Electrotherapy gloves and electrotherapy device

Abstract

To provide electrotherapy gloves and an electrotherapy device that can more effectively perform electrical treatment on an affected area while suppressing surprise or discomfort to the patient. [Solution] Electrotherapy gloves 10L, 10R comprise a glove body 11, electrode sections 12a individually arranged on only three fingers of the glove body 11: the thumb, index finger, and middle finger, and wiring 13 for applying voltage to the electrode sections 12a. The electrode sections 12a have a sheet-like electrode and a sheet-like conductive elastic body that covers the electrode. When the hand is inserted into the glove body 11, the electrode section 12 (electrode and conductive elastic body) of each finger is arranged so that it extends from the palm side of the corresponding finger, over the top of the finger, and around to the back of the hand.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an electrotherapy glove that can simultaneously massage the affected area with the fingers and apply a DC pulse voltage to the affected area, and to an electrotherapy device using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, chiropractic clinics and osteopathic clinics have provided patients with massage treatments using their fingers to relieve stiffness and pain. Recently, in addition to massage treatments using their fingers, treatments have also been performed in which a low-frequency DC pulse voltage is applied to the affected area. In this case, applying a DC pulse voltage simultaneously with massage treatments using their fingers can improve the efficiency of the treatment and is more effective in alleviating stiffness and pain.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below describes an electrotherapy glove that allows for simultaneous kneading with the fingers and application of an electrical signal. This electrotherapy glove has an electrode on each of the five fingers on the palm side. When kneading with the fingers, an electrical signal is applied to the electrode on the thumb, and an electrical signal of the opposite polarity to that of the thumb is applied to the electrodes on the four fingers other than the thumb. It is described that this combines physical stimuli such as pressure and heat from the fingers with electrical stimuli from the electrical signal, thereby enhancing therapeutic effects such as fatigue recovery, promotion of blood circulation, and pain relief. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-194711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, electrodes are arranged on all five fingers of the electrotherapy gloves described in Patent Document 1. However, when using fingers for treatment, it is difficult to place all five fingers on the affected area in a small area, so basically, massage treatment of the affected area is performed using three fingers including the thumb.

[0006] In this case, if electrodes are placed on fingers not required for treatment other than the fingers that are placed on the affected area, as in the case of the electrotherapy gloves described in Patent Document 1, when these unnecessary fingers touch the skin other than the affected area, electrical stimulation is applied to areas other than the affected area, which may cause discomfort or surprise to the patient. Furthermore, to avoid such discomfort or surprise, the practitioner must also manipulate these unnecessary fingers so that they do not touch the patient's skin, which may result in the massage not being performed smoothly as intended.

[0007] Furthermore, in massage treatments, in addition to applying pressure with the palms of the fingers, the tops of the fingers are also pressed into the gaps between the muscles to separate them. With the electrotherapy gloves described in Patent Document 1, the electrodes are located only in the palm (belly) area of ​​the five fingers, so when performing treatment using the tops of the fingers in this way, it is not possible to effectively apply electrotherapy to the treatment area.

[0008] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide electrotherapy gloves and an electrotherapy device that can more effectively administer electrical treatment to the affected area while minimizing the patient's surprise or discomfort. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an electrotherapy glove. This electrotherapy glove comprises a glove body, electrodes individually arranged on only three fingers (thumb, index finger, and middle finger) of the glove body, and wiring for applying voltage to the electrodes. When a hand is inserted into the glove body, the electrode on each finger is arranged so that it extends from the palm side of the corresponding finger, over the top of the finger, and around to the back of the hand.

[0010] With the electrotherapy gloves of this embodiment, electrodes are located on the three fingers that are basically used for treatment: the thumb, index finger, and middle finger, so that while the three fingers are used for the massage treatment, a voltage for electrotherapy can be applied to the massaged area at the same time. This allows for efficient treatment of the patient and improves the therapeutic effect.

[0011] Furthermore, because electrodes are not placed on the ring finger and little finger, which are not required for treatment, voltage is not applied to the patient's skin even if these fingers come into contact with the patient's skin. This prevents the patient from feeling uncomfortable or startled by electrical stimulation in undesired locations during treatment, and allows the practitioner to perform treatment smoothly without worrying about these fingers.

[0012] Furthermore, the electrodes are positioned on the three fingers used in the treatment so that they run from the palm side of the finger, through the top of the finger, and around to the nail side, so that even when the top of the finger is used for treatment, the voltage for electrical treatment can be applied to the treatment position, allowing for more effective electrical treatment of the affected area.

[0013] In this way, the electrotherapy glove according to this aspect makes it possible to effectively administer electrical treatment to the affected area while minimizing surprise or discomfort to the patient.

[0014] In the electrotherapy glove according to this aspect, each of the electrode portions may be configured to include, for example, a sheet-like electrode and a sheet-like conductive elastic body covering the electrode.

[0015] With this configuration, the conductive elastic body is arranged to cover the electrodes, so the waterproof properties of the conductive elastic body make the electrodes waterproof, and the flexibility of the conductive elastic body improves the fit to the affected area. Furthermore, because voltage is applied uniformly to the conductive elastic body from the electrode area, and the conductive elastic body has significantly low resistance in the direction of voltage application (thickness direction), therapeutic voltage can be applied uniformly and efficiently to the patient's skin over the entire electrode area. These effects also enable the electrotherapy glove of this aspect to effectively provide treatment to patients by kneading and applying voltage.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an electrotherapy device, which includes the electrotherapy glove of the first aspect and a controller for adjusting the voltages applied to the electrodes.

[0017] According to the electrotherapy device of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, the present invention provides electrotherapy gloves and an electrotherapy device that can more effectively administer electrical treatment to the affected area while minimizing the patient's surprise or discomfort.

[0019] The effects and significance of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments, however, the embodiments described below are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electrotherapy device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Fig. 2(a) is a plan view showing the configuration of the electrodes and conductive elastic body that constitute the electrode unit according to the embodiment, and Fig. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a part of the cross-sectional structure of the electrode unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a finger portion of an electrotreatment glove on which an electrode portion is provided according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the relationship between the electric treatment glove and the fingers when the electric treatment glove is worn on the hand according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the finger portion of a glove for electric treatment and the voltage applied to the skin according to a comparative example, and Fig. 5(b) is a diagram showing the configuration of the finger portion of a glove for electric treatment and the voltage applied to the skin according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 6(a) to 6(d) are diagrams showing operation states of the operation unit of the controller according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 7(a) and (b) are diagrams each showing a schematic diagram of the voltage applied to the treatment target area when treatment is performed in the setting state of FIG. 6(a) and (b) according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 8(a) and (b) are diagrams each showing a schematic diagram of the voltage applied to the treatment target area when treatment is performed in the setting state of FIG. 6(c) and (d) according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of a fingerstall according to a modified example. [Figure 10] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of a controller according to another modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a glove for electrotreatment according to yet another modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electrotherapy device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0022] The electrotherapy device 1 includes electrotherapy gloves 10L, 10R (hereinafter referred to as "gloves 10L, 10R") and a controller 20. In this embodiment, the left-hand glove 10L and the right-hand glove 10R are connected to the controller 20. The controller 20 applies voltage pulses output from the treatment device 2 to the electrode portions 12 of the gloves 10L, 10R with a predetermined polarity.

[0023] Gloves 10L and 10R each have a glove body 11, an electrode portion 12, and wiring 13. Glove body 11 is an unlined glove with an insulating material such as resin or rubber coated on the palm. In FIG. 1, the unlined portion (the uncoated fabric portion) is hatched. The resin used for the coating is, for example, urethane, and the rubber used for the coating is, for example, natural rubber or nitrile rubber. The coating area extends from the palm to the back of the hand. The material used for the coating is preferably one that provides a good fit, comfortable feel, direct feel, and durability.

[0024] The electrode units 12 are arranged only on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of the gloves 10L and 10R. No electrode units 12 are arranged on the ring finger and little finger. As will be described later, the electrode unit 12 is composed of an electrode 110 and a conductive elastic body 120 (see FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d)). When the hand is inserted into the glove body 11, each electrode unit 12 is arranged so as to wrap around from the palm side of the corresponding finger, via the top of the finger, to the back side of the hand. Each electrode unit 12 also has a connection unit 12a that wraps around from the side of the corresponding finger to the back side of the hand. One end of a wire 13 is connected to this connection unit 12a. The other end of the wire 13 is connected to the controller 20.

[0025] Controller 20 has operation units 21L and 21R for alternately switching the polarity of the voltage applied to thumb electrode 12 and the electrodes on the index and middle fingers. Operation unit 21L is used to change the polarity of glove 10L, and operation unit 21R is used to change the polarity of glove 10R. In this example, push-button switches for setting the thumb polarity to either positive or negative are used as operation units 21L and 21R.

[0026] In Fig. 1, the negative side of each of the operating units 21L and 21R is pressed in and the positive side is raised. As a result, the electrode unit 12 on the thumb of each of the gloves 10L and 10R is set to a positive polarity, and the electrodes 12 on the index and middle fingers are set to a negative polarity. The controller 20 applies voltage pulses input from the treatment device 2 to the corresponding electrodes 12 with the polarity set by the operating units 21L and 21R.

[0027] Furthermore, the controller 20 has an operation unit 22 for applying a positive voltage to the electrode units 12 on the three fingers of the left hand and a negative voltage to the electrode units 12 on the three fingers of the right hand. Here, the operation unit 22 is made up of a changeover switch that can be switched in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

[0028] When the operation unit 22 is operated in the direction of the downward arrow, the controller 20 applies a voltage of positive polarity to the electrode units 12 of the three fingers of the left hand, and applies a voltage of negative polarity to the electrode units 12 of the three fingers of the right hand. The magnitude of the pulse voltage is set by the treatment treatment device 2. When the operation unit 22 is operated in the direction of the upward arrow, the controller 20 applies a pulse voltage of a polarity according to the operation state of the operation units 21L, 21R to the corresponding electrode units 12, as described above.

[0029] Fig. 2(a) is a plan view showing the configuration of the electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120 that constitute the electrode section 12. Fig. 2(a) shows the electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120 developed in a plane. Fig. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a part of the cross-sectional structure of the electrode 110 taken along line A-A' in Fig. 2(a).

[0030] 2(a) and (b) show the electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120 placed on the thumb of the left-hand glove 10L. The configurations of the electrodes 110 and conductive elastic body 120 placed on the other fingers are basically the same as those shown in Figs. 2(a) and (b), but the positions of the protrusions 111 and 121 are changed depending on the connection position of the wiring 13, and the width and length of the electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120 are changed depending on the size of the finger.

[0031] The electrode 110 is a sheet-like (also referred to as a film, foil, or plate) member made of a conductive metal material. The electrode 110 is made of a material with excellent conductivity, such as copper. The material making up the electrode 110 may be other conductive materials such as gold, silver, aluminum, or brass, in addition to copper. The electrode 110 is preferably made of a material that is as soft (with low rigidity) as possible, so that the practitioner can easily feel the pressure of the fingertip during treatment. The thickness of the electrode 110 is preferably about several hundred microns.

[0032] The conductive elastic body 120 is a sheet-like (or film-like or foil-like) member that is elastic and conductive. The conductive elastic body 120 is made of, for example, conductive rubber in which a conductive filler is mixed into an elastic body such as rubber. The conductive elastic body 120 may also be made of conductive tape (IC tape) or conductive cloth tape. The conductive elastic body 120 is preferably made of a soft and non-slip material so that the practitioner can easily feel a sense of fit to the affected area during treatment and can easily perform the massage treatment. Furthermore, from the perspective of protecting the electrode 110, such as by waterproofing the electrode 110, the conductive elastic body 120 is preferably made of a material that is highly waterproof, water-resistant, and durable. The thickness of the conductive elastic body 120 is preferably 1 mm or less.

[0033] The electrode 110 has a home base shape with two protrusions 111 and 112 protruding from it. The protrusion 111 is an area to which the wiring 13 is connected, and corresponds to the connection portion 12a in FIG. 1. The wiring 13 is fixed to the protrusion 111 with solder 111a. The protrusion 112 is a portion that is folded back from the top of the finger to the nail side (back of the hand) when the gloves 10L, 10R with the electrode 110 fixed to the glove body 11 are worn on the hand.

[0034] The protrusions 112 are intended to apply a voltage for electrical treatment to the treatment position even when the treatment is performed using the top of the finger. From this perspective, the dimensions of the protrusions 112 are set so that they can wrap around from the palm side of the corresponding finger, via the top of the finger, to the back of the hand when the hand is inserted into the glove body 11. For example, the length (amount of protrusion) of the protrusions 112 may be set to about 3 to 4 mm or more. The width of the protrusions 112 is set according to the width of the corresponding finger near the top of the finger (which differs for the thumb, index finger, and middle finger).

[0035] By providing the protrusion 112 on the electrode 110 in this way, even if the top of the finger shifts inside the glove body 11 during treatment, the electrode 110 can be positioned at the top of the finger, and voltage can be reliably applied to the position of the treatment by the top of the finger.

[0036] The length and width of the home base portion of the electrode 110 are adjusted according to the standard width and length of the portion of the corresponding finger beyond the first joint. The home base portion of the electrode 110 is adjusted to a width that can cover the portion of the corresponding finger beyond the first joint.

[0037] The electrode 110 is embossed in a grid pattern over almost the entire area. As a result, the electrode 110 has embossed irregularities E0 on the surface where it is bonded to the conductive elastic body 120, as shown in FIG. 2(b). This embossing increases the strength of the electrode 110 and also improves adhesion to the conductive elastic body 120. As a result, even if a sliding force is applied to this bonded surface during treatment, the conductive elastic body 120 is less likely to slide sideways relative to the electrode 110, and wrinkles or sagging (ridges or valleys) in the conductive elastic body 120 are prevented from widening the gap between the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the conductive elastic body 120 has a shape that is slightly larger than the electrode 110. The shape of the conductive elastic body 120 is a similar shape to the electrode 110, but with rounded corners, so that it can easily fit the curvature of a finger. The conductive elastic body 120 also has two protrusions 121 and 122. The protrusion 121 covers the protrusion 111 of the electrode 110 when the conductive elastic body 120 is placed on the glove body 11, and corresponds to the connection portion 12a in FIG. 1. The protrusion 122 covers the protrusion 112 of the electrode 110 when the conductive elastic body 120 is placed on the glove body 11.

[0039] The electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120 are combined with each other before being placed on the glove body 11. That is, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the electrode 110 is attached to one surface of the conductive elastic body 120 with a conductive adhesive. Then, as shown in FIG. 2(d), a waterproofing treatment W0 is applied to the entire periphery of the electrode 110 to prevent moisture from entering between the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120. For example, the waterproofing treatment W0 is performed by applying a waterproof adhesive along the entire periphery of the electrode 110. This completes the installation of the electrode 110 on the conductive elastic body 120.

[0040] In this way, the electrode unit 12, in which the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120 are integrated, is fixed to the corresponding finger of the glove body 11 with an insulating adhesive. For example, a flat plate for flattening the corresponding finger portion of the glove body 11 is inserted into the finger portion. In this state, the electrode unit 12 is attached to the predetermined position with an insulating adhesive. At this time, the protrusions 111, 121 and the protrusions 112, 122 are bent so as to fit along the glove body 11. In this way, the assembly of the gloves 10L and 10R is completed.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the finger portions of the gloves 10L and 10R on which the electrode portions 12 are provided.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the finger portion spread out in a perfect circle. Here, the index finger portion of a glove 10R for a left hand is shown. Also, the electrode 110 covered with a conductive elastic body 120 is shown by a dotted line. The front view shows the finger portion from the fingertip side. The left side view shows the right side view with protrusions 111 and 121 added. The standard position of the top of the finger when wearing the glove 10R is shown by a dashed line.

[0043] As shown in the top, front, and right side views, the protrusion 112 of the electrode 110 extends upward from the tip of the finger by a predetermined distance. This distance corresponds to the length (protrusion amount) of the protrusion 112, and is, for example, approximately 4 mm. Furthermore, the protrusion 111 of the electrode 110 to which the wiring 13 is joined extends above the height of the tip of the finger and wraps around to the back of the hand. The portion of the electrode 110 other than the protrusions 111 and 112 is lower than the height of the tip of the finger. As shown in the front and bottom views, this portion of the electrode 110 gradually narrows near the tip of the corresponding finger, but as shown in the right side view, it gradually becomes taller and reaches the height of the tip of the finger.

[0044] The two protrusions 121, 122 of the conductive elastic body 120 extend upward from the height of the finger tops and wrap around to the back of the hand so as to cover the two protrusions 111, 112 of the electrode 110. The height of the conductive elastic body 120 other than the two protrusions 121, 122 is approximately the same as the height of the finger tops.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the relationship between the glove 10R and the fingers when the glove 10R is worn on the right hand.

[0046] 4 shows a perspective view of the finger F0. Here, the index finger of a glove 10R for a right hand is shown. The position of the finger top P0 is indicated by an arrow.

[0047] 4, the length L11 of the electrode 110 measured from the finger top P0 is smaller than the length L2 measured from the finger top P0 to the standard first joint of the finger. In other words, the electrode 110 is positioned so as not to cross the standard first joint when the hand is inserted into the glove body 11.

[0048] Furthermore, the length L12 of the conductive elastic body 120 based on the finger top P0 is also shorter than the length L2. That is, the conductive elastic body 120 is also positioned so as not to straddle the standard first joint position when the hand is inserted into the glove body 11.

[0049] By setting the lengths L11 and L12 in this way, it is possible to prevent the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120 from interfering with bending and straightening of the first joint during treatment.

[0050] Although Figures 3 and 4 show the index finger portion of glove 10R for the right hand, the relationship between the position and height of the finger top P0 and the electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120 is the same for the other finger portions of gloves 10L and 10R on which electrode portion 12 is installed.

[0051] Fig. 5(a) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the finger portions of gloves 10L and 10R according to a comparative example and the voltage applied to skin 4. Fig. 5(b) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the finger portions of gloves 10L and 10R according to an embodiment and the voltage applied to skin 4.

[0052] The upper parts of Figures 5(a) and (b) schematically show a portion of the cross-sectional structure of gloves 10L and 10R that come into contact with skin 4 during treatment. The lower parts of Figures 5(a) and (b) schematically show the state of voltage applied to skin 4 at each position on the right side of conductive elastic body 120' and electrode 110 when a DC voltage is applied to the left end positions of the voltage application. Reference numeral 3 denotes a liquid for increasing conductivity with respect to skin 4, 131 denotes an insulating adhesive, and 132 denotes a conductive adhesive.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5(a), in the comparative example, the electrode 110 is omitted, and a voltage is applied directly to the conductive elastic body 120'. In this case, the resistance value of the conductive elastic body 120' increases as the distance from the voltage application position of the conductive elastic body 120' increases. Therefore, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5(a), the voltage value applied to the skin 4 decreases with increasing distance from the voltage application position (left end). Therefore, with the configuration of the comparative example, voltage cannot be applied efficiently to the treatment target position (the position where the electrode section 12 touches), making it difficult to obtain the effects of electrical treatment.

[0054] In contrast, in the configuration of the embodiment, the electrode 110 is arranged as shown in FIG. 5(b). Because the electrical resistance of the electrode 110 is so small that it can be practically ignored, when a DC voltage is applied to the electrode 110, the entire area of ​​the electrode 110 has a potential substantially equal to this DC voltage. Furthermore, because the direction from the electrode 110 toward the skin 4 is the thickness direction of the conductive elastic body 120, the resistance value of the conductive elastic body 120 in this direction is small, and the voltage drop due to the conductive elastic body 120 is small. Therefore, in the configuration of the embodiment, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5(b), a high voltage can be efficiently applied to the treatment target position (the position where the electrode unit 12 touches), thereby enhancing the effect of the electrotherapy. Furthermore, because the treatment can be performed with approximately the minimum voltage required for the electrotherapy, the burden on the patient can be reduced.

[0055] Next, the operation of the controller 20 for changing the polarity of the voltage applied to each electrode section 12 will be described.

[0056] 6(a) to 6(d) are diagrams showing the operation states of the operation units 21L, 21R and 22 of the controller 20. FIG.

[0057] 6(a), the operating unit 22 is set to the upper switching position, and the upper sides of the operating units 21L and 21R are pressed in. In this case, the controller 20 sets the electrode unit 12 on the thumb of each of the gloves 10L and 10R to a positive polarity, and the electrode units 12 on the index and middle fingers to a negative polarity, and applies a DC pulse voltage (low-frequency electric treatment signal) input from the treatment device 2 to each electrode unit 12.

[0058] 6(b), the operation unit 22 is set to the upper switching position, and the lower sides of the operation units 21L and 21R are pressed in. In this case, the controller 20 sets the electrode unit 12 on the thumb of each of the gloves 10L and 10R to negative polarity, and the electrode units 12 on the index and middle fingers to positive polarity, and applies a DC pulse voltage (low-frequency electric treatment signal) input from the treatment device 2 to each electrode unit 12.

[0059] 6(c), the operation unit 22 is set to the upper switching position, the upper side of the operation unit 21L is pressed in, and the lower side of the operation unit 21R is pressed in. In this case, the controller 20 sets the electrode unit 12 on the thumb of the glove 10L to a positive polarity and the electrodes 12 on the index and middle fingers to a negative polarity, and sets the electrode unit 12 on the thumb of the glove 10R to a negative polarity and the electrodes 12 on the index and middle fingers to a positive polarity, and applies a DC pulse voltage (low-frequency electric treatment signal) input from the treatment device 2 to each electrode unit 12.

[0060] 6(d), the operating unit 22 is set to the lower switching position. In this case, the controller 20 sets all the electrode units 12 for the glove 10R to negative polarity, and all the electrode units 12 for the glove 10L to positive polarity, and applies a DC pulse voltage (low-frequency electric treatment signal) input from the treatment device 2 to each electrode unit 12.

[0061] The treatment device 2 outputs a pulse voltage that rises from zero level to a predetermined positive voltage level for a certain period of time at a constant cycle. That is, the frequency of the pulse voltage is constant. This pulse voltage is supplied as is to the electrode unit 12 set to a positive polarity. A pulse voltage that is the same as this pulse voltage but inverted in the negative direction is supplied to the electrode unit 12 set to a negative polarity.

[0062] Figures 7(a) to 8(b) are diagrams each showing the voltage applied to the target area when treatment is performed under the settings shown in Figures 6(a) to 6(d). In these figures, the target area for treatment is hatched with diagonal lines.

[0063] Figure 7(a) shows an example of a treatment performed under the settings of Figure 6(a). In this case, a pulse voltage with a positive polarity is applied to the area where the thumb of each hand contacts, and a pulse voltage with a negative polarity is applied to the areas where the other two fingers contact. Therefore, a pulse voltage is applied in the direction of the dashed arrow between the area where the thumb contacts and the areas where the index finger and middle finger contact on each hand.

[0064] Figure 7(b) shows an example of a treatment performed under the settings of Figure 6(b). In this case, a pulse voltage with a negative polarity is applied to the area where the thumb of each hand contacts, and a pulse voltage with a positive polarity is applied to the areas where the other two fingers contact. Therefore, a pulse voltage is applied in the direction of the dashed arrow between the area where the thumb contacts and the areas where the index finger and middle finger contact.

[0065] Figure 8(a) shows an example of a treatment performed under the settings shown in Figure 6(c). In this case, a pulse voltage with a positive polarity is applied to the area where the thumb of the left hand contacts, and a pulse voltage with a negative polarity is applied to the area where the other two fingers of the left hand contact. Also, a pulse voltage with a negative polarity is applied to the area where the thumb of the right hand contacts, and a pulse voltage with a positive polarity is applied to the area where the other two fingers of the right hand contact. Therefore, a pulse voltage is applied in the direction of the dashed arrow between the area where the thumb contacts and the areas where the index finger and middle finger contact on each hand.

[0066] Figure 8(b) shows an example of treatment performed under the settings of Figure 6(d). In this case, a pulse voltage with a positive polarity is applied to the area where the three fingers of the left hand touch, and a pulse voltage with a negative polarity is applied to the area where the three fingers of the right hand touch. Therefore, a pulse voltage is applied in the direction of the dashed arrow between the area where the three fingers of the left hand touch and the area where the three fingers of the right hand touch.

[0067] In this way, by operating the controller 20, the practitioner can easily and smoothly set the polarity of the voltage to be applied to the area to be treated.

[0068] <Effects of the embodiment> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0069] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2(a) to (d), the gloves 10L and 10R have electrode sections 12 (electrodes 110, conductive elastic body 120) arranged on the three fingers that are basically used for treatment: the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7(a) to Fig. 8(b), while performing a massage treatment using these three fingers, a voltage for electrical treatment can be applied to the massaged area at the same time. This allows for efficient treatment on the patient and improves the therapeutic effect.

[0070] Furthermore, since the electrode section 12 (electrode 110, conductive elastic body 120) is not placed on the ring finger and little finger, which are not required for treatment, no voltage is applied to these fingers even if they come into contact with the patient's skin. Therefore, during treatment, the patient will not feel uncomfortable or startled by electrical stimulation at undesired locations, and the practitioner can perform treatment smoothly without worrying about these fingers.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the electrode unit 12 (electrode 110 and conductive elastic body 120) is arranged on the three fingers used for treatment so as to extend from the palm side of the finger through the fingertip P0 and around to the nail side. Therefore, even when treatment is performed using the fingertip, a voltage for electrical treatment can be applied to the treatment position. This allows electrical treatment to be performed more effectively on the affected area.

[0072] As described above, the gloves 10L and 10R according to the present embodiment can effectively perform electrical treatment on the affected area while preventing the patient from feeling startled or uncomfortable.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 4, each electrode section 12 has a sheet-like electrode 110 and a sheet-like conductive elastic body 120 that covers the electrode 110.

[0074] According to this configuration, the conductive elastic body 120 of the gloves 10L, 10R is arranged so as to cover the electrode 110, and therefore the waterproof property of the conductive elastic body 120 makes the electrode 110 waterproof, and the flexibility of the conductive elastic body 120 improves the fit to the affected area. Also, as shown in FIG. 5(b), a voltage is applied to the conductive elastic body 120 uniformly from the area of ​​the electrode 110, and the resistance of the conductive elastic body 120 in the direction of voltage application (thickness direction) is significantly low, so that a therapeutic voltage can be applied uniformly and efficiently to the patient's skin 4 over the entire area of ​​the electrode 110. These effects also enable effective treatment to be performed on the patient by kneading and applying a voltage.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, the electrode 110 is arranged so as not to straddle the standard first joint position when the hand is inserted into the glove body 11.

[0076] The three fingers used in the treatment are bent and straightened during the treatment. On the other hand, because the electrode 110 is made of a metal material, it has a certain degree of rigidity even in sheet form. Therefore, if the electrode 110 crosses the position of the first joint, the electrode 110 may interfere with bending and straightening the fingers during the treatment. In contrast, with the above configuration, the electrode 110 is positioned so as not to cross the standard position of the first joint, so the electrode 110 does not interfere with bending and straightening the fingers during the treatment. Therefore, the practitioner can smoothly perform the massage treatment while wearing the gloves 10L and 10R.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the electrode 110 has an embossed unevenness E0 on the surface to be bonded to the conductive elastic body 120.

[0078] During treatment, a force in the lateral sliding direction may be applied between the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120. If this force causes wrinkles or slack in the conductive elastic body 120, the electrical resistance of that part increases, and the voltage applied to the affected area decreases. In this case, the treatment therapy device 2 is operated to increase the voltage applied to the electrode 110 so that the normal voltage is applied to the affected area. However, during subsequent treatment, if the wrinkles or slack are eliminated by the force in the lateral sliding direction, the electrical resistance of that part drops sharply, and the voltage applied to the affected area increases sharply. This causes discomfort and surprise to the patient.

[0079] In contrast, with the above configuration, the electrode 110 has an embossed unevenness E0 on the surface thereof that is bonded to the conductive elastic body 120, thereby improving the adhesion between the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned sliding force is applied during treatment, the conductive elastic body 120 is less likely to slide sideways relative to the electrode 110, and the above-mentioned wrinkles and sagging of the conductive elastic body 120 are suppressed. This makes it possible to provide a more stable and appropriate electrical treatment to the patient.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 20 has operation units 21L and 21R for alternately switching the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode 110 on the thumb and the electrodes 110 on the index and middle fingers.

[0081] A voltage for electrical treatment is applied to the area between the thumb and the index and middle fingers. In low-frequency treatment using pulsed voltage, the negative electrode is generally applied to the affected area to relieve pain and the positive electrode is applied to the affected area to promote blood circulation. Therefore, it is preferable for the practitioner to devise a treatment location and treatment method (how to apply voltage in electrical treatment) depending on the patient's symptoms, location, and treatment progress. In contrast, with the above configuration, the practitioner can alternately switch the polarity of the voltage applied to the thumb electrode 110 and the index and middle finger electrodes 110 via the operation units 21L and 21R of the controller 20. Therefore, as shown in Figures 7(a), (b), and 8(a), the practitioner can easily and quickly apply a voltage of a polarity appropriate to the patient's symptoms, location, and treatment progress to the affected area, allowing the practitioner to smoothly provide the patient with treatment using the method selected by the practitioner.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrotherapy device 1 includes a right-hand glove 10R (electrotherapy glove) and a left-hand glove 10L (electrotherapy glove), and the controller 20 further includes another operating unit 22 for applying voltages of different polarities to the electrodes 110 on the three fingers of the right hand and the electrodes 110 on the three fingers of the left hand.

[0083] With this configuration, when applying a voltage for electrotherapy to a relatively wide area, as shown in Figure 8(b), by placing the gloves 10L and 10R on both sides of the area, the voltage can be applied smoothly to the area, allowing the practitioner to provide more flexible electrotherapy to the patient.

[0084] <Example of change> Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications other than those described above are possible.

[0085] For example, in the above embodiment, in order to increase the conductivity between the electrode portion 12 of the gloves 10L, 10R and the skin 4, the liquid 3 is interposed between the conductive elastic body 120 and the skin 4, but a means for interposing this liquid may also be attached to the gloves 10L, 10R.

[0086] 9(a) and (b) are diagrams showing the configuration of a modified finger stall 200. Fig. 9(a) shows the finger stall 200 worn on a predetermined finger of a glove 10L, 10R, and Fig. 9(b) shows the components constituting the finger stall 200 laid out in a plane.

[0087] The finger cot 200 is used to hold a liquid for increasing conductivity and to interpose the liquid between the electrode unit 12 and the patient's skin. The finger cot 200 is worn only on the fingertip where the electrode unit 12 is installed. The finger cot 200 is a consumable item and can be replaced as needed.

[0088] Finger cot 200 comprises a water retention portion 210 and a mesh portion 220. Water retention portion 210 is made of a material with excellent water retention properties, such as cotton. It is preferable that water retention portion 210 be as thin as possible so as not to impair the contact sensation with the skin during treatment. Mesh portion 220 is provided to ensure breathability. Mesh portion 220 is made of, for example, the same fabric as a stretchable bandage.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 9(b), water retention section 210 has first section 211 that covers the pad side of the target finger and second section 212 that covers the toe portion. Mesh section 220 is sewn to second section 212. The shape of first section 211 and the shape of the section where second section 212 and mesh section 220 are combined are the same. The boundaries between these sections are folded, these sections are overlapped, and two linear sections extending in the longitudinal direction are sewn together. This forms finger cot 200 with one entrance.

[0090] The inner diameter of the finger stall 200 may be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the fingertip of the corresponding finger of the glove 10L, 10R. After the hand is put into the gloves 10L, 10R, the finger stall 200 is put on over the corresponding finger of the glove 10L, 10R while being spread radially. This results in the state shown in FIG. 9(a). The liquid that increases conductivity may be held in the water retention portion 210 before the finger stall 200 is put on, as shown in FIG. 9(a). Alternatively, after the finger stall 200 is put on, the fingertip may be immersed in the liquid, and the liquid may be held in the water retention portion 210, as shown in FIG. 9(a). Furthermore, if the conductivity of the pulse voltage decreases during treatment, the water retention portion 210 may be immersed in the liquid to increase the water retention.

[0091] With this configuration, by immersing the finger cot in a liquid to increase the conductivity between the conductive elastic body 120 and the affected area before treatment, the voltage for electrical treatment can be efficiently applied to the positions where the three fingers are placed during treatment, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the electrical treatment.

[0092] <Other change examples> In the above embodiment, the conductive elastic body 120 is a single layer, but the conductive elastic body 120 may be configured by stacking multiple layers. Similarly, the electrode 110 may also be configured by stacking multiple layers.

[0093] In the above embodiment, grid-shaped embossing is used as an example of the embossing applied to the electrode 110, but the embossing is not limited to grid-shaped embossing and may be in other forms. In addition, instead of embossing, the unevenness E0 may be formed on the electrode 110 by other methods such as deposition processing.

[0094] Note that even if the unevenness E0 is omitted from the electrode 110, the effect of being able to perform electrotherapy simultaneously with kneading can be achieved. However, in order to provide a more stable treatment by suppressing wrinkles and sagging that occur in the conductive elastic body 120 due to the treatment, it is preferable that the unevenness E0 is formed on the electrode 110 as in the above embodiment.

[0095] Furthermore, the shapes of the electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120 are not limited to those shown in the above embodiment, and may be other shapes as long as a voltage can be applied to the treatment area when treating the finger pad and the finger top. In Figure 4, the length L11 may be closer to the length L2, or the length L12 may exceed the length L2. The length and width of the protrusion 112 are also examples, and various modifications are possible as long as the protrusion 112 is placed over the finger top during treatment.

[0096] The control by the controller 20 is not limited to the control described in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 10( a), the controller 20 may be provided with a volume 23 for uniformly increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the electrode units 12 of the three fingers on the left and right. The controller 20 may also be provided with a volume 24 for uniformly increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the electrode units 12 of the three fingers on the left and right when the operation unit 22 is switched downward, and volumes 25L and 25R for individually increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the electrode units 12 of the right and left hands when the operation unit 22 is switched downward. Furthermore, the controller 20 may be provided with volumes for each finger so that the magnitude of the voltage can be changed for each finger. The controller 20 may also be able to set which of the three fingers to apply the voltage to. The operation unit 22 may be omitted from the controller 20, and only polarity control may be performed by the operation units 21L and 21R.

[0097] In the above embodiment, electrotherapy device 1 is provided with glove 10L for the left hand and glove 10R for the right hand, but electrotherapy device 1 may be configured to include only one of the gloves. Furthermore, gloves 10L and 10R connected to controller 20 may be interchangeable, and gloves 10L and 10R suitable for the size of the practitioner's hands may be connectable to controller 20. Glove body 11 does not necessarily have to be a glove with a bare back, and may be a resin glove or rubber glove without a bare back.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the electrode section 12 is configured by attaching the sheet-like electrode 110 and the conductive elastic body 120 to the glove body 11, but the method of configuring the electrode section 12 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the fingertip portion of the glove body 11 may be sewn with conductive fiber 11a, and the conductive fiber 11a may be used as an electrode. FIG. 11 schematically shows the glove body 11 as viewed from the palm side. For convenience, the conductive fiber 11a is shown as stitches. The area of ​​the glove body 11 other than the area of ​​the conductive fiber 11a is sewn with non-conductive thread, similar to, for example, work gloves. Wiring 13 is connected to the conductive fiber 11a of each finger.

[0099] In this case as well, the conductive fibers 11a are arranged so as to wrap around from the palm side of the corresponding finger, via the top of the finger, to the back side of the hand when the hand is inserted into the glove body 11. In addition, a conductive elastic body 12 is installed in the glove body 11 so as to cover the conductive fibers 11a. The conductive fibers 11a and the conductive elastic body 120 form the conductive part 12. The electrotherapy glove 10L for the left hand is configured in the same way.

[0100] To prevent electrical current from reaching the hands of the practitioner, an insulating elastic material (resin, rubber, etc.) is applied to the area of ​​the conductive fibers 11a from the inside of the glove body 11. Alternatively, the electric treatment gloves 10L, 10R having the above configuration may be worn on the hands while wearing insulating vinyl gloves or the like.

[0101] With this configuration, the voltage output from the electrode portion 12 is lower than in the configuration of the above embodiment, but the conductive fiber 11a can be sewn simultaneously during the sewing process of the glove body 11, making it easier to manufacture the electrotherapy gloves 10L and 10R.

[0102] 11, the conductive portion 12 is configured by the electrode 110 or conductive fiber 11a and the conductive elastic body 120, but the conductive elastic body 120 may be omitted from the conductive portion 12. In this case, after the electrotherapy gloves 10L, 10R are put on the hands, for example, a finger cot made of conductive rubber or the like may be worn on the corresponding fingers.

[0103] Alternatively, the electrode 110 or the conductive fiber 11a may be omitted from the electrode section 12, and the electrode 12 may be composed only of the conductive elastic body 120. In this case, however, the efficiency of the voltage applied to the affected area decreases, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b). Therefore, as in the above embodiment or the modified example of Figure 11, the electrode section 12 preferably includes the electrode 110 or the conductive fiber 11a, and more preferably includes the electrode 110.

[0104] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the utility model claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1. Electrical treatment device 10L, 10R Electrical Treatment Gloves 11 Glove body 12 Electrode section 13 Wiring 20 Controller 21R, 21L operation section 22 Operation unit (other operation unit) 110 electrodes 112 protrusion 120 Conductive elastic body E0 unevenness 200 Finger Cots

Claims

1. The glove body and Electrode portions individually arranged on only three fingers of the glove body, i.e., the thumb, index finger, and middle finger; wiring for applying a voltage to the electrode portion; The electrode portion of each finger is arranged so as to extend from the palm side of the corresponding finger to the back side of the hand via the top of the finger when the hand is inserted into the glove body. Electrotherapy gloves characterized by:

2. The electrotherapy glove according to claim 1, Each of the electrode portions has a sheet-like electrode and a sheet-like conductive elastic body covering the electrode. Electrotherapy gloves characterized by:

3. The electrotherapy glove according to claim 2, The electrodes are arranged so as not to cross the position of a standard first joint when the hand is inserted into the glove body. Electrotherapy gloves characterized by:

4. The electrotherapy glove according to claim 2, the electrode has an uneven surface to be bonded to the conductive elastic body; Electrotherapy gloves characterized by:

5. The electrotherapy glove according to claim 1, The electrode portion has a conductive fiber sewn to the glove body so as to extend from the palm side of the corresponding finger through the top of the finger to the back side of the hand when the hand is inserted into the glove body. Electrotherapy gloves characterized by:

6. The electrotherapy glove according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a controller for adjusting the voltage applied to each of the electrodes; An electrotherapy device characterized by:

7. 7. The electrotherapy device of claim 6, the controller has an operation unit for alternately switching polarities of voltages applied to the thumb electrode and the index finger and middle finger electrodes; An electrotherapy device characterized by:

8. 8. The electrotherapy device of claim 7, The electrotherapy glove for the right hand and the electrotherapy glove for the left hand are provided, the controller further includes another operation unit for applying voltages of different polarities to the electrodes of the three fingers of the right hand and the electrodes of the three fingers of the left hand. An electrotherapy device characterized by:

9. 7. The electrotherapy device of claim 6, The electrotherapy glove further includes a finger cot for retaining moisture, which is fitted to each of the three fingers. An electrotherapy device characterized by:

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