Type 2 diabetes treatment device

Abstract

To provide a type 2 diabetes treatment device that reliably warms an affected area to activate insulin secretion.SOLUTION: A type 2 diabetes treatment device includes: two plate-shaped electrodes (301, 601); a through-hole (601a) that is formed in the thickness direction in at least one of the two plate-shaped electrodes; and a high-frequency power supply (400) that supplies high-frequency power to the two plate-shaped electrodes. Preferably, a cylindrical through-hole is symmetrically provided relative to the center of the plate-shaped electrode. Additionally, the diameter of the through-hole is preferably between 1% and 10% of the diameter of the plate-shaped electrode formed with the through-hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. [Background technology]

[0002] When a person eats, sugar is taken into the blood, and the concentration of sugar in the blood (blood glucose level) rises. When blood glucose level rises, a hormone called insulin is secreted from the pancreas. The insulin secreted from the pancreas is transported throughout the body along with the blood, and the sugar in the blood is converted into an energy source called glycogen in the liver and muscles or stored as fat, lowering blood glucose level. When diabetes develops, insulin secretion slows down, the amount of insulin secreted decreases, or the insulin action weakens, making it difficult to lower blood glucose level. If blood glucose level remains high for a long period of time, damage will occur to blood vessels throughout the body, and if the condition worsens, complications that greatly reduce quality of life (QOL), such as blindness, kidney failure, and leg amputation, as well as diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction will become more likely to occur.

[0003] There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the beta cells in the pancreas are damaged, resulting in little or no insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas produces insulin but in insufficient amounts, or the insulin produced does not function properly. Type 2 diabetes is also known as a lifestyle-related disease, as it is caused by obesity, lack of exercise, and poor diet.

[0004] It is estimated that approximately 10 million people in Japan suffer from diabetes, and many of them suffer from type 2 diabetes, also known as a lifestyle-related disease. Type 2 diabetes patients are first given lifestyle guidance to correct poor eating and exercise habits. If blood glucose levels do not fall sufficiently even after lifestyle improvements, drug therapy using blood glucose lowering drugs is used. Type 2 diabetes patients who do not achieve sufficient results from drug therapy, or pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who cannot take blood glucose lowering drugs due to effects on the fetus, are given insulin treatment to artificially supplement insulin.

[0005] While drug therapy lowers blood sugar levels by administering drugs, insulin therapy is a symptomatic treatment that artificially supplements insulin to lower blood sugar levels and does not improve the insulin secretion function of the pancreas. Therefore, there is a demand for technology that can treat the pancreas, which is the cause of diabetes.

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes a hepatitis C treatment device that includes a pair of disk-shaped electrodes and a high-frequency power source that supplies high-frequency power to the pair of electrodes. In this device, a pair of electrodes is placed on the patient's body surface to sandwich the affected liver, and the liver is heated by supplying high-frequency power to the pair of electrodes. Patent Document 1 describes that the effect of treating hepatitis C is obtained by heating the liver in this way. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-131033 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is expected that the secretion state of insulin will be improved by heating the pancreas. However, while Patent Document 1 states that the heating treatment was effective for some patients with hepatitis C, it also states that the treatment was not effective for some patients, and it is considered that the reason for this is that the affected area was not heated sufficiently. Therefore, in order to use such a device in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to heat the affected area more reliably.

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus that can reliably heat the affected area and activate insulin secretion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention provides a type 2 diabetes treatment device that solves the above problems, Two plate electrodes; a through hole formed in a thickness direction of at least one of the two plate-shaped electrodes; a high frequency power source for supplying high frequency power to the two plate electrodes; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0011] When using the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to the present invention, two plate electrodes are placed on the surface of the patient's body so as to sandwich the affected area (for example, the patient's pancreas or liver), and high-frequency power is applied to these plate electrodes. At least one of these two plate electrodes has a through-hole formed in the thickness direction. By heating the patient's pancreas, it is possible to directly act on the pancreas and activate insulin secretion. In addition, by heating the patient's liver, it is possible to improve (complement) the blood flow to the pancreas and activate insulin secretion from the pancreas.

[0012] When two plate-shaped electrodes are placed on the body surface with the affected area in between and high-frequency power is supplied to them, an electric field is formed, and this electric field causes a high-frequency displacement current (also called electric flux current) to flow inside the human body, which is a dielectric. In a hepatitis C treatment device that supplies high-frequency power to two plate-shaped electrodes with flat opposing surfaces as described in Patent Document 1, the displacement current generated at the center of the disk-shaped electrodes flows linearly from one electrode to the other, while the displacement current generated at the periphery of the electrodes flows from one electrode to the other while bulging outward from the space between the two electrodes. Therefore, the displacement current becomes coarser as it moves away from the center of the electrode pair, which is thought to have made it difficult to heat the affected area. Such a current without electron flow is called a displacement current, and is distinguished from a conductive current with electron flow. In addition, since the displacement current does not involve electron flow, there is no resistance that occurs when a conductive current flows.

[0013] In the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to the present invention, at least one of the two plate electrodes has a through hole formed in the thickness direction. When a through hole is formed in the thickness direction of the plate electrodes, the displacement current tends to concentrate in the vicinity of the through hole. Therefore, the displacement current generated from the peripheral portion of the electrode is prevented from bulging outward from the space sandwiched between the two plate electrodes, and the affected area can be reliably heated to activate insulin secretion. Effect of the Invention

[0014] By using the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably heat the affected area and activate insulin secretion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view of one embodiment of a type 2 diabetes treatment device according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is another diagram showing the internal configuration of the type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus of the present embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is yet another diagram showing the internal configuration of the type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus of the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of an upper electrode in the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a control unit 100 and the like in the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating a heating operation in the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is an example of an electrode having a plurality of through holes formed therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] An embodiment of a type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] <About Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Devices> 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus of this embodiment. The type 2 diabetes treatment apparatus of this embodiment (hereinafter also simply referred to as "apparatus") basically comprises a control unit 100, a therapeutic bed main body 200, and an upper electrode unit 600. A lower electrode 301 is provided on the therapeutic bed main body 200.

[0018] The control unit 100 has a tabletop console and is equipped with an operation unit 101 placed on a central shelf, a display unit 102 provided above the operation unit, and an output unit 103 such as a printer. A control circuit unit is housed inside the housing of the control unit 100. The operation unit 101 is used to perform various input operations required to operate the type 2 diabetes treatment device, and is equipped with, for example, a keyboard. The display unit 102 displays information about the patient and monitors the operating status of the device. The output unit 103 outputs data about the patient, information about the device, and the like.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a view of the front side (BB side) of the paper in Fig. 1 from a cut surface along the longitudinal direction that passes through the center of the therapeutic bed main body 200. Fig. 3 is a view of the back side (AA side) of the paper in Fig. 1 from the same cut surface. Fig. 4 is a cut surface along the lateral direction that passes through the center of the therapeutic bed main body 200.

[0020] The therapeutic bed body 200 includes a housing 210 with an open top and a table section 220 that covers the opening. The table section 220 is large enough for a patient to lie down on. The housing 210 contains a high-frequency generating section and other components.

[0021] Wheels 211 for moving the therapeutic bed body 200 are attached to the four corners of the bottom surface of the housing 210. In addition, fixing members 212 for fixing the position of the therapeutic bed body 200 are arranged at four points on the bottom surface of the housing 210. The four fixing members 212 are preferably provided at four equal points in a plan view (for example, at positions symmetrical with respect to the central axis in the longitudinal direction and the central axis in the lateral direction of the therapeutic bed body 200, or at positions equidistant from the center of the therapeutic bed body 200). The fixing member 212 may be, for example, a columnar member having a screw thread formed on its circumferential surface and a grounding member having a flat lower surface provided at the lower end of the columnar member, and the threads on the circumferential surface of the columnar member are screwed into a through-hole provided on the bottom surface of the housing 210 and having a screw groove formed on its inner circumferential surface to raise and lower the grounding member relative to the therapeutic bed body 200.

[0022] The control unit 100 side of the treatment bed main body 200 is the patient's head side, making it easy for a doctor to ask questions to the patient while looking at the screen of the display unit 102. In Fig. 1, the right side is the head side and the left side is the foot side. In the following, the left side as viewed from the head side (the display surface side of the display unit 102) is referred to as the front side.

[0023] A main switch 2101 for turning the power of the device on and off, a voltage meter 2102, and a current meter 2103 are disposed on the front side of the housing 210. Furthermore, an opening of an appropriate size is formed in an appropriate position on the front side of the housing 210 for the purpose of heat dissipation, etc., and a wire mesh cover 2104 is stretched to cover the opening.

[0024] The upper electrode part 600 includes an upper electrode 601 and an arch part 602 that supports the upper electrode 601. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper electrode 601 is generally disk-shaped, and a circular through hole 601a is formed in the center. The diameter of the through hole 601a is preferably 1% to 10% of the diameter of the upper electrode 601. If the diameter of the through hole 601a is smaller than this, the area in which the high frequency power is concentrated becomes too narrow, and if the diameter of the through hole 601a is larger than this, it becomes difficult to concentrate the high frequency power. By setting the diameter of the through hole 601a within the above range, it is possible to effectively suppress the displacement current generated at the peripheral part of the electrode from expanding outward beyond the space sandwiched between the two electrodes. For example, when the diameter of the upper electrode 601 is about 300 mm, it is preferable to use one in which the through hole 601a having a diameter of about 10 mm is formed. By using the upper electrode 601 having such through holes 601a formed therein, high frequency power is supplied intensively to the vicinity of the periphery of the through holes 601a.

[0025] As described in Patent Document 1, when disk-shaped electrodes with flat opposing surfaces are used, when high-frequency power is supplied to both electrodes, the displacement current generated at the center of the disk-shaped electrodes flows linearly from one electrode to the other, whereas the displacement current generated at the periphery of the electrodes flows from one electrode to the other while bulging outward from the space between the two electrodes. Therefore, the displacement current becomes coarser as it moves away from the center of the electrode pair, which is thought to make it difficult to heat the affected area.

[0026] In contrast, when a through hole 601a is formed in the upper electrode 601 and high-frequency power is supplied to the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 as in this embodiment, the displacement current flowing in the patient's body increases, making it easier to heat the affected area. For example, while it took about 45 minutes to heat the affected area when electrodes with flat opposing surfaces were used, the affected area can be heated in about 30 minutes in this embodiment.

[0027] The upper electrode 601 is attached to the arch portion 602 via a cylindrical arm portion 603. The arm portion 603 is extendable and retractable, and is configured to contract by a maximum of 15 cm when pressed. The arch portion 602 has two legs. One leg can be separated at a separation portion 6021, and the other leg can be rotated around a vertical axis at a rotation portion 6022. By separating the one leg at the separation portion 6021 and rotating the arch portion 602 around the vertical axis at the rotation portion 6022, the upper electrode 601 can be retracted from above the table portion 220 to the side, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1.

[0028] The lower electrode 301 is disk-shaped and approximately the same size as the upper electrode 601. The lower electrode 301 is inserted into a circular hole 221 drilled slightly toward the head side from the center of the table part 220 so that the upper surface of the lower electrode 301 and the upper surface of the table part 220 are flush with each other. The upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 are placed on the body surface (front and back) of the patient so as to sandwich the affected area of ​​the patient, i.e., the pancreas and liver.

[0029] The upper electrode 601 is electrically connected to the lower electrode 301 via the arch portion 602 and the like. The upper electrode 601 is also grounded. The arch portion 602 forms an earth potential space, which prevents the electric field lines from the lower electrode 301 from diverging toward the ground. It also prevents the external electric field from affecting the space between the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, which are arranged opposite to each other, and makes the distribution of the electric field in the space uniform. Temperature control pads 306 and 307 are attached to the surfaces of the opposing sides (the sides attached to the patient's body surface) of the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, respectively. These temperature control pads 306 and 307 are connected to water distribution pipes (not shown).

[0030] Inside the housing 210, there are arranged a high frequency generating unit 400 which outputs high frequency power, a lifting mechanism 230 which raises and lowers the table unit 220, a cold water tank 308 and a hot water tank 309. The cold water tank 308 circulates cold water via a water distribution pipe and a chiller 310 (see FIG. 2) and supplies it to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307. The hot water tank 309 circulates hot water of approximately the same temperature as body temperature via a water distribution pipe and supplies it to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307. Water pumps 3081, 3091 are connected to the cold water tank 308 and the hot water tank 309, respectively.

[0031] The water distribution pipe connected to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307 branches into two along the way, and is connected to a cold water tank 308 and a hot water tank 309, respectively. Each of these two branched parts is provided with a valve, and by switching the opening and closing of these valves to drive water supply pumps 3081, 3091, it is possible to supply hot water or cold water to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307 in a switched manner. When heating of the affected area begins, hot water at about the body temperature of the human body is supplied to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307. After a predetermined time has elapsed since heating of the affected area began, cold water is supplied to the temperature adjustment pads 306, 307 to suppress an excessive rise in the patient's body temperature.

[0032] 2, the lifting mechanism 230 is composed of a cylinder base plate 232 placed on the bottom surface of the housing 210, hydraulic cylinders 233, 234 standing upright from two points of the cylinder base plate 232, and a lifting plate 231 placed on the upper end side of the hydraulic cylinders 233, 234. The lifting mechanism 203 can lift and lower the lifting plate 231 by, for example, 15 cm.

[0033] A hydraulic unit 245 is connected to the hydraulic cylinders 233, 234. A known hydraulic unit 245 is adopted and includes a pump that supplies oil stored in an oil tank to the hydraulic cylinders 233, 234 at a predetermined pressure, and a hydraulic valve, and the height of the table portion 220 is adjusted by driving the pump to supply oil to the hydraulic cylinders 233, 234 at a predetermined pressure.

[0034] The lifting mechanism 230 is provided with a parallel holding mechanism that lifts and lowers the lifting plate 231 while maintaining it in a horizontal state. The parallel holding mechanism includes guides 235, 236 erected from two points on the bottom surface of the housing 210, racks 237, 238 connected downward from two points on the back surface of the lifting plate 231, and pinions 239, 240 located on both sides of the racks 237, 238. The parallel holding mechanism also includes a connecting arm 241 connected to the racks 237, 238 via the pinions 239, 240, and holding members 242, 243 that rotatably hold the connecting arm 241 at a position approximately midway between the guides 235, 236.

[0035] The operation of holding the lift plate 231 parallel by the parallel holding mechanism will be described. When the lift plate 231 moves upward and the racks 237, 238 rise, the pinions 239, 240 rotate, and the connecting arm 241 rotates. At the same time as the connecting arm 241 rotates, the piston rods 2331, 2341 operate in synchronization. This allows the lift plate 231 to be raised and lowered while being maintained horizontal.

[0036] In this way, the connecting arm 241 synchronously operates the piston rods 2331, 2341 so that they rise and fall while maintaining the same height. Even if the two hydraulic cylinders 233, 234 have the same hydraulic pressure, when a patient is placed on them, the loads acting on the hydraulic cylinders 233, 234 differ, causing the height positions of the piston rods 2331, 2341 to differ slightly, and the lift plate 231 may not be able to rise and fall horizontally. For this reason, the connecting arm 241 is provided so that the piston rods 2331, 2341 can be moved while maintaining the same height position.

[0037] The connecting members 244 are erected at six points on the upper surface of the lifting plate 231. The connecting members 244 are provided at a plurality of points (in this embodiment, a total of six points at the four corners of the lifting plate 231 and both sides in the width direction at a position slightly closer to the foot than the middle of the lifting plate 231) that equally receive the weight of the patient, and the table part 220 is located at the upper end of each connecting member 244. In addition, a connecting member 244 is further erected at a position corresponding to the center position of the circular hole 221 of the lifting plate 231, and connects and supports the lower electrode 301. A universal joint is interposed in the connecting part between the lower electrode 301 and the connecting member 244, and only the lower electrode 301 can move up and down. By making the lower electrode 301 higher than the table part 220, the degree of closeness between the table part 220 and the foot part is ensured.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the main configuration of the control unit 100 and the high frequency generating unit 400. The high frequency generating unit 400 includes a power supply circuit 401, a high frequency generating circuit 402, a matching circuit 403, and a high frequency power meter 404. The power supply circuit 401 supplies a predetermined level of power to the high frequency generating circuit 402. The high frequency generating circuit 402 generates high frequency power of about 1 kW at, for example, 8 MHz by a self-oscillation method. The high frequency power meter 404 measures the magnitude of the high frequency power supplied to the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301. The high frequency power meter 404 detects the incident power to the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 and the reflected power from the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301. Alternatively, the supply power supplied to the load side is obtained from the output power and the incident power. The measurement value of the high frequency power meter 404 is input to the control unit 100 and displayed on the display unit 102.

[0039] The matching circuit 403 of this embodiment is composed of a variable capacitor circuit. By adjusting the capacitance of the capacitor to change the output impedance, impedance matching is performed between the high frequency generating circuit 402 and the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, i.e., the load side. The control unit 100 can know the capacitance component on the load side from the amount of adjustment to the capacitor.

[0040] The tomographic photograph 107 is an X-ray photograph of a patient taken by a CT (Computer Tomography) scanner, a photograph of a patient's biological tissue taken by an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), etc. The density of the photograph corresponds to the density of the tomographic plane including the affected area 500.

[0041] The camera 108 is composed of an area sensor or the like in which solid-state imaging elements (CCD: Charge-Coupled Device) are arranged, and captures an image of the affected area of ​​each patient to obtain a tomographic image 107. The captured image signal is converted into an electric signal, and then transmitted to the control unit 100 via an amplifier 109, and stored in the RAM 105 as density information D(i, j). Here, (i, j) indicates an address in the RAM 105 corresponding to the position of each part of the tomographic plane, and the density has a predetermined number of bits, for example, 8 bits of gradation, to a degree that allows the calculation described later to be performed with sufficient accuracy.

[0042] In addition, when the density information D(i,j) of each patient's tomographic image 107 is transmitted, for example, via a communication means or imported from an external memory, the density information D(i,j) can be received using an interface instead of the camera 108.

[0043] The ROM 106 stores programs, arithmetic expressions, tables, and information required for various data processing to realize each function of the control unit 100. The ROM 106 stores an initial value C0 of the capacitance component on the load side, an electric field distribution model K(i,j) based on the shapes of the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 and the distance between the electrodes, and an initial distribution impedance ρ0(i,j) at an arbitrary position on the tomographic plane of the affected area 500. The electric field distribution model K(i,j) and the initial distribution impedance ρ0(i,j) can be calculated based on the dimensions of the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, the distance between the electrodes, and the results of a simulation performed in advance with a uniform dielectric interposed between the electrodes.

[0044] The control unit 100 also includes, as functional blocks, a capacitance calculation unit 110, a distribution impedance calculation unit 111, an affected area temperature calculation unit 112, and a high-frequency control unit 113. The actual entity of the control unit 100 is a personal computer or the like, and these functional blocks are realized by executing a program stored in advance in the ROM 106 on a processor.

[0045] The capacitance calculation unit 110 calculates the capacitance component C on the load side from the adjustment amount of the variable capacitor of the matching circuit 403. The distributed impedance calculation unit 111 calculates the change Δρ(i, j) in the distributed impedance at an arbitrary position on the tomographic plane including the affected area 500 by using the following formula (1).

number

[0046] The power density P (unit: W / m) of the displacement current absorbed by biological tissue when high frequency power is supplied 3 ) is expressed by the following formula:

number

[0047] The affected area temperature calculation section 112 calculates the temperature change ΔT(i,j) at an arbitrary position on the tomographic plane including the affected area 500. The high frequency control section 113 controls the power output from the high frequency generating circuit 402. Furthermore, the capacitance calculation section 110 calculates the capacitance component C between the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, which varies with changes in the patient's body temperature, from the adjustment amount of the variable capacitor of the matching circuit 403. The calculation of the temperature change ΔT(i,j) and other processes performed by the affected area temperature calculation section 112 are similar to those in Patent Document 1, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] <How to warm the affected area> A method for warming an affected area (a patient's pancreas or liver) using the above-mentioned type 2 diabetes treatment device (a method for using the type 2 diabetes treatment device; a method for treating type 2 diabetes) will be described below.

[0049] First, the upper electrode 601 and the arch portion 602 are withdrawn from above the table portion 220 (positions shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 1), and the patient 10 is laid on the table portion 220. At this time, the affected area 10a (pancreas or liver of the patient 10) to which high-frequency power is to be supplied is positioned above the lower electrode 301. Next, the arch portion 602 is rotated around the rotating portion 6022 as an axis to connect the cutting portion 6021 (positions shown by solid lines in FIG. 1), and the upper electrode 601 is positioned above the upper abdomen of the patient 10. Next, the lifting mechanism 230 is driven to raise the table portion 220, and the patient 10 is sandwiched from the front and back by the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301. In this way, the patient's upper abdomen is sandwiched between the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, and the affected area 10a (pancreas or liver) of the patient 10 is positioned between the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 (FIG. 7).

[0050] Next, high frequency power of a predetermined frequency and a predetermined magnitude is supplied to the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, and the affected area 10a of the patient 10 is heated to a temperature within a predetermined range. The higher the frequency of the high frequency power, the faster the energy attenuates, so the predetermined frequency is determined, for example, taking into consideration the distance from the patient's body surface to the affected area 500. The frequency of the high frequency power in this embodiment is 8 MHz. Note that the 8 MHz frequency band is not a frequency approved for medical use under the Radio Law, but it is sufficient to obtain approval for use of the frequency band by adopting a configuration that does not cause radio interference to the outside. In this embodiment, the frequency of the high frequency power is 8 MHz, but it is also possible to implement the present invention with other frequency bands. Similarly, when using other frequency bands, it is sufficient to obtain approval for use of the frequency band by adopting a configuration that does not cause radio interference to the outside as necessary. In addition, the magnitude of energy required to heat the affected area 500 varies depending on the patient's physique, etc., so the predetermined magnitude is determined according to the patient's physique, etc. Specifically, for example, high frequency power of 100 W or more and 1500 W or less can be used. The high frequency power is preferably 200 W or more, more preferably 300 W or more, and even more preferably 400 W or more. The high frequency power in this embodiment is 1000 W.

[0051] While high-frequency power is being supplied to the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301, the high-frequency control unit 113 monitors the data of the temperature change ΔT(i,j) calculated by the affected area temperature calculation unit 112, and feedback controls the magnitude of the high-frequency power so as to keep the temperature of the affected area 500 within a predetermined range. During the supply of high-frequency power, cold water is supplied to the temperature control pads 306 and 307 as appropriate to prevent the patient's body surface from being overheated. The temperature within the predetermined range is a temperature range that is effective for improving the insulin secretion state by the pancreas and improving blood flow to the pancreas, and is specifically, for example, 38°C or higher and 43°C or lower. Also, it is preferably 39°C or higher and 40°C or lower.

[0052] As described above, it is preferable to perform the heating operation of placing the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 on the patient's body surface across the affected area 500 and supplying high-frequency power continuously for 30 minutes to 60 minutes per session. This allows the affected area to be sufficiently heated, improving the therapeutic effect per session.

[0053] In addition, it is preferable to continuously treat type 2 diabetes by heating the affected area using a type 2 diabetes treatment device. If heating of the affected area is interrupted, immune activity may decrease, and the therapeutic effect of type 2 diabetes may decrease, so it is effective to continuously increase immune activity by continuously heating the affected area. Specifically, for example, heating should be performed once a day, at least once a week (preferably at least twice a week, more preferably at least three times a week), and at least five times in total (preferably at least 15 times a week, and preferably at least 20 times a week depending on the symptoms).

[0054] It has already been confirmed in experiments using diabetic model mice that heating the affected area as described above provides a good therapeutic effect for type 2 diabetes. The reason why heating the affected area has the effect of improving type 2 diabetes is thought to be as follows. When a displacement current is passed through the affected area, molecular heat is generated in the affected area, activating cells in the pancreas and liver. By heating the pancreas to the above temperature range, localized immune power is activated, and by heating the liver to the above temperature range, blood flow to the pancreas is improved, promoting insulin production in the pancreas, and at the same time, a comprehensive immunological effect is exerted, resulting in the therapeutic effect for type 2 diabetes.

[0055] In addition to the treatment of heating the affected area, a treatment of administering insulin may be used in combination. For example, the affected area may be heated 5 to 6 times per week for a total of two weeks, and then heated twice per week for the next two weeks, with an additional treatment of administering insulin. This is expected to provide a higher therapeutic effect for type 2 diabetes. These are merely one aspect of the heating operation, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, the heating operation by supplying high-frequency power may be performed once a day for five or more consecutive times (five or more days). This can further improve the therapeutic effect for type 2 diabetes.

[0056] In this embodiment, it is preferable to supply high-frequency power to heat the affected area while taking into consideration the patient's overall condition and type 2 diabetes index. As in this embodiment, there are almost no side effects when high-frequency power is supplied to the affected area, so type 2 diabetes can be continuously treated according to the patient's condition without placing an excessive burden on the patient. In addition, as described above, the improvement of blood flow in the pancreas improves the oxygen partial pressure and brings the pH closer to the normal value, which also activates the immune system. Furthermore, the combination of these effects can also improve QOL (quality of life).

[0057] The above embodiment is merely an example and can be modified as appropriate in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the through-hole 601 a is formed only in the upper electrode 601 , but the through-hole may be formed only in the lower electrode 301 , or may be formed in both the upper electrode 601 and the lower electrode 301 .

[0059] In the above embodiment, one through hole is formed in the center of the disk-shaped upper electrode 601, but multiple through holes (preferably multiple through holes at positions rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center of the upper electrode 601) may be provided so as to surround the center of the upper electrode 601 and / or the lower electrode 301. When there is one through hole, the through hole 601a is provided in the center of the electrode as in the above embodiment. When the upper electrode or the lower electrode has a shape other than a disk, one or multiple through holes may be formed so as to surround the center of gravity instead of the center. FIG. 8 shows an example in which four through holes 601b are formed so as to surround the center of the upper electrode 601.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the disk-shaped upper electrode 601 and lower electrode 301 are used, but other shapes may be used. However, if corners are provided, the electric field may become uneven due to local concentration of the electric field at the corners, so it is preferable to use electrodes with a shape that does not have corners. Specifically, for example, an electrode having an elliptical shape in a plan view can be used.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the through-hole 601a has a circular cross section, but it may have other shapes. However, for the same reason as above, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape does not have corners, and as an example, a through-hole having an elliptical cross section can be used. When the electrode or through-hole is non-circular, the diameter of the electrode or through-hole may be defined as the diameter of a circle having the same area as the surface or cross section of the electrode or through-hole.

[0062] [Aspects] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described exemplary embodiments are illustrative of the following aspects.

[0063] (Section 1) An apparatus for treating type 2 diabetes according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: Two plate electrodes; a through hole formed in a thickness direction of at least one of the two plate-shaped electrodes; a high frequency power source for supplying high frequency power to the two plate electrodes; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0064] When using the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 1, two plate electrodes are placed on the surface of the patient's body so as to sandwich the affected area (the patient's pancreas or liver), and high-frequency power is applied to these plate electrodes. At least one of these two plate electrodes has a through hole formed in the thickness direction. By heating the patient's pancreas, it is possible to directly act on the pancreas and activate insulin secretion. In addition, by heating the patient's liver, it is possible to improve (complement) the blood flow to the pancreas and activate insulin secretion from the pancreas.

[0065] When two plate-shaped electrodes are placed on the surface of the body, sandwiching the affected area, and high-frequency power is supplied to them, an electric field is formed, and this electric field causes a high-frequency displacement current (also called electric flux current) to flow inside the human body, which is a dielectric. In the hepatitis C treatment device described in Patent Document 1, the displacement current generated at the center of the disk-shaped electrodes flows linearly from one electrode to the other, while the displacement current generated at the periphery of the electrodes flows from one electrode to the other while bulging outward from the space sandwiched between the two electrodes. Therefore, the displacement current becomes coarser as it moves away from the center of the electrode pair, which is thought to have made it difficult to heat the affected area.

[0066] In the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 1, a through hole is formed in the thickness direction in at least one of the two plate-shaped electrodes. When a through hole is formed in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped electrodes, the displacement current is likely to concentrate in the vicinity of the through hole. Therefore, in the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 1, the displacement current generated from the peripheral portion of the electrode is prevented from bulging outward from the space sandwiched between the two plate-shaped electrodes, and the pancreas and liver can be reliably heated to activate insulin secretion.

[0067] (Section 2) The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 2 is the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 1, The through hole is formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0068] In the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 2, the through hole does not have corners, so that the displacement current does not concentrate locally in one part of the through hole, and the displacement current can be uniformly passed through the space sandwiched between the two plate-shaped electrodes.

[0069] (Section 3) The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 3 is a type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 1 or 2, One or more of the through holes are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the plate electrode.

[0070] In the type 2 diabetes treatment device of paragraph 3, the through holes that concentrate the displacement current are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the center (middle or center of gravity) of the electrode, so that the displacement current can be uniformly passed through the space sandwiched between the two plate-shaped electrodes.

[0071] (Section 4) The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 4 is a type 2 diabetes treatment device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, The diameter of the through hole is 1% to 10% of the diameter of the plate electrode in which the through hole is formed.

[0072] In the type 2 diabetes treatment device according to the fourth aspect, the displacement current generated from the peripheral edge of the electrode can flow uniformly in the space sandwiched between the two plate-shaped electrodes.

[0073] (Section 5) The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 5 is a type 2 diabetes treatment device according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 4, The magnitude of the high frequency power is 100W or more and 1500W or less.

[0074] The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to paragraph 5 supplies high-frequency power of 100W to 1500W depending on the patient's physique, etc. This heats the affected area to 38°C to 43°C, generating molecular heat and activating cells. As a result, the immune system is activated, promoting insulin production in the pancreas, and a comprehensive immunological effect is exerted, making it possible to effectively treat type 2 diabetes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...patient 10a…Affected area 100...Control unit 101...Operation unit 102...Display section 103...Output section 105…RAM 106...ROM 107...Fault photograph 108...Camera 109…Amplifier 110...Capacity calculation section 111...Distribution impedance calculation unit 112…Afected area temperature calculation unit 113...High frequency control section 200…Treatment bed body 203...Lifting mechanism 210…Housing 2101…Main switch 2102...Voltage meter 2103...Current meter 2104…Wire mesh cover 211...Wheel 212...Fixing member 220…Table section 221...Circular hole 230...Lifting mechanism 231…Lifting platform 232...Cylinder substrate 233, 234...Hydraulic cylinder 2331, 2341...Piston rod 235, 236… Guide 237, 238…Rack 239, 240…Pinion 241…Connecting arm 242, 243...holding member 244…Connecting member 245…Hydraulic unit 301...Lower electrode 306, 307...Heat control pad 308…Cold water tank 309…Hot water tank 3081, 3091...Water pump 310…Chiller 400…High frequency generator 401…Power circuit 402...High frequency generating circuit 403...Matching circuit 404...High frequency power meter 500…Affected area 600...Top electrode part 601...Top electrode 601a, 601b...Through hole 602…Arch section 6021…Separation part 6022... Rotating part 603…Arm section

Claims

1. Two plate electrodes; a through hole formed in a thickness direction of at least one of the two plate-shaped electrodes; a high frequency power source for supplying high frequency power to the two plate electrodes; A type 2 diabetes treatment device comprising:

2. The through hole is formed in a cylindrical shape.

2. The device for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus as claimed in claim 1.

3. One or more of the through holes are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the plate electrode.

2. The device for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus as claimed in claim 1.

4. The diameter of the through hole is 1% or more and 10% or less of the diameter of the plate electrode in which the through hole is formed.

2. The type 2 diabetes treatment device according to claim 1 .

5. The magnitude of the high frequency power is 100 W or more and 1500 W or less.

2. The device for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus as claimed in claim 1.

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