Three-wire type physiotherapy electrode slice
By designing a three-wire therapeutic electrode pad, and utilizing a conductive tube with a J-type thermocouple and conductive wire combined with an insulated flexible connector, electrotherapy and thermotherapy can be achieved. This solves the problems of difficult processing of traditional electrode pads and easy damage to sensors, reduces costs, and improves yield and durability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HENAN YOUDE MEDICAL EQUIP CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-21
AI Technical Summary
Traditional physiotherapy electrode pads require at least four leads for their heating and temperature measurement channels, resulting in difficult processing, low yield, and high cost. Furthermore, the temperature sensors are prone to damage, increasing usage costs and leading to a poor user experience.
By using a J-type thermocouple and conductive wire in conjunction with three conductive tubes on an insulated flexible connector, electrotherapy and thermotherapy can be achieved, reducing the need for separate temperature measurement channels and temperature sensors. The three-wire structure simplifies the design of the electrode pads.
It reduces the production cost of electrode sheets, improves yield and durability, simplifies the processing technology, and reduces material and labor costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN224141356U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of rehabilitation medical device technology, specifically to a three-wire physiotherapy electrode pad. Background Technology
[0002] Medical devices refer to equipment, instruments, appliances, materials, or other products used for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or relief of diseases or injuries. Physiotherapy electrodes are a type of medical device accessory used in electrotherapy, physiotherapy, and physical therapy. Physiotherapy electrodes are typically made of conductive materials and are generally used in conjunction with corresponding (medium-frequency) therapeutic devices. Traditional physiotherapy electrodes rarely utilize heating functions. Even when heating is present, it usually involves a silicone heating wire with a separate temperature sensor. The heating and temperature measurement channels of the electrode require at least four leads, making manufacturing difficult, resulting in low yield and high cost. Furthermore, the temperature sensor is prone to damage during use (generally, the temperature sensor leads are thin, and bending during electrode use can easily cause breakage). This leads to high labor and material costs, placing a financial burden on patients and resulting in a poor user experience. Therefore, a three-wire physiotherapy electrode is urgently needed to solve these problems. Utility Model Content
[0003] To address the technical problems of traditional physiotherapy electrode pads, which, while possessing heating functions, require at least four leads for their heating and temperature measurement channels, leading to difficult manufacturing processes, low yield, high cost, and easy damage to temperature sensors during use, this invention provides a three-wire physiotherapy electrode pad. This pad enables simultaneous electrotherapy and thermotherapy. A J-type thermocouple and conductive wire, along with three conductive tubes on an insulated flexible connector, achieve both electrotherapy and thermotherapy. This reduces the need for separate temperature measurement channels and sensors, saving material costs and thus lowering the production cost of the electrode pad. The electrode pad's structure is also simpler, making its manufacturing process easier and improving its yield and durability.
[0004] This invention provides a three-wire therapeutic electrode pad, comprising an insulating flexible layer and a conductive layer adhered to the insulating flexible layer. An insulating flexible connector is fixedly disposed on the insulating flexible layer, and three hollow tubes are disposed on the insulating flexible connector. A conductive tube is fixedly disposed within each hollow tube. A J-type thermocouple is fixedly disposed inside the insulating flexible layer. The end of the J-type thermocouple extends outside the insulating flexible layer and is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible connector. The conductive tube located in the middle of the insulating flexible connector is fixed and electrically connected to a conductive wire. The end of the conductive wire passes through and exits the insulating flexible layer, and is located outside the insulating flexible layer and fixed and electrically connected to the conductive layer. The conductive layer is in contact with the insulating flexible layer. When the conductive wire, conductive layer, and J-type thermocouple are energized, and the conductive layer contacts a part of the human body, electrotherapy (electric stimulation) is applied to the human body part after the conductive layer is energized. The J-type thermocouple generates heat after being energized, and the heat generated is transferred to the human body part through the insulating flexible layer and the conductive layer, achieving electrotherapy combined with heat therapy.
[0005] Furthermore, the J-type thermocouple includes a first heating wire and a second heating wire symmetrically arranged inside the insulating flexible layer. One end of the first heating wire and the second heating wire are welded and fixed to form a welding point. The other ends of the first heating wire and the second heating wire both extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer and are fixed and electrically connected to conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint.
[0006] Furthermore, the first heating wire includes an integrally bent first connecting section, a first bent section, a second bent section, and a third bent section. The second heating wire has the same structure as the first heating wire. The first connecting section, first bent section, second bent section, and third bent section on the first heating wire, as well as the first connecting section, first bent section, second bent section, and third bent section on the second heating wire, are all fixedly disposed inside the insulating flexible layer. The ends of the third bent sections on the first and second heating wires are welded and fixed to form a welding point. The first connecting sections on the first and second heating wires extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer and are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint. This structural arrangement of the first and second heating wires results in more uniform heat generation, ensuring uniform heating of the electrode plates without affecting the operation of the conductive layer.
[0007] Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the first, second, and third bent sections and a portion of the first connecting section on the first heating wire, and the first, second, and third bent sections and a portion of the first connecting section on the second heating wire, are all coated with insulating varnish. The insulating varnish prevents leakage of current in the first and second heating wires when they are energized, thus improving the safety of the electrode plates.
[0008] Furthermore, the conductive wire includes stranded multi-strand cores. A conductive tube located in the middle of the insulated flexible joint is fixed to and electrically connected to one end of the multi-strand cores. The other end of the multi-strand cores passes through and exits the insulated flexible layer, extending radially outward. This other end of the multi-strand cores is located outside the insulated flexible layer and is fixed to and electrically connected to the end face of the conductive layer. The other end of the multi-strand cores is in surface contact with the end face of the conductive layer. This surface contact between the other end of the multi-strand cores and the end face of the conductive layer ensures a tighter connection between the conductive wire and the conductive layer, as well as a tighter fit between the conductive layer and the insulated flexible layer, resulting in better conductivity of the conductive layer.
[0009] Furthermore, the insulating flexible layer and the insulating flexible joint are integrally formed.
[0010] Furthermore, the insulating flexible layer and the conductive layer are square, with the size of the insulating flexible layer being larger than that of the conductive layer, and all four corners of the insulating flexible layer and the conductive layer being chamfered. The insulating flexible layer and the conductive layer have a simple structure, making them suitable for human use.
[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0012] Compared to traditional electrode pads, the electrode pad of this invention requires at least four leads, or at least four conductive tubes, for its heating and temperature measurement channels. The first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the conductive wire together comprise only three wires, reducing the number of wires and eliminating the need for a dedicated temperature sensor and temperature measurement channel, thus saving material costs and lowering the production cost of the electrode pad. The first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the conductive wire, together with the three conductive tubes on the insulated flexible connector, enable electrotherapy and thermotherapy with the electrode pad. The electrode pad's structure is simpler, making its processing easier and improving its yield and durability. Attached Figure Description
[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a three-wire physiotherapy electrode pad according to this utility model;
[0014] The numbers in the attached diagram are:
[0015] 1. Flexible insulating layer; 11. Flexible insulating joint;
[0016] 2. Conductive layer;
[0017] 3. First heating wire; 3a. First connecting section; 3b. First bending section; 3c. Second bending section; 3d. Third bending section;
[0018] 4. Second heating wire; 4a. First connecting section; 4b. First bending section; 4c. Second bending section; 4d. Third bending section;
[0019] 5. Conductive wire; 51. Wire core;
[0020] 6. Welding points. Detailed Implementation
[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, a three-wire therapeutic electrode pad includes an insulating flexible layer 1 and a conductive layer 2 attached to the insulating flexible layer 1. An insulating flexible connector 11 is fixedly disposed on the insulating flexible layer 1, and three hollow channels are disposed on the insulating flexible connector 11. A conductive tube is fixedly disposed within each hollow channel. The conductive tube is made of copper, i.e., it is a hollow copper tube. A J-type thermocouple is fixedly disposed inside the insulating flexible layer 1. In this embodiment, the J-type thermocouple can carry a current of 3A (amperes) and has approximately 10Ω (ohms). The resistance value can maximize the heating power. The end of the J-type thermocouple extends to the outside of the insulating flexible layer 1 and is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint 11. The conductive tube located in the middle of the insulating flexible joint 11 is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive wire 5. The end of the conductive wire 5 passes through the insulating flexible layer 1 and exits. The end of the conductive wire 5 is located outside the insulating flexible layer 1 and is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive layer 2. The conductive layer 2 is in contact with the insulating flexible layer 1, that is, the conductive layer 2 is tightly attached to the top of the insulating flexible layer 1.
[0023] In this embodiment, the electrode pads are used in a manner where the ends of the J-type thermocouple are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulated flexible joint 11, and the conductive wire 5 is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tube and conductive layer 2 located in the middle of the insulated flexible joint 11. When the electrode pads are connected to an external power source, specifically, after the three conductive tubes in the insulated flexible joint 11 are connected to an external power source, the conductive wire 5, conductive layer 2, and J-type thermocouple are energized. The conductive layer 2 comes into contact with a certain part of the human body, and after the conductive layer 2 is energized, it provides electrotherapy (electric stimulation) to the human body. The J-type thermocouple generates heat after being energized, and the heat generated is transferred to the human body through the insulated flexible layer 1 and conductive layer 2, thus achieving electrotherapy combined with heat therapy, thereby improving the treatment effect.
[0024] Because a J-type thermocouple is used, the J-type thermocouple can be switched between heating and temperature measurement modes (temperature measurement is achieved through thermocouple sampling) via an external circuit (which can be understood as an external control terminal), thereby achieving accurate temperature control of the J-type thermocouple. To further explain, the conductive tube located in the middle of the insulated flexible joint 11 is the integrated channel for electrical stimulation, while the conductive tubes on both sides of the insulated flexible joint 11 are integrated channels shared for heating and temperature measurement. The three conductive tubes are independent, while the conductive tubes on both sides of the insulated flexible joint 11 are shared for both heating and temperature measurement. The J-type thermocouple works in conjunction with the conductive tubes on both sides of the insulated flexible joint 11. The J-type thermocouple uses a dual-wire polling switching method, allowing the control terminal (external circuit) to control the J-type thermocouple to alternately perform temperature measurement and heating, achieving dual-wire temperature control of the J-type thermocouple.
[0025] Compared to traditional electrode pads, the electrode pads in this embodiment require at least four leads (i.e., at least four conductive tubes) for their heating and temperature measurement channels. The J-type thermocouple and conductive wire 5, combined with the three conductive tubes on the insulated flexible connector 11, enable electrotherapy and thermotherapy on the electrode pad. This simplifies the design of the insulated flexible connector 11 and reduces the number of conductive tubes required. Furthermore, it simplifies the manufacturing process. By eliminating the need for a dedicated temperature sensor and a separate temperature measurement channel, material costs are saved, thus reducing the production cost of the electrode pad. The electrode pad's structure is also simpler, making its processing easier and improving the yield rate and durability during use. Both labor and material costs are reduced.
[0026] The electrode pad in this embodiment enables electrotherapy and thermotherapy simultaneously. The J-type thermocouple and conductive wire 5, together with the three conductive tubes on the insulated flexible connector 11, can realize the electrotherapy and thermotherapy of the electrode pad. This reduces the need for separate temperature measurement channels and temperature sensors, saves material costs, and thus reduces the production cost of the electrode pad. The structure of the electrode pad is simpler, so the processing technology of the electrode pad becomes easier, while also improving the yield and durability of the electrode pad.
[0027] In one possible implementation, the J-type thermocouple includes a first heating wire 3 and a second heating wire 4 symmetrically arranged inside the insulating flexible layer 1. The first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 are made of different materials and are symmetrically arranged with the center line of the insulating flexible layer 1 as the center. One end of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 are welded and fixed to form a welding point 6. One end of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 are arc welded to fully fuse them to form a J-type thermocouple. The welding point 6 is also the temperature measuring point. The first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 form a circuit. The other ends of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 both extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer 1 and are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint 11. Preferably, the first heating wire 3 is made of a first material, which is a single-core iron material, and the second heating wire 4 is made of a second material, which is a single-core copper-nickel alloy material. The working principle of the J-type thermocouple is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.
[0028] When the J-type thermocouple is energized, the external circuit controls the J-type thermocouple to heat up, the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 generate heat, and the heat generated is transferred to the human body through the insulating flexible layer 1 and the conductive layer 2; the external circuit controls the J-type thermocouple to measure temperature, and the temperature of the welding point 6 of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 is the temperature of the J-type thermocouple.
[0029] Compared to traditional electrode pads, which require at least four leads for heating and temperature measurement channels, this electrode pad uses only three leads: the first heating wire 3, the second heating wire 4, and the conductive wire 5. This reduces the number of leads and eliminates the need for a dedicated temperature sensor and temperature measurement channel. The first heating wire 3, the second heating wire 4, and the conductive wire 5, together with the three conductive tubes on the insulated flexible connector 11, can achieve electrotherapy and thermotherapy on the electrode pad. The structure of the electrode pad is simpler, thus making the processing technology easier and improving the yield and durability of the electrode pad.
[0030] In one possible implementation, the first heating wire 3 includes an integrally bent first connecting section 3a, a first bent section 3b, a second bent section 3c, and a third bent section 3d. The second heating wire 4 has the same structure as the first heating wire 3. The first connecting section 3a, the first bent section 3b, the second bent section 3c, and the third bent section 3d on the first heating wire 3, and the first connecting section 4a, the first bent section 4b, the second bent section 4c, and the third bent section 4d on the second heating wire 4 are all fixedly disposed inside the insulating flexible layer 1. The ends of the third bent section 3d on the first heating wire 3 and the third bent section 4d on the second heating wire 4 are welded and fixed to form a welding point 6. The first connecting section 3a on the first heating wire 3 and the first connecting section 4a on the second heating wire 4 extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer 1 and are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible connector 11. The structure of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 in this embodiment is configured in this way, resulting in more uniform heat generation, which heats the electrode sheet evenly, without affecting the operation of the conductive layer 2.
[0031] In one possible implementation, the outer surfaces of the first bent section 3b, second bent section 3c, third bent section 3d, and part of the first connecting section 3a on the first heating wire 3, and the first bent section 4b, second bent section 4c, third bent section 4d, and part of the first connecting section 4a on the second heating wire 4, are all coated with insulating varnish. The insulating varnish is applied to the portions of the first connecting section 3a on the first heating wire 3 and the first connecting section 4a on the second heating wire 4, except for the parts fixedly connected to the conductive tube. The insulating varnish prevents leakage of current when the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 are energized, thus improving the safety of the electrode plates.
[0032] In one possible implementation, the conductive wire 5 includes stranded multi-strand cores 51, which are twisted together. A conductive tube located in the middle of the insulated flexible joint 11 is fixed to and electrically connected to one end of the multi-strand cores 51. The other end of the multi-strand cores 51 passes through and exits the insulated flexible layer 1. The other end of the multi-strand cores 51 extends outward in a radial pattern. The other end of the multi-strand cores 51 is located outside the insulated flexible layer 1 and is fixed to and electrically connected to the end face of the conductive layer 2. The other end of the multi-strand cores 51 is in surface contact with the end face of the conductive layer 2. The other end of the multi-strand core 51 extends outward in a radial pattern. After the other end of the multi-strand core 51 is fixed and electrically connected to different positions on the end face of the conductive layer 2, the other end of the multi-strand core 51 is in surface contact with the end face of the conductive layer 2. This makes the conductive wire 5 and the conductive layer 2 more tightly connected, and also makes the conductive layer 2 tightly adhere to the insulating flexible layer 1 (the conductive layer 2 is fixed on the insulating flexible layer 1), and the conductivity of the conductive layer 2 is better.
[0033] In one possible implementation, the insulating flexible layer 1 and the insulating flexible connector 11 are integrally formed, and the insulating flexible layer 1 and the insulating flexible connector 11 are made of silicone material, wherein the insulating flexible layer 1 and the insulating flexible connector 11 are formed by injection molding.
[0034] The assembly method of the electrode sheet is briefly described below. A J-type thermocouple is selected. The ends of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 of the J-type thermocouple are welded and fixed. Then, the other ends of the first heating wire 3 and the second heating wire 4 are fixedly connected to two conductive tubes respectively. The third conductive tube is fixedly connected to the conductive wire 5. The end of the conductive wire 5 away from the conductive tube extends outward in a radial pattern. Then, the above structure is injection molded and encapsulated. The insulating flexible layer 1 and the insulating flexible connector 11 are integrally injection molded onto the above structure. The three conductive tubes are respectively located in the three hollow tubes of the insulating flexible connector 11, and the end of the conductive wire 5 is also located outside the insulating flexible layer 1. Then, the end of the conductive wire 5 is bonded and fixed to the conductive layer 2, so that the conductive layer 2 is tightly attached to the insulating flexible layer 1.
[0035] In one possible implementation, the insulating flexible layer 1 and the conductive layer 2 are square, with the size of the insulating flexible layer 1 being larger than the size of the conductive layer 2, and chamfered corners provided at all four corners of both the insulating flexible layer 1 and the conductive layer 2. The insulating flexible layer 1 and the conductive layer 2 have a simple structure, making them suitable for human use.
[0036] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model and are only used to explain this utility model. They are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other implementation methods can be easily made by substitution or modification based on the technical content disclosed in this specification. Therefore, all changes and improvements made to the principles and process conditions of this utility model should be included within the scope of the patent application of this utility model.
Claims
1. A three-wire physiotherapy electrode sheet comprising an insulating flexible layer (1) and an electrically conductive layer (2) arranged in abutment above the insulating flexible layer (1), characterized in that, An insulating flexible joint (11) is fixedly installed on the insulating flexible layer (1). Three hollow pipes are installed on the insulating flexible joint (11). A conductive pipe is fixedly installed in each hollow pipe. A J-type thermocouple is fixedly installed inside the insulating flexible layer (1). The end of the J-type thermocouple extends out to the outside of the insulating flexible layer (1) and is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive pipes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint (11). The conductive pipe located in the middle of the insulating flexible joint (11) is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive wire (5). The end of the conductive wire (5) extends into and out of the insulating flexible layer (1). The end of the conductive wire (5) is located outside the insulating flexible layer (1) and is fixed and electrically connected to the conductive layer (2). The conductive layer (2) is in contact with the insulating flexible layer (1).
2. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 1, wherein, The J-type thermocouple includes a first heating wire (3) and a second heating wire (4) symmetrically arranged inside the insulating flexible layer (1). One end of the first heating wire (3) and the second heating wire (4) are welded and fixed to form a welding point (6). The other ends of the first heating wire (3) and the second heating wire (4) both extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer (1) and are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint (11).
3. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 2, wherein, The first heating wire (3) includes an integrally bent first connecting section (3a), a first bent section (3b), a second bent section (3c), and a third bent section (3d). The second heating wire (4) has the same structure as the first heating wire (3). The first connecting section (3a), first bent section (3b), second bent section (3c), and third bent section (3d) on the first heating wire (3) and the first connecting section (4a), first bent section (4b), and second bent section (3d) on the second heating wire (4) are also included. Both 4c) and the third bending section (4d) are fixedly disposed inside the insulating flexible layer (1). The end of the third bending section (3d) on the first heating wire (3) and the end of the third bending section (4d) on the second heating wire (4) are welded and fixed to form a welding point (6). The first connecting section (3a) on the first heating wire (3) and the first connecting section (4a) on the second heating wire (4) extend to the outside of the insulating flexible layer (1) and are fixed and electrically connected to the conductive tubes located on both sides of the insulating flexible joint (11).
4. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 3, wherein, Insulating varnish is provided on the outer surfaces of the first bent section (3b), the second bent section (3c), the third bent section (3d) and part of the first connecting section (3a) on the first heating wire (3) and the first bent section (4b), the second bent section (4c), the third bent section (4d) and part of the first connecting section (4a) on the second heating wire (4).
5. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 1, wherein, The conductive wire (5) includes stranded multi-strand cores (51). The conductive tube located in the middle of the insulating flexible joint (11) is fixed to and electrically connected to one end of the multi-strand cores (51). The other end of the multi-strand cores (51) passes through and exits the insulating flexible layer (1). The other end of the multi-strand cores (51) extends outward in a radial pattern. The other end of the multi-strand cores (51) is located outside the insulating flexible layer (1) and is fixed to and electrically connected to the end face of the conductive layer (2). The other end of the multi-strand cores (51) is in surface contact with the end face of the conductive layer (2).
6. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 1, wherein, The insulating flexible layer (1) and the insulating flexible joint (11) are integrally formed.
7. The three-wire physiotherapy electrode patch of claim 1, wherein, The insulating flexible layer (1) and the conductive layer (2) are square, the size of the insulating flexible layer (1) is larger than the size of the conductive layer (2), and the four corners of the insulating flexible layer (1) and the conductive layer (2) are all chamfered.