Electrotherapy Device Gradual Stimulation Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrotherapy devices cause discomfort due to sudden strong stimulation and suffer from neural adaptation, leading to ineffective pain relief and muscle performance enhancement due to constant intensity, waveform, and frequency.
Innovation Solution
An electrotherapy device that gradually increases stimulation intensity and modulates waveforms, frequencies, and rest periods to simulate a massage-like experience, preventing neural adaptation through a DC power supply unit, control unit, pulse output circuit, and voltage regulation circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional electrotherapy devices output electrical pulses starting at a constant high level, then the stimulation intensity is strong enough to be effective, but the user experiences painful stimulation causing discomfort and fear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by gradually increasing the stimulation intensity from a low initial level before reaching the target therapeutic intensity. The controller progressively adjusts the pulse width or amplitude over time, allowing the user's neural system to adapt before full-intensity stimulation begins, thereby preventing painful sensations while ensuring effective treatment intensity is achieved.
2Ease of operation
If the stimulation intensity is kept constant during electrotherapy, then the device is easy to operate, but neural adaptation occurs making the therapy ineffective for pain relief and muscle performance enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by automatically varying the stimulation parameters (pulse width, amplitude, frequency) over time during the therapy session. The controller dynamically adjusts these parameters according to a predetermined program, creating a time-varying stimulation pattern that prevents neural adaptation while maintaining ease of operation, as no manual intervention is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically modifying multiple stimulation parameters including pulse width, amplitude, and frequency over time. The controller changes these electrical parameters in a coordinated manner to maintain therapeutic effectiveness while preventing the user's neural system from adapting to a constant stimulus pattern.
3Reliability
If the stimulation intensity is manually increased during treatment to avoid neural adaptation, then the therapy effectiveness is maintained, but the operation becomes difficult and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the device to automatically adjust stimulation parameters without requiring manual intervention from the user or therapist. The built-in controller autonomously modifies pulse width, amplitude, and frequency according to a predetermined program, allowing the system to maintain therapeutic effectiveness and prevent neural adaptation while eliminating the need for inconvenient manual adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrotherapy device capable of gradually increasing the intensity of stimulation is provided with a voltage regulation circuit, which is electrically connected to a DC power supply unit, a control unit, and a pulse output circuit respectively, and can regulate the voltage output to the pulse output circuit according to a control signal received from the control unit, in order for the waveforms of the electrical pulses output from the pulse output circuit to vary in modulated intensity, modulated waveforms, modulated frequencies and modulated rest period durations, and for the output current output from the pulse output circuit to each electrode pad to gradually increase from a low value to a predetermined value. The electrotherapy device can thus stimulate corresponding acupoints on a human body with gradually increasing intensity and thereby simulate the forces and tactile sensations of a typical manual massage on those acupoints by hand.