graphene to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0009] A graphene-based multifunctional therapeutic electrode pad includes an insulating substrate made of insulating silicone rubber material, with a second terminal mounted on one side of the insulating substrate. The pad is characterized by: a mounting recess formed on the top surface of the insulating substrate, in which a non-woven fabric pad, a conductive thermal film, and a multifunctional pad are stacked from top to bottom; the conductive thermal film is made of graphene composite conductive material and electrically connected to the second terminal; multiple temperature sensors are mounted on the multifunctional pad, electrically connected to the second terminal, for detecting the temperature at different locations on the conductive thermal film; and the pad is uniformly connected to an external device via the second terminal and wires.

[0010] Furthermore, the multifunctional sheet includes a multifunctional substrate and a first terminal disposed on one side of the multifunctional substrate, the first terminal being electrically connected to a second terminal; a plurality of upper connecting strips are integrally formed on the top surface of the multifunctional substrate at a certain distance, and a plurality of lower connecting strips are integrally formed on its bottom surface at a certain distance, the temperature sensor being mounted on the upper connecting strips.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper connecting strip is a long strip with a trapezoidal cross-section, and its top surface is connected to the conductive heat film with adhesive; the lower connecting strip is a long strip with an inverted trapezoidal cross-section, and its bottom surface is connected to the mounting recess of the insulating substrate with adhesive.

[0012] Furthermore, a mounting hole is formed in the middle of the top surface of part of the upper connecting strip, and the temperature sensor is installed in the mounting hole.

[0013] Furthermore, the upper connecting strip end face is connected to a wire conduit, one end of which is connected to the first terminal; the sensing wire of the temperature sensor passes through the upper connecting strip and runs along the wire conduit, eventually being electrically connected to the first terminal.

[0014] Furthermore, the minimum distance between the elongated bodies is half the length of the base of the trapezoidal cross-section.

[0015] Furthermore, the non-woven fabric pad is a wet cloth that has absorbed the physiotherapy liquid.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] 1. The graphene-based multifunctional therapeutic electrode pad provided by this invention features upper and lower connecting strips integrally formed at a certain distance on the top and bottom surfaces of its multifunctional substrate. This "comb-like" or "fence-like" strip structure design gives the multifunctional pad excellent flexibility in the longitudinal direction. When the electrode pad is attached to curved areas such as the elbow, knee, or shoulder, relative displacement and deformation occur between the connecting strips, allowing the electrode pad to naturally conform to the contours of the skin surface and achieve a large-area close fit. This effectively increases the effective contact area between the conductive heating film and the skin, improving the efficiency of electrical stimulation and heat conduction; furthermore, the uniform fit avoids local pressure concentration, significantly improving user comfort.

[0018] 2. Simultaneously, this invention forms a mounting hole in the center of the top surface of the upper connecting strip, and installs temperature sensors in multiple mounting holes within these holes. This layout allows the temperature sensors to be distributed across different areas beneath the conductive heating film, forming a multi-point temperature measurement network. The sensing wires of each temperature sensor are routed uniformly through a common conduit connected to the end face of the upper connecting strip, ultimately converging at the first terminal. This not only enables real-time, independent monitoring of the temperature at different locations on the conductive heating film, effectively preventing localized overheating and improving safety, but also provides excellent constraint and protection for the sensing wires, preventing tangled wiring and damage from pulling, thus enhancing the product's reliability and durability. Furthermore, the non-woven fabric pad, as the layer directly in contact with the skin, can absorb therapeutic medication, adding iontophoresis effects to the electro-thermal physical action, further expanding the therapeutic function of the electrode pad. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is an exploded view illustrating the structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the image;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A magnified view of part B in the image;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a right view and a partial enlarged view of the multifunctional sheet of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the finished product of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of the right cross-section of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1-Non-woven fabric pad; 2-Conductive thermal film; 3-Multifunctional sheet; 31-Multifunctional substrate; 32-Upper connecting strip; 33-Lower connecting strip; 34-Mounting hole; 35-First terminal; 36-Wire conduit; 37-Temperature sensor; 371-Sensing wire; 4-Insulating substrate; 41-Second terminal. Detailed Implementation

[0026] 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.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the present invention provides a graphene-based multifunctional therapeutic electrode sheet, which mainly includes an insulating substrate 4, and a non-woven fabric pad 1, a conductive thermal film 2, and a multifunctional sheet 3 (specifically as shown) stacked on top of the insulating substrate 4 from top to bottom. Figure 6 (As shown, the electrodes are stacked together). The insulating substrate 4 is preferably made of insulating silicone rubber, which has excellent electrical insulation, flexibility, and temperature resistance, providing stable base support for the entire electrode pad. A second terminal 41 is installed on one side of the insulating substrate 4. This second terminal 41 serves as the main interface for power and signal transmission between the electrode pad and the external physiotherapy device, allowing for unified connection to the external device via wires.

[0028] Furthermore, a mounting recess is formed on the top surface of the insulating substrate 4. The shape and size of the mounting recess are designed to precisely accommodate the components of the aforementioned stacked structure, serving a positioning and limiting function to prevent horizontal slippage of the layers during use. The conductive heating film 2 is made of graphene composite conductive material, which not only has excellent conductivity but also good electrothermal conversion efficiency, enabling it to generate heat quickly and uniformly after being energized, thus achieving a thermotherapy function. The conductive heating film 2 is electrically connected to the second terminal 41 to receive power from an external device. Simultaneously, multiple temperature sensors 37 are installed in the multifunctional sheet 3. These temperature sensors 37 are also electrically connected to the second terminal 41 to detect the temperature at different locations on the conductive heating film 2 in real time and feed the temperature signal back to the control system of the external device, thereby achieving closed-loop temperature control management.

[0029] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the multifunctional chip 3 includes a multifunctional substrate 31 and a first terminal 35 disposed on one side of the multifunctional substrate 31. The multifunctional substrate 31 is also preferably integrally molded from a polymer material (e.g., silicone rubber or polyurethane) with insulating and flexible properties. The first terminal 35 corresponds to the second terminal 41. After assembly, the first terminal 35 and the second terminal 41 are electrically connected by plugging or soldering, thereby converging the signals and power of the various electronic components inside the multifunctional chip 3 to the second terminal 41.

[0030] On the top surface of the multifunctional substrate 31, a plurality of upper connecting strips 32 are integrally formed and evenly arranged at a certain distance. These upper connecting strips 32 are elongated strips with a trapezoidal cross-section, that is, their top width is smaller than their bottom width. This shape design helps to enhance the bonding strength between the upper connecting strips 32 and the conductive thermal film 2 located on them. Specifically, the top surface of the upper connecting strips 32 is tightly bonded to the lower surface of the conductive thermal film 2 by coating with an adhesive (such as conductive adhesive or thermally conductive double-sided tape). The trapezoidal structure optimizes the bonding area in the vertical direction, ensuring sufficient bonding force while allowing a certain degree of elastic deformation during bending, thus preventing the adhesive layer from peeling off.

[0031] Similarly, on the bottom surface of the multifunctional substrate 31, a plurality of lower connecting strips 33 are integrally formed, evenly arranged at certain intervals. Each lower connecting strip 33 is a long strip with an inverted trapezoidal cross-section, meaning its bottom width is smaller than its top width. The bottom surface of the lower connecting strip 33 is connected to the bottom wall of the mounting recess of the insulating substrate 4 using adhesive. This inverted trapezoidal structure also aims to optimize adhesion performance, ensuring a firm bond between the multifunctional sheet 3 and the insulating substrate 4.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the upper connecting strip 32 and the lower connecting strip 33 are arranged parallel to each other and alternately staggered on the multifunctional substrate 31 to balance the stress distribution of the entire multifunctional sheet 3. More preferably, the minimum distance between two adjacent strips (whether between the upper connecting strip 32 or the lower connecting strip 33) is set to half the length of the base of the trapezoidal cross-section. This spacing ratio has been repeatedly tested and verified, and can maximize the release of internal stress generated during bending while ensuring that the multifunctional sheet 3 has sufficient structural strength. This allows the electrode sheet to easily adapt to the curves of various parts of the human body, greatly improving the conformity and comfort of the application.

[0033] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a mounting hole 34 is formed in the middle of the top surface of a portion of the upper connecting strip 32 for mounting the temperature sensor 37. It should be noted that "partial" means that not all upper connecting strips 32 need to have mounting holes 34. Instead, mounting holes 34 can be provided on several upper connecting strips 32 evenly distributed throughout the heating area, depending on the actual temperature measurement requirements. For example, several upper connecting strips 32 can be selected in the central area and at both edge areas (e.g.,...). Figure 1 (As shown). The temperature sensor 37 is embedded in the mounting hole 34. Preferably, the temperature sensor 37 is an NTC thermistor or a digital temperature sensor chip, which is small in size, responds quickly, and can accurately sense the temperature change at this local location of the conductive thermal film 2.

[0034] To organize and protect the signal lines of these temperature sensors 37, a common conduit 36 ​​is connected to the same end of all upper connecting strips 32 (i.e., the end closest to the first terminal 35). One end of the conduit 36 ​​is closed, and the other end is open and connected to the location of the first terminal 35. In one specific embodiment, the conduit 36 ​​and the upper connecting strip 32 are also integrally formed, creating a channel extending along the side of the multifunctional substrate 31. The sensing wires 371 of the temperature sensors 37 pass through the bottom of the mounting hole 34, through the interior of the upper connecting strip 32 (which may have pre-set microchannels), and then converge into the conduit 36, arranged uniformly along the direction of the conduit 36, ultimately connecting electrically to the corresponding pin of the first terminal 35. This wiring method not only makes the internal wiring of the electrode sheet neat and orderly, preventing the sensing wires 371 from being squeezed or broken during stacking and assembly, but also, as a longitudinal reinforcing rib, the conduit 36 ​​itself improves the overall tensile strength of the multifunctional substrate 3 to a certain extent.

[0035] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nonwoven pad 1 is made of medical nonwoven fabric with good moisture absorption and breathability. Before use, the nonwoven pad 1 can absorb an appropriate amount of therapeutic solution (such as traditional Chinese medicine extract or physiological saline) to become a moist conductive medium. When the electrode pad is attached to the skin, the nonwoven pad 1 directly contacts the skin, acting as a conductive layer in conjunction with the conductive heating film 2 to uniformly transmit the electrical stimulation signal to the skin surface. Furthermore, under the thermal effect generated by the conductive heating film 2, the effective components in the therapeutic solution can more effectively penetrate the skin barrier, achieving a synergistic therapeutic effect of drug iontophoresis, further broadening the clinical application range of the electrode pad.

[0036] During assembly, the temperature sensor 37 and its sensing wire 371 are first installed at the predetermined position on the multifunctional piece 3, and the sensing wire 371 is arranged along the wire tube 36 and soldered to the first terminal 35. Then, adhesive is applied to the top surface of the upper connecting strip 32 and the bottom surface of the lower connecting strip 33 of the multifunctional piece 3, and the conductive heating film 2 is accurately attached above the upper connecting strip 32. Simultaneously, the entire multifunctional piece 3 is attached to the mounting recess of the insulating substrate 4. Next, the first terminal 35 and the second terminal 41 are electrically connected. Finally, a layer of medical-grade pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the conductive heating film 2, and the non-woven fabric pad 1 is covered and attached to the top layer. This completes the assembly of the entire electrode pad. In use, simply connect the second terminal 41 to the dedicated physiotherapy unit via an external wire, attach the electrode pad to the affected area, and physiotherapy can begin.

[0037] When the electrode pads are in operation, the external device supplies power to the conductive heating film 2 via the second terminal 41. The graphene composite conductive material rapidly generates Joule heating, and the heat is conducted to the skin via the upper connecting strip 32 and the non-woven fabric pad 1. Simultaneously, multiple temperature sensors 37, distributed at different locations, collect temperature data for their respective areas in real time and feed it back to the external device via the second terminal 41. The control system of the external device dynamically adjusts the output power based on these feedback signals to ensure uniform and safe temperature across the entire heating surface. If an area experiences an abnormal temperature rise due to electrode pad bending or poor contact, the control system can quickly identify and take appropriate action (such as reducing power or issuing an alarm), effectively preventing burns.

[0038] It should be further noted that the strip-shaped structures of the upper connecting strip 32 and the lower connecting strip 33 in this invention are not limited to straight elongated strips. Provided that flexibility and uniform arrangement are met, they can also be designed as wavy or arc-shaped to adapt to the requirements of electrode sheets with special shapes. Furthermore, although the temperature sensor 37 is installed in the mounting hole 34 on the top surface of the upper connecting strip 32 in this embodiment, in other embodiments not shown, the temperature sensor 37 can also be embedded inside or on the side of the upper connecting strip 32, as long as it can effectively sense the temperature of the conductive thermal film 2. These simple substitutions are all within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0039] In summary, this invention effectively solves the problems of poor adhesion, incomplete temperature measurement, and messy wiring associated with traditional electrode pads through its ingenious multifunctional strip structure design and multi-point temperature measurement layout. The various functional layers are firmly bonded together using adhesive and trapezoidal cross-section connecting strips, maintaining good integrity and reliable electrical connections even under repeated bending and use. This electrode pad can be used for simple electrical stimulation therapy or heat therapy, and can also be combined with medication for iontophoresis. It boasts advantages such as multifunctionality, high safety, and long lifespan, making it suitable for widespread application in medical institutions at all levels and in home rehabilitation care.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multifunctional therapeutic electrode pad based on graphene, comprising an insulating substrate (4) made of insulating silicone rubber material, wherein a second terminal (41) is mounted on one end of the insulating substrate (4), characterized in that: The top surface of the insulating substrate (4) forms a mounting recess, in which a non-woven fabric pad (1), a conductive thermal film (2) and a multifunctional sheet (3) are stacked from top to bottom. The conductive thermal film (2) is made of graphene composite conductive material and is electrically connected to the second terminal (41). Multiple temperature sensors (37) are installed in the multifunctional sheet (3), and the temperature sensors (37) are electrically connected to the second terminal (41) to detect the temperature at different positions of the conductive thermal film (2). They are connected to external devices through the second terminal (41) and wires.

2. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multifunctional chip (3) includes a multifunctional substrate (31) and a first terminal (35) disposed on one side of the multifunctional substrate (31). The first terminal (35) is electrically connected to a second terminal (41). The top surface of the multifunctional substrate (31) is integrally formed with a plurality of upper connecting strips (32) evenly arranged at a certain distance, and the bottom surface is integrally formed with a plurality of lower connecting strips (33) evenly arranged at a certain distance. The temperature sensor (37) is mounted on the upper connecting strips (32).

3. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper connecting strip (32) is a long strip with a trapezoidal cross-section, and its top surface is connected to the conductive heat film (2) by adhesive. The lower connecting strip (33) is a long strip with an inverted trapezoidal cross-section, and its bottom surface is connected to the mounting recess of the insulating substrate (4) by adhesive.

4. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 2, characterized in that: A mounting hole (34) is formed in the middle of the top surface of the upper connecting strip (32), and the temperature sensor (37) is installed in the mounting hole (34).

5. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper connecting strip (32) is connected to the wire tube (36) at one end, and one end of the wire tube (36) is connected to the first terminal (35); the sensing wire (371) of the temperature sensor (37) passes through the upper connecting strip (32) and runs along the wire tube (36) and is finally electrically connected to the first terminal (35).

6. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 3, characterized in that: The minimum distance between the elongated bodies is half the length of the base of the trapezoidal cross-section.

7. The multifunctional physiotherapy electrode pad according to claim 1, characterized in that: The non-woven fabric pad (1) is a wet cloth that has absorbed the physiotherapy liquid.

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