Electrotherapy equipment

Abstract

To provide electrotherapy equipment capable of treating a plurality of treatment object parts efficiently and effectively without changing an electrode mounting position.SOLUTION: Electrotherapy equipment includes a high-voltage transformer 11 for boosting an input electric potential and generating a high-voltage output electric potential, a waveform control device 12 for controlling at least a frequency of the output electric potential, a high-voltage electrode 3 connected to a secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 for applying the output electric potential to a human body, and an auxiliary high-voltage electrode 4 capacity-coupled to the high-voltage electrode 3 and conducted to the high voltage electrode 3 when the output electric potential is a predetermined frequency or higher. Thereby, the frequency of the output electric potential is adjusted by the waveform control device 12, and a region where a treatment electric potential is applied to the human body is changed by selectively switching the auxiliary high voltage electrode 4 conducted to the high voltage electrode 3 so that a plurality of treatment object parts can be treated efficiently and effectively without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage electrode 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrotherapy device that performs potential therapy by applying a voltage to the human body or current therapy by passing an electric current through the human body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an electrotherapy device that performs treatment by applying an alternating high voltage to the human body is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a potential therapy device having a power supply circuit connected to an AC power supply, an inverter connected to the output side of the power supply circuit to generate an alternating voltage of an arbitrary waveform, and a transformer that boosts the alternating voltage generated by the inverter to an output voltage, and transmitting the output voltage boosted by the transformer to a conductor and applying it to the human body.

[0003] Also, in this type of electrotherapy device, for the human body supplied with a high voltage, a conductor that locally provides a ground potential by electrostatic coupling is used to locally lower the potential and give a potential gradient, and a treatment current is passed to obtain a treatment effect. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an electrode pad for high-voltage potential therapy used to locally discharge the high voltage flowing into the body of a subject in potential therapy using a high-voltage potential therapy device.

[0004] Also, in this type of electrotherapy device, there is one in which a plurality of conductors are switchably connected. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a potential therapy device including a plurality of high-voltage transformers that boost an input voltage to generate a high voltage, a head electrode, a seat electrode, and a back electrode to which the high voltage generated by the high-voltage transformer is applied. The same-phase voltage generated by the high-voltage transformer is applied to the seat electrode and the back electrode, and a changeover switch for turning on / off the generated high voltage is provided for the back electrode. By switching the changeover switch, the body potential of the subject is adjusted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The above-described conventional electric therapeutic apparatus had points that needed to be improved so as to efficiently perform effective treatment. Specifically, in the conventional electric therapeutic apparatus, a conductor is applied to an arbitrary treatment target site of the human body, and a high-voltage potential is supplied to the human body through the conductor to perform treatment. Therefore, in order to change the treatment target site and perform treatment, it was necessary to change the mounting position of the conductor and move the conductor each time.

[0007] For example, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, an electrode pad for high-voltage potential treatment can be attached to the human body to which a high potential is applied, and treatment can be performed by locally flowing a treatment current. However, in such potential treatment using an electrode pad, it was difficult to flow suitable treatment electrons over a wide range. For example, it was not possible to flow suitable treatment electrons over a wide range from both shoulders to the back and perform treatment. Also, for example, when there are two treatment target sites, in the conventional treatment, it is not possible to treat the two sites simultaneously.

[0008] Therefore, in this type of electric therapeutic apparatus, when performing treatment over a wide range, treatment may be performed by moving the electrode pad for high-voltage potential treatment. For example, the electrode pad is held by hand, peeled off from the treatment target site once, moved to another treatment target site, and pasted, or the electrode pad applied to the treatment target site is held by hand and moved so as to rub a wide treatment target site. However, such treatment actions are complicated.

[0009] In addition, the electrotherapy device disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a plurality of electrodes that can apply a high voltage of the same phase to the human body either selectively or simultaneously. By switching a switch, the electrode area in contact with the human body can be changed to adjust the bioelectric potential of the subject. However, such a switch for turning the high voltage on / off was expensive, large-sized, and not easily installable.

[0010] Also, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 3, although the position where the high potential is applied can be switched by turning the switch on / off, the position of the ground potential cannot be automatically adjusted. Therefore, in order to suitably change the current flowing to a desired treatment target site, a ground potential conductor or the like for adjusting the position of the ground potential was separately used, and the user had to adjust the contact position of the ground potential conductor or the like.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrotherapy device that can efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the conductor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The electrotherapy device of the present invention includes a high-voltage transformer that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, a waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, a high-voltage conductor that is connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer and applies the output potential to the human body, and an auxiliary high-voltage conductor that is capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor and conducts to the high-voltage conductor when the output potential is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

[0013] In addition, the electrotherapy device of the present invention includes a high-voltage transformer that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, a waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, a high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, a low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, and an auxiliary low-voltage conductor that is capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor and conducts to the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency.

[0014] In addition, the electrotherapy device of the present invention includes a high-voltage transformer provided inside the main body unit that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, a waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, a high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, and a low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, and a capacitive coupling circuit that grounds the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency is provided inside the main body unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] The electrotherapy device of the present invention includes a high-voltage transformer that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, a waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, a high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, and an auxiliary high-voltage conductor that is capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor and conducts to the high-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency. With such a configuration, the frequency of the output potential can be adjusted by the waveform control device to change the region where the therapeutic potential is applied to the human body. Specifically, by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device, it is possible to selectively switch between a treatment in which the therapeutic potential is applied to the human body only through the high-voltage conductor and a treatment in which the auxiliary high-voltage conductor is conducted to the high-voltage conductor and the therapeutic potential is applied to the human body using both the high-voltage conductor and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage conductor.

[0016] In addition, the electrotherapeutic apparatus of the present invention may include a low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, and an auxiliary low-voltage conductor that is capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor and conducts to the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency. With such a configuration, the frequency of the output potential can be adjusted by the waveform control device to change the region where the therapeutic current flows through the human body. Specifically, by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device, it is possible to selectively switch between a treatment in which the therapeutic current flows through the human body only via the low-voltage conductor and a treatment in which the therapeutic current flows through the human body using both the low-voltage conductor and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor by making the auxiliary low-voltage conductor conduct to the low-voltage conductor, and execute them. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the low-voltage conductor.

[0017] In addition, the electrotherapeutic apparatus of the present invention includes a high-voltage transformer provided inside the main body unit that boosts the input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, a waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, a high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, and a low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body. Inside the main body unit, a capacitive coupling circuit that grounds the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency is provided. Even with such a configuration, the frequency of the output potential can be adjusted by the waveform control device to change the region where the therapeutic current flows through the human body. Specifically, by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device, for example, a treatment in which the therapeutic current flows through the human body via the low-voltage conductor, a treatment with only a voltage where the therapeutic current does not flow through the human body via the low-voltage conductor, and an intermediate treatment between a treatment where the therapeutic current flows and a treatment where it does not flow can be selectively switched and executed. Also, for example, by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device, it is possible to selectively switch the low-voltage conductors from which the therapeutic current flows among the low-voltage conductors provided at a plurality of locations and perform the treatment of the human body. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and selectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the low-voltage conductor.

[0018] In addition, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, a rectifying output circuit for dividing the output potential into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided on the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer. The high-voltage conductor may include a positive electrode side electrode to which the output potential on the positive electrode side divided by the rectifying output circuit is applied, and a negative electrode side electrode to which the output potential on the negative electrode side divided by the rectifying output circuit is applied. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage conductor. Specifically, a positive potential can be applied from the positive electrode side electrode to the treatment target site where the positive electrode side electrode is mounted, and a negative potential can be applied from the negative electrode side electrode to another treatment target site where the negative electrode side electrode is mounted. In this way, effective electrotherapy can be performed on two treatment target sites distinguished by the positive electrode side electrode and the negative electrode side electrode with different contact positions without changing the mounting of the high-voltage conductor.

[0019] Further, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, a low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit for dividing the current flowing through the low-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is connected to the low-voltage conductor. The low-voltage conductor may include a positive electrode side low-voltage electrode through which the current on the positive electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts, and a negative electrode side low-voltage electrode through which the current on the negative electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts. Thereby, without changing the mounting position of the low-voltage conductor, treatment can be performed on the treatment target site where the positive electrode side low-voltage electrode is mounted with a treatment current flowing on the positive electrode side, and treatment can be effectively performed on the treatment target site where the negative electrode side low-voltage electrode is mounted with a treatment current flowing on the negative electrode side.

[0020] In addition, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, an auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit for dividing the potential applied to the auxiliary high-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided in the auxiliary high-voltage conductor. The auxiliary high-voltage conductor may have a positive electrode side auxiliary electrode to which the potential on the positive electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit is applied, and a negative electrode side auxiliary electrode to which the potential on the negative electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit is applied. Thereby, without changing the mounting position of the auxiliary high-voltage conductor, a treatment for applying the potential on the positive electrode side can be performed on the treatment target site where the positive electrode side auxiliary electrode is mounted, and a treatment for effectively applying the potential on the negative electrode side can be performed on the treatment target site where the negative electrode side auxiliary electrode is mounted.

[0021] In addition, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, an auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit for dividing the current flowing through the auxiliary low-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided in the auxiliary low-voltage conductor. The auxiliary low-voltage conductor may have a positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode through which the current on the positive electrode side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts, and a negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode through which the current on the negative electrode side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts. Thereby, without changing the mounting position of the auxiliary low-voltage conductor, a treatment in which a treatment current on the positive electrode side flows can be performed on the treatment target site where the positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode is mounted, and a treatment in which a treatment current on the negative electrode side flows can be effectively performed on the treatment target site where the negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode is mounted.

[0022] In addition, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, the waveform control device may synthesize a plurality of waveform components having different frequencies to generate the output potential and control the waveform of the output potential. Thereby, without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage conductor or the like, the position where the treatment potential is applied, the waveform of the applied treatment potential, the voltage value, and the treatment current can be suitably changed to perform a desired treatment.

[0023] In addition, in the electrotherapy device of the present invention, the waveform control device may control the output potential so that the positive and negative sides of the output potential have an asymmetric waveform. As a result, without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage conductor or the like, it is possible to suitably change the position where the treatment potential is applied, the waveform of the applied treatment potential, the voltage value, and the treatment current, and perform a desired treatment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrotherapy device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the electrotherapy device 1 is a device that applies an alternating output potential to a human body 74 (see FIG. 3) to perform potential therapy using an electric field. Further, the electrotherapy device 1 is a device that supports improving metabolism, promoting the repair of fractures, injuries, inflammation, etc., and improving physical condition by passing a therapeutic current through the human body 74. The electrotherapy device 1 may be used, for example, after surgery, during illness, or after illness, and is installed and used on a hospital bed, a chair at home, or the like.

[0026] The electrotherapy device 1 includes a main body unit 2 that generates a high-voltage output potential for treatment, and a conductor unit 7 that is connected to the main body unit 2 and applies the output potential supplied from the main body unit 2 to the human body 74.

[0027] The main body unit 2 of the electrotherapy device 1 includes a power supply device 10, a high-voltage transformer 11 that generates a high-voltage output potential from the input potential from the power supply device 10, and a waveform control device 12 that controls the frequency, voltage value, and waveform of the output potential.

[0028] The power supply device 10 is a device that is connected to an AC power supply 70 and supplies AC power for electrotherapy to the primary side of the high-voltage transformer 11. Note that a battery power supply may be used instead of the AC power supply 70. The power supply device 10 is a device that can change at least the voltage of the AC sent to the high-voltage transformer 11 to, for example, 0 to 24V, and may include an inverter (not shown), for example.

[0029] Specifically, the power supply device 10 may include a power supply circuit (not shown) that converts the AC voltage from the AC power supply 70 into a stable DC voltage that can be used by the inverter. The power supply circuit may include a filter circuit (not shown) for countermeasures against interfering electromagnetic waves, an overload protection circuit (not shown) that stops the operation of the power supply circuit in the event of an abnormality such as overload, overvoltage, or low voltage, and the like.

[0030] The inverter of the power supply device 10 is connected to the output side of the power supply circuit, and converts the DC voltage supplied from the power supply circuit into AC with a predetermined frequency and voltage for output. Note that the inverter may be provided with an overcurrent protection circuit (not shown) for stopping the output in case of an abnormality, a protection fuse, or the like.

[0031] The high-voltage transformer 11 is a circuit that boosts the AC input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential. Depending on the output level, the high-voltage transformer 11 may be a general output transformer. A primary-side current limiting resistor (not shown) for limiting the short-circuit current may be provided on the primary side of the high-voltage transformer 11.

[0032] One end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 is connected to the high-voltage conductor 3 of the conductor unit 7 via the output terminal 14. A current limiting resistor 13 for limiting the short-circuit current may be provided on one end side of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11.

[0033] The other end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 may be used as a ground connection to the earth. In that case, it may be connected to a ground wiring (not shown) via a transfer resistor (not shown). The ground wiring may be, for example, the ground-side wiring of a commercial power supply.

[0034] Note that, in this embodiment, an example is given in which the other end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 is set to the ground potential. However, grounding of the other end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 is not necessarily required. That is, in the present invention, the ground potential includes a low-voltage potential in a non-grounded state, and treatment may be performed in a state where the other end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11 is not grounded.

[0035] In addition, the electrotherapy device 1 is provided with an operation unit (not shown), a display unit, various sensors, or a control device, etc. The operation unit is a device for the user to input an operation command and is connected to a waveform control device 12 or the like. The display unit displays various setting conditions such as output potential, output current, frequency, timer, or output status. As the sensors, a temperature sensor for measuring the user's body temperature, a conductor temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the high-voltage conductor 3, a room temperature sensor for measuring the indoor air temperature, etc. may be provided.

[0036] The waveform control device 12 is a device that executes a predetermined calculation based on the input of the operation unit or various set values, etc., and controls the power supply device 10 or various switches (not shown) serving as switching means. Specifically, the waveform control device 12 performs switching control of the high-voltage conductor 3, waveform control of the output potential, timer control, display control, overload monitoring, voltage monitoring, etc. The power supply device 10 receives a command from the waveform control device 12 and outputs a waveform of a predetermined voltage and frequency. The switches are switched in response to a command from the waveform control device 12.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the conductor unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conductor unit 7 is a flexible sheet-like member that adheres to the human body 74 and applies a treatment potential to the human body 74. Inside the conductor unit 7, a high-voltage conductor 3 and an auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 are provided so as to be covered by the human body-side insulating material 27 and the opposite-side insulating material 28.

[0038] The high-voltage conductor 3 is a conductor that applies the output potential boosted by the high-voltage transformer 11 to the human body 74. Specifically, the high-voltage conductor 3 is a sheet-like insulating electrode member that is attached to the treatment target site of the human body 74 and is flexibly formed to conform to the outer shape of the treatment target site of the human body 74.

[0039] The auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is a sheet-like circuit member that is attached to the treatment target site of the human body 74. The auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is a floating electrode that is not wired-connected to the output terminal 14 of the main body unit 2 and the high-voltage conductor 3, and is capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor 3. Specifically, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is provided so that a part thereof overlaps the high-voltage conductor 3, and is capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor 3 and conducts at a predetermined frequency or higher.

[0040] The human body-side insulating material 27 and the opposite-side insulating material 28 are formed of a synthetic resin material such as urethane foam having a dielectric constant of about 1.5, for example. The human body-side insulating material 27 constitutes the surface of the high-voltage conductor 3 that is in close contact with the human body 74. The opposite-side insulating material 28 constitutes the surface opposite to the human body 74 and abuts on the floor surface, futon, etc. on which the high-voltage conductor 3 is placed.

[0041] The insulation thickness T1 from the floor surface (not shown) on which the opposite-side insulator 28 is placed to the lower surfaces of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is desirably 2 to 3 times or more of the insulation thickness T2 including the clothing from the upper surfaces of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 to the human body 74 in close contact with the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4.

[0042] For example, if the insulation thickness T2 from the upper surfaces of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 to the human body 74 is 5 mm, the insulation thickness T1 from the lower surfaces of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 to the floor surface etc. is preferably 10 to 15 mm. Thereby, an unintended unnecessary capacitive coupling between the high-voltage conductor 3 and the floor surface etc. can be reduced, and suitable treatment can be performed.

[0043] FIG. 3(A) is a diagram showing an example of the effective range of the conductor unit 7, and FIG. 3(B) is a plan view showing another example of the effective range. In FIG. 3, the effective range of treatment is indicated by hatching.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 can perform treatment by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to make the output potential a low frequency, and applying the output potential to, for example, the trunk part of the human body 74 only through the high-voltage conductor 3 as shown in FIG. 3(A). The low frequency is a frequency at which the capacitive coupling impedance between the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 can be ignored, for example, 40 ± 20 Hz.

[0045] Also, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 can perform treatment by adjusting the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to make the output potential a high frequency equal to or higher than the cut-off frequency of capacitive coupling, and making the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 conduct to the high-voltage conductor 3 and applying the output potential to, for example, the erasure part of the human body 74 using both the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 as shown in FIG. 3(B). The high frequency is, for example, 360 ± 140 Hz.

[0046] That is, when the frequency of the output potential applied to the high-voltage conductor 3 exceeds a predetermined value, the capacitive impedance of the inter-conductor capacitance C1 between the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 decreases, and the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 conduct as if they were an integrated single conductor. At this time, the frequency of the output potential may be adjusted to appropriately set the conduction level.

[0047] In this way, the electro-therapeutic apparatus 1 can control the conduction level between the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 by adjusting the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12, and change the region where the output potential is applied to the human body 74. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without changing the mounting position of the high-voltage conductor 3.

[0048] In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, an example is shown in which the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is provided on both end sides of the high-voltage conductor 3, that is, on the head side and the leg side of the human body 74. However, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 may be configured to be provided only on one side of the high-voltage conductor 3. Also, a plurality of high-voltage conductors 3 may be provided, and three or more auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4 may be provided for one high-voltage conductor 3. By providing a plurality of auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4 for one high-voltage conductor 3, it is possible to supply a stepped potential to the human body 74 according to the situation of the treatment target site.

[0049] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 21, an example in which the detailed configuration of the embodiment of the electro-therapeutic apparatus 1 is modified will be described in detail. Components having the same or similar operations and effects as those of the already described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrotherapy device 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the electrotherapy device 1 may include a low-voltage conductor 5 that applies a ground potential to a human body 74 (see FIG. 5), and an auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 that is capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor 5. The low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 are sheet-like circuit members that are attached to a treatment target site of the human body 74 and are flexibly formed to conform to the outer shape of the treatment target site of the human body 74. When outputting a high voltage, it is necessary to ground the low-voltage conductor 5 for safety. However, if the voltage is appropriate, the low-voltage conductor 5 does not necessarily have to be grounded.

[0051] A low-voltage impedance circuit 16 may be provided inside the main body unit 2. The low-voltage conductor 5 is connected to a low-voltage impedance circuit 16 provided inside the main body unit 2 via a low-voltage terminal 15, and may be connected to a ground wiring such as a commercial wiring (not shown) via the low-voltage impedance circuit 16. A high-pass circuit or the like (not shown) may be inserted into the low-voltage impedance circuit 16, and the frequency characteristics of the ground current with respect to the low-voltage conductor 5 may be adjusted by the low-voltage impedance circuit 16.

[0052] Also, if a safe and low voltage output is provided, grounding of the low-voltage conductor 5 is unnecessary. The low-voltage conductor 5 may be connected directly or via a low-voltage impedance circuit 16 to the other end of the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer 11. The fact that grounding of the low-voltage conductor 5 is not necessarily required is the same in other embodiments hereinafter.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conductor unit 7 provided with the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 is provided so that a part thereof overlaps the low-voltage conductor 5 and is capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor 5 at a frequency of a predetermined value or higher.

[0054] Specifically, when the frequency of the output potential exceeds a predetermined value, the capacitive impedance of the inter-conductor capacitance C2 between the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 decreases, and the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 conduct as if they were an integrated conductor.

[0055] FIG. 6(A) is a plan view showing an example of the effective range of the electrode unit 7, FIG. 6(B) is another example of the effective range, and FIG. 6(C) is still another example of the effective range. In FIG. 6, the effective range of treatment is indicated by hatching.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, with the configuration having the auxiliary low-voltage electrode 6 capacitively coupled to the low-voltage electrode 5, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 can change the region where the therapeutic current flows through the human body 74 by adjusting the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12.

[0057] For example, by lowering the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to make the output potential a low frequency, for example, 40 ± 20 Hz, as shown in FIG. 6(A), a treatment can be performed in which a high-voltage therapeutic potential is applied to, for example, the trunk of the human body 74 by the high-voltage electrode 3. That is, a treatment can be performed in which no therapeutic current flows through the human body 74 via the low-voltage electrode 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage electrode 6.

[0058] Also, for example, by adjusting the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to an intermediate frequency, as shown in FIG. 6(B), a treatment can be performed in which a therapeutic current flows through, for example, the erasure part of the human body 74 via the low-voltage electrode 5. Here, the intermediate frequency is, for example, 120 ± 60 Hz.

[0059] Also, for example, by further increasing the frequency of the output potential under the control of the waveform control device 12 to a high frequency, for example, 360 ± 140 Hz, as shown in FIG. 6(C), a treatment can be performed in which a therapeutic current flows through substantially the entire region of the human body 74 via the low-voltage electrode 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage electrode 6.

[0060] In this way, without changing the mounting position of the electrode unit 7, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 can selectively switch and execute the treatment by only the high-voltage electrode 3, the treatment in which the therapeutic current flows from the high-voltage electrode 3 to the low-voltage electrode 5, and the treatment in which the therapeutic current flows from the high-voltage electrode 3 to the low-voltage electrode 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage electrode 6 by controlling the frequency of the output potential.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, inside the main body unit 2, a capacitive coupling circuit 17 for grounding the low-voltage conductor 5 when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency is provided.

[0062] Specifically, a plurality of low-voltage conductors 5 may be provided in the conductor unit 7, and inside the main body unit 2, a plurality of capacitive coupling circuits 17 that are connected to the respective low-voltage conductors 5 and each have a unique grounding impedance with different frequency characteristics may be provided.

[0063] For example, two low-voltage conductors 5a and 5b may be provided in the conductor unit 7, and two capacitive coupling circuits 17a and 17b with different frequency characteristics may be provided inside the main body unit 2. The low-voltage conductor 5a is connected to the capacitive coupling circuit 17a via the low-voltage terminal 15a, and the low-voltage conductor 5b is connected to the capacitive coupling circuit 17b via the low-voltage terminal 15b.

[0064] The capacitive coupling circuit 17a has, for example, a capacitor 18, a capacitor 19, and a parallel resistor 20, and constitutes a high-pass filter. The capacitive coupling circuit 17b has, for example, a capacitor 21, an inductor 22, and a parallel resistor 23, and constitutes a band-pass filter.

[0065] With such a configuration in which a plurality of capacitive coupling circuits 17a and 17b with different frequency characteristics are provided, the frequency of the output potential can be adjusted by the waveform control device 12, and the region where the therapeutic current flows through the human body 74 can be changed.

[0066] FIG. 8(A) is a plan view showing an example of the effective range of the conductor unit 7 having a plurality of low-voltage conductors 5a and 5b respectively connected to the plurality of capacitive coupling circuits 17a and 17b, FIG. 8(B) is another example of the effective range, and FIG. 8(C) is still another example of the effective range. In FIG. 8, the effective range of treatment is indicated by hatching.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, by changing the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12, it is possible to efficiently and selectively switch treatment target sites at multiple locations for treatment without changing the mounting positions of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the low-voltage conductors 5a and 5b.

[0068] For example, by lowering the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to make the output potential a low frequency, as shown in FIG. 8(A), a high-voltage treatment potential is applied to the human body 74 with the high-voltage conductor 3, and only, for example, the trunk part of the human body 74 can be treated. That is, treatment can be performed in which a treatment current does not flow through, for example, the erased part of the human body 74 via the low-voltage conductor 5.

[0069] Also, for example, by adjusting the frequency of the output potential with the waveform control device 12 to an intermediate frequency, as shown in FIG. 8(B), treatment can be performed in which a treatment current flows through, for example, the shoulders, arms, etc. of the human body 74 via the low-voltage conductor 5a.

[0070] Also, for example, by further increasing the frequency of the output potential to a high frequency under the control of the waveform control device 12, as shown in FIG. 8(C), treatment can be performed in which a treatment current flows through, for example, from the waist to the legs of the human body 74 via the low-voltage conductor 5b. As described above, the electrotherapy device 1 can switch the treatment position without using an expensive switching switch or the like by controlling the frequency of the output potential.

[0071] FIG. 9(A) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the conductor unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the conductor unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 9(A) and (B), the conductor unit 7 may be provided so that the high-voltage conductor 3, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor 3, the low-voltage conductor 5, and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor 5 are integrally incorporated.

[0072] The high-voltage conductor 3 is provided approximately at the center of the conductor unit 7 and is connected to the output terminal 14 of the main body unit 2 via a lead wire. A high voltage output potential is applied to the high-voltage conductor 3. A pair of auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4 are provided so as to sandwich the high-voltage conductor 3, and the pair of auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4 are provided such that a part thereof overlaps along the vicinity of the opposite side portions of the high-voltage conductor 3, respectively. The auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 conducts to the high-voltage conductor 3 via the inter-conductor capacitance C1 when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency.

[0073] Also, a pair of low-voltage conductors 5 are provided outside the pair of auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4 so as to sandwich the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductors 4, and are connected to the low-voltage terminal 15 of the main body unit 2 via lead wires and are grounded. Also, the pair of low-voltage conductors 5 are connected via a side electrode 24 made of a conductive material.

[0074] A pair of auxiliary low-voltage conductors 6 are provided such that a part thereof overlaps along the vicinity of the inner side of each of the pair of low-voltage terminals 15, respectively, and conducts to the low-voltage conductor 5 via the inter-conductor capacitance C2 when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency.

[0075] FIG. 10(A) is a plan view showing an example of the effective range of the conductor unit 7 configured as shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10(B) is another example of the effective range, and FIG. 10(C) is still another example of the effective range. In FIG. 10, the effective range of the treatment is indicated by hatching.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, for example, when a low-frequency output potential is applied, as shown in FIG. 10(A), treatment can be performed in which an output potential is applied to, for example, the trunk portion of the human body 74 by the high-voltage conductor 3.

[0077] Also, for example, when an intermediate-frequency output potential is applied, as shown in FIG. 9(B), treatment can be performed in which a treatment current flows from the high-voltage conductor 3 through the low-voltage conductor 5 to, for example, the erased portion of the human body 74.

[0078] For example, when a high-frequency output potential is applied, as shown in FIG. 10(C), treatment can be performed using substantially all of the high-voltage conductor 3, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4, the low-voltage conductor 5, and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6, with, for example, the entire body of the human body 74 as the treatment target site.

[0079] FIG. 11(A) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conductor unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the conductor unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 11(A) and (B), at least one of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the low-voltage conductor 5 may be provided detachably from the conductor unit 7.

[0080] Specifically, a high-voltage conductor holder 30 for detachably mounting the high-voltage conductor 3 connected by a lead wire to the output terminal 14 of the main body unit 2 (see FIG. 9) may be provided near the surface of the conductor unit 7 on the side of the human body-side insulating material 27, for example. Below the high-voltage conductor holder 30, that is, inside the conductor unit 7, an auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 is provided such that the high-voltage conductor 3 inserted into the high-voltage conductor holder 30 can be capacitively coupled via the inter-conductor capacitance C1.

[0081] For example, a low-voltage conductor holder 31 for detachably mounting the low-voltage conductor 5 connected by a lead wire to the low-voltage terminal 15 of the main body unit 2 may be provided near the outer surface of the conductor unit 7 on the side of the opposite insulating material 28.

[0082] Inside the conductor unit 7, a capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 is provided so as to overlap at least a part thereof near the low-voltage conductor holder 31. When the output potential is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 is capacitively joined to the low-voltage conductor 5 inserted into the low-voltage conductor holder 31 via the inter-conductor capacitance C3 and functions as an electrode of the low-voltage conductor 5. A pair of capacitively coupled low-voltage electrodes 25 are provided at the same position as the low-voltage conductor 5 shown in FIG. 9, for example, and are capacitively joined to the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 via the inter-conductor capacitance C2 when the output potential is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

[0083] In this way, the lead unit 7 is not directly connected to the main body unit 2 via a lead wire or the like in a configuration including the high-voltage lead holder 30 or the low-voltage lead holder 31. By inserting the high-voltage lead 3 connected to the main body unit 2 into the high-voltage lead holder 30, it becomes possible to apply a potential output by the high-voltage lead 3 or the auxiliary high-voltage lead 4. Further, by inserting the low-voltage lead 5 connected to the main body unit 2 into the low-voltage lead holder 31, it becomes possible to perform treatment by passing a treatment current through the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 or the auxiliary low-voltage lead 6 to the human body 74.

[0084] With such a configuration, as the high-voltage lead 3 or the low-voltage lead 5, for example, the lead of a conventional electric therapeutic apparatus can be inserted into the high-voltage lead holder 30 or the low-voltage lead holder 31 and used. Even when using the lead of a conventional electric therapeutic apparatus, the electric therapeutic apparatus 1 can perform a delicate treatment in which the treatment effect can be selectively switched for a plurality of treatment target sites without moving the lead unit 7 each time.

[0085] FIG. 12(A) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a lead unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12(B) is a cross-sectional view of the lead unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 provided between the low-voltage lead 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage lead 6 may be formed to have substantially the same area as the lead unit 7. That is, the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 is formed in a sheet shape having a size that covers substantially the entire lead unit 7 in plan view.

[0086] Note that the insulation thickness T3 between the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25, the auxiliary high-voltage lead 4, and the auxiliary low-voltage lead 6 is, for example, 5 to 10 mm in order to reduce the inter-conductor capacitance C2.

[0087] By providing the large-area sheet-like capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 in this way, the capacitance between the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 and the ground increases, and for example, even if the low-voltage conductor 5 is not provided, it can be configured such that a therapeutic current flows to the ground side. In particular, in a state where the conductor unit 7 is placed on the floor and the subject lies on it horizontally, a therapeutic current from the human body 74 to the ground can be obtained without using the low-voltage conductor 5.

[0088] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the large capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 provided in the conductor unit 7. As shown in FIG. 13, an opening 26 may be formed in the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 at a portion overlapping the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4.

[0089] In this way, by forming the opening 26 at the portion overlapping the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4, the ground current flowing directly from the high-voltage conductor 3 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 to the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 without passing through the human body 74 (see FIG. 9) can be reduced. That is, the ground current that does not become a therapeutic current can be reduced, and effective electrotherapy can be performed.

[0090] FIG. 14(A) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conductor unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14(B) is a cross-sectional view of the conductor unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 14(A) and (B), a blanket-type low-voltage conductor 32 may be provided in the conductor unit 7.

[0091] The blanket-type low-voltage conductor 32 has a flexible coated wire 33 covered with an insulating cloth such as a blanket, and is an electric blanket-like conductor that is hung on the front surface or the like of the human body 74 (see FIG. 9). An attachment 34 is provided at a wiring end connected to the coated wire 33 of the blanket-type low-voltage conductor 32. The attachment 34 is inserted into the low-voltage conductor holder 31 of the conductor unit 7 and capacitively coupled to the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25.

[0092] FIG. 15(A) is a diagram showing an example of the output waveform of the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1, and FIGS. 15(B) to 15(D) are diagrams showing other examples of the output waveform. Referring to FIGS. 15(A) to (D), the waveform control device 12 (see FIG. 1) of the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 may synthesize a plurality of waveform components having different frequencies and voltages to generate an output potential and control the waveform of the output potential.

[0093] The waveform components for generating the synthesized output potential are, for example, a plurality of waveforms selected from low frequency, intermediate frequency, and high frequency. As described above, the low frequency is, for example, 40 ± 20 Hz, the intermediate frequency is, for example, 120 ± 60 Hz, and the high frequency is, for example, 360 ± 140 Hz.

[0094] In addition, it is desirable that the peak components of the voltage of each waveform component to be synthesized are preferably synthesized with the same polarity. For example, the frequency of the waveform component synthesized with the basic waveform is preferably an odd multiple of the frequency of the basic waveform. Thereby, the peak value of the voltage can be efficiently obtained by waveform synthesis.

[0095] By mixing a plurality of waveform components having different frequency components in this way, it is possible to select the treatment target site through which the treatment current flows, and to form a suitable voltage value, current value, and frequency waveform suitable for the treatment of each treatment target site. Therefore, without changing the mounting position of the lead unit 7, the position where the treatment potential is applied and the waveform of the applied treatment potential can be preferably changed, and excellent body sensation and treatment effect can be given to each treatment target site from the trunk to the erasure according to the symptoms of each patient.

[0096] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 16, the high-voltage lead 3 has a positive electrode side electrode 39 and a negative electrode side electrode 40, and a rectifier output circuit 35 may be provided in the high-voltage lead 3.

[0097] Specifically, the rectifier output circuit 35 is a rectifier circuit that divides the output potential boosted by the high-voltage transformer 11 into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side. The rectifier output circuit 35 is provided with a positive electrode side diode 36 that sets the flowing direction of the current from the high-voltage transformer 11 toward the high-voltage conductor 3 as the positive direction, and a negative electrode side diode 37 that sets the flowing direction of the current from the high-voltage transformer 11 toward the high-voltage conductor 3 as the reverse direction, in parallel.

[0098] The positive electrode side electrode 39 is an electrode to which the output potential on the positive electrode side divided by the rectifier output circuit 35 is applied, and is connected to the positive electrode side diode 36 of the rectifier output circuit 35. The negative electrode side electrode 40 is an electrode to which the output potential on the negative electrode side divided by the rectifier output circuit 35 is applied, and is connected to the negative electrode side diode 37 of the rectifier output circuit 35. Further, the rectifier output circuit 35 may be provided with a discharge resistor 38 that connects the circuit on the positive electrode side electrode 39 side and the circuit on the negative electrode side electrode 40 side.

[0099] By adopting the high-voltage conductor 3 having such a positive electrode side electrode 39 and a negative electrode side electrode 40, it is possible to efficiently and effectively treat a plurality of treatment target sites without removing the high-voltage conductor 3 from the human body 74 (see FIG. 12) once and changing the mounting position.

[0100] Specifically, a positive potential can be applied from the positive electrode side electrode 39 to the treatment target site where the positive electrode side electrode 39 is mounted, and a negative potential can be applied from the negative electrode side electrode 40 to another treatment target site where the negative electrode side electrode 40 is mounted.

[0101] In this way, effective electrotherapy can be performed on two treatment target sites distinguished by the positive electrode side electrode 39 and the negative electrode side electrode 40 with different contact positions without changing the mounting of the high-voltage conductor 3.

[0102] Further, the low-voltage conductor 5 of the electrotherapy device 1 has a negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46 and a positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45, and the low-voltage conductor 5 may be provided with a low-voltage conductor rectifier circuit 41.

[0103] Specifically, the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41 is a rectifying circuit that divides the current flowing through the low-voltage conductor 5 into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side, and is connected to the low-voltage conductor 5. In the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41, a positive electrode side low-voltage diode 42 that sets the flowing direction of the current flowing from the low-voltage conductor 5 toward the ground side as the positive direction and a negative electrode side low-voltage diode 43 that sets the flowing direction of the current flowing from the low-voltage conductor 5 toward the ground side as the reverse direction are provided in parallel.

[0104] The positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45 is an electrode through which the current on the positive electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41 conducts, and is connected to the positive electrode side low-voltage diode 42 of the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41. The negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46 is an electrode through which the current on the negative electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41 conducts, and is connected to the negative electrode side low-voltage diode 43. Further, a discharge resistor 44 that connects the circuit on the positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45 side and the circuit on the negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46 side may be provided in the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41.

[0105] With such a configuration, without changing the mounting position of the low-voltage conductor 5, electrotherapy in which a positive electrode side therapeutic current flows can be performed on the treatment target site where the positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45 is mounted, and electrotherapy in which a negative electrode side therapeutic current flows can be effectively performed on the treatment target site where the negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46 is mounted.

[0106] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conductor unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 17, the high-voltage conductor 3 and the low-voltage conductor 5 are integrally provided inside the conductor unit 7, and may be arranged, for example, in the order of the negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46, the positive electrode side electrode 39, the negative electrode side electrode 40, and the positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45.

[0107] Specifically, the conductor unit 7 is provided with a high-voltage conductor 3 and a low-voltage conductor 5, and at least one of the high-voltage conductor 3 and the low-voltage conductor 5 is divided into a positive electrode side electrode and a negative electrode side electrode. That is, for example, the high-voltage conductor 3 may have a positive electrode side electrode 39 and a negative electrode side electrode 40. Also, for example, the low-voltage conductor 5 may have a positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45 and a negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46.

[0108] Further, the positive diode 36 and the negative diode 37 of the full-wave rectifier output circuit 35 connected to the positive electrode 39 and the negative electrode 40 of the high-voltage conductor 3 may be provided inside the conductor unit 7. By connecting a single output wiring to the output terminal 14 of the main body unit 2 (see FIG. 16), a plurality of positive electrodes 39 and negative electrodes 40 can be connected to the main body unit 2.

[0109] Also, the positive low-voltage diode 42 and the negative low-voltage diode 43 of the low-voltage conductor rectifier circuit 41 connected to the positive low-voltage electrode 45 and the negative low-voltage electrode 46 of the low-voltage conductor 5 may be provided inside the conductor unit 7. By connecting a single ground wiring to the low-voltage terminal 15 of the main body unit 2, a plurality of positive low-voltage electrodes 45 and negative low-voltage electrodes 46 can be connected to the main body unit 2.

[0110] Note that the full-wave rectifier output circuit 35 and the low-voltage conductor rectifier circuit 41 may be provided inside the main body unit 2. In that case, as the output terminal 14 and the low-voltage terminal 15 of the main body unit 2, connectors divided by polarity may be provided.

[0111] Also, various modified examples can be adopted for the respective shapes, quantities, arrangements, etc. of the positive electrode 39 and the negative electrode 40 as the high-voltage conductor 3 and the positive low-voltage electrode 45 and the negative low-voltage electrode 46 as the low-voltage conductor 5.

[0112] FIG. 18(A) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conductor unit 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18(B) is a cross-sectional view of the conductor unit 7. Referring to FIGS. 18(A) and 18(B), the conductor unit 7 may be provided with a capacitively coupled high-voltage electrode 47 capacitively coupled via a conductor-to-conductor capacitance C4 to a high-voltage conductor 3 inserted into a high-voltage conductor holder 30. The capacitively coupled high-voltage electrode 47 is an electrode constituting the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4.

[0113] For the capacitive coupling high-voltage electrode 47 as the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4, an auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 that divides the potential applied to the capacitive coupling high-voltage electrode 47 into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided. The capacitive coupling high-voltage electrode 47 is connected to a positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 to which the potential on the positive electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 is applied, and a negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54 to which the potential on the negative electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 is applied. That is, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 has a positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 and a negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54.

[0114] Specifically, the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 has a positive electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 49 and a negative electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 50 connected in parallel. The positive electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 49 is provided in a circuit connecting the capacitive coupling high-voltage electrode 47 and the positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 and sets the flow direction of the current toward the positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 as the forward direction. The negative electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 50 is provided in a circuit connecting the capacitive coupling high-voltage electrode 47 and the negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54 and sets the flow direction of the current toward the negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54 as the reverse direction. Also, a discharge resistor 51 may be connected in parallel to the positive electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 49, and a discharge resistor 52 may be connected in parallel to the negative electrode side high-voltage auxiliary diode 50.

[0115] In this way, since the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4 has the positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 and the negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54, without changing the mounting position of the auxiliary high-voltage conductor 4, a treatment for applying the positive electrode side potential can be performed on the treatment target site where the positive electrode side auxiliary electrode 53 is mounted. And on the treatment target site where the negative electrode side auxiliary electrode 54 is mounted, a treatment for applying the negative electrode side potential can be effectively performed.

[0116] Also, the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25 that capacitively couples to the low-voltage conductor 5 via the inter-conductor capacitance C3 may be connected to the positive electrode side low-voltage electrode 45 and the negative electrode side low-voltage electrode 46 via an auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55.

[0117] The positive-side low-voltage electrode 45 is an electrode through which the current on the positive side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 conducts, and the negative-side low-voltage electrode 46 is an electrode through which the current on the negative side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 conducts.

[0118] The auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 is a rectifying circuit that divides the ground current flowing through the low-voltage conductor 5 and the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 into the positive side and the negative side, and has a positive-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 56 and a negative-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 57 connected in parallel.

[0119] The positive-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 56 is provided in a circuit connecting the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 and the positive-side low-voltage electrode 45 and makes the flow direction of the current toward the positive-side low-voltage electrode 45 the reverse direction. That is, the positive-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 56 makes the flow direction of the current toward the grounding direction the positive direction.

[0120] The negative-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 57 is provided in a circuit connecting the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 and the negative-side low-voltage electrode 46 and makes the flow direction of the current toward the negative-side low-voltage electrode 46 the positive direction. Also, a discharge resistor 58 may be connected in parallel to the positive-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 56, and a discharge resistor 59 may be connected in parallel to the negative-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 57.

[0121] Also, the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 and the positive-side low-voltage electrode 45, and the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25 and the negative-side low-voltage electrode 46 are capacitively coupled via the inter-conductor capacitance C5. As described with reference to FIG. 13, an opening 26 cut in a portion overlapping with the positive-side auxiliary electrode 53 and the negative-side auxiliary electrode 54 may be formed in the capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 25. Thereby, unnecessary ground current that does not become a treatment current can be reduced, and effective electrotherapy can be performed.

[0122] Also, a positive-side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 60 may be provided near the positive-side low-voltage electrode 45 so that a partial overlapping portion is formed. Also, a negative-side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 61 may be provided near the negative-side low-voltage electrode 46 so that a partial overlapping portion is formed.

[0123] With such a configuration, a treatment current on the positive electrode side separated by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 can be passed through the positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 60 to the treatment target site of the human body 74. And a treatment current on the negative electrode side separated by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 can be passed through the negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 61 to the treatment target site of the human body 74. Therefore, without changing the mounting position of the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6, it is possible to effectively perform a treatment in which a treatment current on the positive electrode side flows to a desired treatment target site and a treatment in which a treatment current on the negative electrode side flows.

[0124] Note that the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 may be provided as a rectifying circuit that directly connects the capacitive coupling low-voltage electrode 25, the positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 60, and the negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 61. Even with such a configuration, without changing the mounting position of the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6, it is possible to perform a treatment in which a treatment current on the positive electrode side flows to the treatment target site where the positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 60 is mounted, and it is possible to effectively perform a treatment in which a treatment current on the negative electrode side flows to the treatment target site where the negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 61 is mounted.

[0125] FIG. 19(A) is a diagram showing an example of an output waveform of the electrotherapy device 1 having rectifying circuits such as the rectifying output circuit 35 and the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48. FIG. 19(B) is a diagram showing an example of an output waveform rectified on the positive electrode side, and FIG. 19(C) is a diagram showing an example of an output waveform rectified on the negative electrode side.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 19(A), the waveform control device 12 (see FIG. 16) may control the output potential so that the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of the output potential have an asymmetric waveform. That is, the waveform on the positive electrode side separated by the rectifying output circuit 35 (see FIG. 16), the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 (see FIG. 18), the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 41 (see FIG. 16), and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55 (see FIG. 18) becomes the waveform shown in FIG. 19(B). On the other hand, the waveform on the negative electrode side becomes the waveform shown in FIG. 19(C), and the waveforms on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side are not simply symmetric shapes with only the polarities changed.

[0127] By generating such a positive-negative asymmetric waveform, it is possible to suitably change the position where the treatment potential is applied, the waveform of the treatment potential to be applied, the voltage value, and the treatment current without changing the mounting positions of the high-voltage conductor 3, the low-voltage conductor 5, etc. shown in FIG. 18, and perform a desired treatment.

[0128] FIG. 20(A) is an example of the effective range on the positive electrode side of the conductor unit 7 in the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 having rectifying circuits such as the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 48 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit 55, FIG. 20(B) is an example of the effective range on the negative electrode side, FIG. 20(C) is another example of the effective range on the positive electrode side, FIG. 20(D) is another example of the effective range on the negative electrode side, FIG. 20(E) is still another example of the effective range on the positive electrode side, and FIG. 20(F) is still another example of the effective range on the negative electrode side. In FIG. 20, the effective range of treatment is indicated by hatching.

[0129] Referring to FIGS. 20(A) to (F), the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 can suitably select the effective treatment range where the output potential is applied or the treatment current flows by adjusting the frequency of the output potential by the waveform control device 12 (see FIG. 16). Also, the ranges where the potentials on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side are applied can be selectively adjusted respectively.

[0130] Thus, according to the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1, by controlling the frequency of the output waveform, it is possible to change the effective treatment target range without removing the conductor unit 7 from the human body 74 (see FIG. 18) and changing its mounting position.

[0131] And as described above, by controlling the waveform of the output potential by the waveform control device 12, it is possible to apply a suitable treatment potential, that is, a treatment potential obtained by suitably adjusting the voltage value, current value, frequency, waveform, etc., to each treatment target site and perform an effective treatment.

[0132] In addition, by performing treatment in which only the potential on the positive electrode side or the negative electrode side separated by a rectifier circuit such as the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifier circuit 48 is applied, intensive treatment can be performed to increase the current value only for one of the electrodes. By controlling the polarity and frequency components of the output waveform by the waveform control device 12, suitable treatment according to the treatment site and symptoms can be performed only by selecting the output waveform without manually shifting the position of the conductor unit 7.

[0133] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 21, the electrotherapeutic apparatus 1 may be provided with a low-voltage impedance circuit 16 that can be selectively switched in the ground circuit of the low-voltage conductor 5.

[0134] Specifically, the low-voltage impedance circuit 16 may be provided in the low-voltage circuit inside the main body unit 2. The low-voltage impedance circuit 16 is a circuit that controls the impedance of the ground circuit, and has, for example, a resistor 64 and a resistor 65 that are selectively connected in parallel. The resistor 64 is, for example, 30 MΩ. The resistor 65 is, for example, 1 MΩ, and an ON / OFF switch 68 is connected in series. The switch 68 may be turned ON / OFF under the control of the waveform control device 12.

[0135] By providing such a low-voltage impedance circuit 16, the effect levels of the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 (see FIG. 9) can be adjusted. For example, when the switch 68 is turned OFF, the low-resistance resistor 65 becomes in an invalid state, and only the high-resistance resistor 64 is connected. As a result, the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 become substantially ineffective. On the other hand, for example, when the low-resistance resistor 65 is connected by turning on the switch 68, the low-voltage conductor 5 and the auxiliary low-voltage conductor 6 become effective.

[0136] In addition, in the low-voltage impedance circuit 16, a circuit in which the positive electrode side low-voltage diode 42, the capacitor 62, and the switch 66 are connected in series and a circuit in which the negative electrode side low-voltage diode 43, the capacitor 63, and the switch 67 are connected in series may be selectively connected in parallel. The ON / OFF of the switch 66 and the switch 67 may be controlled by the waveform control device 12.

[0137] With such a configuration, the parallel-connected positive electrode side low-voltage diode 42 and negative electrode side low-voltage diode 43, and the similarly parallel-connected capacitor 62 and capacitor 63 can be switched by the ON / OFF control of the switches 66 and 67. Thereby, without changing the position of the conductor unit 7, the polarity of the ground current can be selectively inverted according to the treatment target site, and suitable treatment can be performed.

[0138] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Other various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0139] 1: Electrotherapy device 2: Main body unit 3: High-voltage conductor 4: Auxiliary high-voltage conductor 5: Low-voltage conductor 5a: Low-voltage conductor 5b: Low-voltage conductor 6: Auxiliary low-voltage conductor 7: Conductor unit 10: Power supply device 11: High-voltage transformer 12: Waveform control device 13: Current limiting resistor 14: Output terminal 15: Low-voltage terminal 15a: Low-voltage terminal 15b: Low-voltage terminal 16: Low-voltage impedance circuit 17: Capacitance coupling circuit 17a: Capacitance coupling circuit 17b: Capacitance coupling circuit 18: Capacitor 19: Capacitor 20: Parallel resistor 21: Capacitor 22: Inductor 23: Parallel resistor 24: Side electrode 25: Capacitively coupled low-voltage electrode 26: Opening 27: Insulator on the human body side 28: Insulator on the opposite side 30: High-voltage terminal holder 31: Low-voltage terminal holder 32: Felt-type low-voltage terminal 33: Coated wire 34: Attachment 35: Rectifier output circuit 36: Positive-side diode 37: Negative-side diode 38: Discharge resistor 39: Positive-side electrode 40: Negative-side electrode 41: Low-voltage terminal rectifier circuit 42: Positive-side low-voltage diode 43: Negative-side low-voltage diode 44: Discharge resistor 45: Positive-side low-voltage electrode 46: Negative-side low-voltage electrode 47: Capacitively coupled high-voltage electrode 48: Auxiliary high-voltage terminal rectifier circuit 49: Positive-side high-voltage auxiliary diode 50: Negative-side high-voltage auxiliary diode 51: Discharge resistor 52: Discharge resistor 53: Positive-side auxiliary electrode 54: Negative-side auxiliary electrode 55: Auxiliary low-voltage terminal rectifier circuit 56: Positive-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 57: Negative-side auxiliary low-voltage diode 58: Discharge resistor 59: Discharge resistor 60: Positive-side auxiliary low-voltage electrode 61: Negative electrode side auxiliary low voltage electrode 62: Capacitor 63: Capacitor 64: Resistor 65: Resistor 66: Switch 67: Switch 68: Switch 70: AC power supply 74: Human body C1: Inter-conductor capacitance C2: Inter-conductor capacitance C3: Inter-conductor capacitance C4: Inter-conductor capacitance C5: Inter-conductor capacitance T1: Insulation thickness T2: Insulation thickness T3: Insulation thickness

Claims

1. A high-voltage transformer that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, A waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, A high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, An auxiliary high-voltage conductor capacitively coupled to the high-voltage conductor that conducts to the high-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency, characterized in that the electrotherapy device comprises the same.

2. A low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, An auxiliary low-voltage conductor capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor that conducts to the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency, characterized in that the electrotherapy device according to claim 1 comprises the same.

3. A high-voltage transformer that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, A waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, A high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, A low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, An auxiliary low-voltage conductor capacitively coupled to the low-voltage conductor that conducts to the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency, characterized in that the electrotherapy device comprises the same.

4. A high-voltage transformer provided inside the main body unit that boosts an input potential to generate a high-voltage output potential, A waveform control device that controls at least the frequency of the output potential, A high-voltage conductor connected to the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer that applies the output potential to the human body, A low-voltage conductor that applies a ground potential to the human body, and A capacitive coupling circuit for grounding the low-voltage conductor when the output potential is above a predetermined frequency is provided inside the main body unit, characterized in that the electrotherapy device comprises the same.

5. A rectifying output circuit that divides the output potential into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided on the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer. The high-voltage conductor has a positive electrode side electrode to which the output potential on the positive electrode side divided by the rectifying output circuit is applied, and a negative electrode side electrode to which the output potential on the negative electrode side divided by the rectifying output circuit is applied. The electrotherapy device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

6. A low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit that divides the current flowing through the low-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is connected to the low-voltage conductor. The low-voltage conductor has a positive electrode side low-voltage electrode through which the current on the positive electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts, and a negative electrode side low-voltage electrode through which the current on the negative electrode side divided by the low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts. The electrotherapy device according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized by this.

7. An auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit that divides the potential applied to the auxiliary high-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided on the auxiliary high-voltage conductor. The auxiliary high-voltage conductor has a positive electrode side auxiliary electrode to which the potential on the positive electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit is applied, and a negative electrode side auxiliary electrode to which the potential on the negative electrode side divided by the auxiliary high-voltage conductor rectifying circuit is applied. The electrotherapy device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by this.

8. An auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit that divides the current flowing through the auxiliary low-voltage conductor into a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side is provided on the auxiliary low-voltage conductor. The auxiliary low-voltage conductor has a positive electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode through which the current on the positive electrode side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts, and a negative electrode side auxiliary low-voltage electrode through which the current on the negative electrode side divided by the auxiliary low-voltage conductor rectifying circuit conducts. The electrotherapy device according to claim 3, characterized by this.

9. The waveform control device synthesizes a plurality of waveform components with different frequencies to generate the output potential and controls the waveform of the output potential. The electrotherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by this.

10. The waveform control device controls the output potential so that the positive and negative sides of the output potential have an asymmetric waveform, and the electrotherapeutic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

Images