CN100594866C - Device for preventing and treating bone loss due to weightlessness in space - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for preventing and treating bone loss due to weightlessness in space. Limit stops are fixed at both ends of a guide rail, a sliding plate is installed on the guide rail, and a fastening knob is provided at the front end; a shoulder fixator, Waist immobilizer, knee immobilizer; the vibration table is located in the direction of the extension line of the guide rail, and is connected to the fixed surface through a bracket; one end of the pull rope is fixed on the sliding plate, bypassing the pulley fixed on the fixed surface, and the other end is connected to the moment On the rotating wheel of the motor, the torque motor pulls the sliding plate through the pull rope to make people exert a certain pressure on the vibrating table surface, so as to ensure that the vibration generated by the vibrating table is effectively applied to the human body. The invention can make up for the side effects caused by the reduction of mechanical stimulation to the bones, and is safe and reliable.

Description

Device for preventing and treating bone loss due to weightlessness in space

technical field

The present invention relates to a medical mechanical device, in particular to a device for stimulating the skeletal system by mechanical stress.

Background technique

One of the most important factors affecting the health of astronauts in space flight is weightlessness. In a weightless environment, the load on bones and muscles decreases, leading to bone loss and muscle atrophy in astronauts. Spaceflight, even a short-term flight, can cause bone loss, and the resulting decline in bone density recovers very slowly after returning to Earth, which in turn causes osteoporosis and fractures and other motor system injuries. In addition, bone loss increases the risk of cardiovascular or soft tissue calcification and urinary calculi. Bone loss in a weightless environment is mainly due to the disappearance of the load on the bones when they are on the ground, and the bones cannot feel the impact of loads generated by movement on the ground, resulting in an imbalance in bone remodeling and bone resorption metabolism, resulting in osteopenia. After the weightlessness of the human body, the pressure acting on the leg bones, vertebrae and other load-bearing bones decreases sharply. At the same time, the muscle movement decreases, the stimulation to the bones is also correspondingly weakened, and the blood supply to the bones is correspondingly reduced. In this case, the function of osteoblasts is weakened, and The function of osteoclasts is enhanced, the bone mineral content of load-bearing bones (such as the femur, calcaneus, and human spine of the lower limbs) is significantly reduced, and a large amount of bone is decalcified, resulting in a decrease in bone density.

At present, the main means used to protect the health of astronauts on the space station are space treadmills, stretchers, bicycles, and penguin suits. These devices can prevent muscle atrophy to a certain extent, but they cannot prevent bone loss. The change of bone shape and its internal structure depends on the change of its mechanical environment. The main factor controlling these changes can only be external force (biomechanical factors), while other non-biomechanical factors play an auxiliary role. Moreover, only continuous and changing mechanical loads can effectively promote the growth and development of bones, and long-term large static loads will have negative effects on bones (bone resorption). Studies under the condition of weightlessness in space have shown that the mechanical stress acting on the musculoskeletal system weakens and disappears, leading to the occurrence of bone loss.

In recent years, high-frequency and low-amplitude vibration, as a mechanical stimulus to promote bone growth, has begun to attract the attention of foreign scholars. Rubin et al., State University of New York, USA, have shown that the stress caused by mechanical vibration can significantly stimulate bone remodeling, enhance bone mineral content, and continuously changing mechanical loads can more effectively promote bone growth. Stimulation signals with higher frequency and less strain (which can be achieved by standing or maintaining body posture, etc.) can change bone morphology, increase bone mass and change bone structure. A study published in the 2003 British "Nature" magazine by the State University of New York at Stony Brook confirmed that bones generate new bone cells to strengthen themselves when they are stressed. Astronauts are limited by environmental conditions and lack opportunities for active exercise, and proper vibration is equivalent to passive exercise. NASA is currently studying whether vibration can be used to solve the problem of bone loss in astronauts.

However, there is still no protective device applied to combat bone loss in the space environment. The existing technologies are all aimed at the prevention and treatment of related diseases such as senile osteoporosis or fractures in the ground population. The Chinese patent with the publication number CN1306869A discloses a non-invasive electromagnetic field treatment method and device for osteoporosis. The device mainly generates an electromagnetic field for treatment through an electromagnetic field generating device, and stimulates sensitive parts through the electromagnetic field to improve blood gas in the whole body. , to regulate physiological functions, but its effect is limited. The therapeutic coil is only suitable for setting on the trunk from the neck to the pelvis, and the bone loss due to weightlessness in space mainly occurs in the load-bearing bones, such as femur, hip, etc., so this device cannot be applied to Prevention and treatment of spatial bone loss.

In recent years, low-intensity, high-frequency mechanical vibration stimulation technology to inhibit bone loss has been applied to the treatment of osteoporosis, and can increase bone mass, which has a certain effect on osteoporosis. The Chinese patent No. 200420002429.6 uses the motor-driven linear reciprocating "power loading" principle to load a certain frequency of quantitative dynamic load on the bones of the human body to treat human osteoporosis. And the control of the frequency is not easy to be very accurate, and the problem of non-stop adjustment of the amplitude cannot be achieved, and the technology of applying loads on bone tissue to promote bone growth has been proved to be limited in effect, and when it is necessary to obtain a high peak strain of high impact When loaded, it is easy to cause fractures or other hazards. The Chinese patent No. 200380102816.5 discloses a device for preventing and treating fractures, osteopenia, osteoporosis and other diseases through mechanical vibration. The device involved is provided with vibration at a predetermined first frequency by a driver. The connected driving rods and shock absorbing components form a second predetermined frequency, and part of the vibration is transmitted to the distribution rod wall supporting the vibrating table, and evenly distributed to the vibrating table. Due to the existence of the distribution rod wall, no matter where the human body stands on the table, The table can be kept level without tilting. The device provides a relatively stable vibration, which is not sensitive to the position of the human body standing on the platform, and can ensure the level of the vibration table. This patent can realize the control of parameters such as frequency and amplitude, and also solves the problem of non-stop adjustment. However, the structural design of this device is developed for people with related diseases such as osteoporosis or tissue on the ground. First, its structure is relatively complex and heavy, and the power consumption required to drive the vibrating table also increases. It is more difficult to apply in a space where resources are very precious; secondly, because the vibration provided by the device is the second frequency generated by the use, that is, the resonant frequency of the drive frequency, the harmonic or subharmonic of the resonant frequency, it is not easy to realize the vibration applied to the Precise control of vibrational frequencies on the human body. Therefore, none of the device structural designs involved in the prior art is suitable for the prevention and treatment of bone loss in a special space environment.

Contents of the invention

In order to overcome the disadvantages of complex structure, heavy weight, inapplicability to special space environment and its ground simulation application in the prior art, the present invention provides a simple structure, light weight, suitable for the prevention and treatment of space weightlessness Device for bone loss.

The technical scheme adopted by the present invention to solve the technical problem is: a device that utilizes mechanical stress to stimulate the skeletal system, promote bone growth, and prevent and treat space bone loss. The device is mainly aimed at applying vibration stimulation to people in the weightless environment of space, including limit stops, guide rails, sliding plates, shoulder immobilizers, waist immobilizers, knee joint immobilizers, vibration tables, pull ropes, pulleys, torque motors, stand. The guide rail is installed on the fixed surface, the two ends of the guide rail are fixed with limit stops, the sliding plate is installed on the guide rail, and there is a fastening knob for fixing the sliding plate at the front end; the shoulder fixer, waist fixer, knee joint are installed on the sliding plate The fixer can be adjusted according to the stature of different users. In order to meet the requirements of the special space environment, the guide rail can be fixed on the bulkhead of the spacecraft, the upper and lower limit blocks are fixed at both ends of the guide rail, and the sliding plate is combined on the bulkhead through the guide rail. The vibrating table is located in the direction of the extension line of the guide rail, and is connected to the fixed surface through a bracket; one end of the pull rope is fixed on the sliding plate, bypassing the pulley fixed on the fixed surface, and the other end is connected to the rotating wheel of the torque motor, and the torque motor passes through The pull rope pulls the sliding plate to make people exert a certain pressure on the vibrating table surface, so as to ensure that the vibration generated by the vibrating table is effectively applied to the human body.

Both sides of the vibrating table are equipped with drawstring fixing frames for connecting elastic drawstrings. The upper ends of the elastic drawstrings are connected to the human body, such as being placed on the shoulders or hands of the human body, so that the person is fixed on the vibrating table.

The invention adopts light alloy or composite material, which reduces its own weight to the greatest extent.

As a preferred solution of the present invention, the device for preventing and treating bone loss caused by weightlessness in space is equipped with a support platform as a device for preventing and treating bone loss caused by weightlessness in ground-based simulation. The guide rail and the vibrating table are fixed on the support platform, and the sliding plate can slide freely along the length direction of the support platform within the range allowed by the guide rail. The torque motor and the pulley are fixed on the support table. One end of the stay rope is connected with the slide plate, goes around the pulley, and the other end is connected with the running wheel of the torque motor. The vibrating table is located behind the sliding plate, and the vibration direction of the table is kept horizontal, which is consistent with the sliding direction of the sliding plate.

The vibrating table is the core component of the present invention, including a table top, a guide rod, a guide sleeve, a spring, a housing, a driving device, a signal generator, a power amplifier, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a display device, and an adjustment device. The four corners of the table are respectively equipped with a group of spring connection shells. The driving device adopts a voice coil motor or a small electromagnetic driver, the upper end of which is connected to the table, and the lower end is fixedly connected to the casing. Driven by a signal generator and a power amplifier to achieve the required vibration waveform. The guide rod is fixed on the table, the guide sleeve is fixed on the housing, and the guide rod is coaxially inserted into the guide sleeve. A pressure sensor and an acceleration sensor are fixed on the table of the vibrating table. The signal is led out to the signal processing device through the lead wire, and the processed signal is output to the display device. The adjustment device is connected with the signal generator and the power amplifier to control the adjustment of the vibration signal.

The working principle of the present invention is to fix the human body on the sliding plate so that it cannot move relative to the sliding direction of the sliding plate. The sliding plate is moved so that the human body's feet are close to the vibrating table, and the sliding plate is pulled by the torque motor to generate a certain pressure on the vibrating table, so that the vibration generated by the vibrating table is effectively applied to the human body. The signal generator provides the signal of the waveform required for vibration, which is amplified by the power amplifier to drive the vibration table to vibrate. The vibration parameters output by the vibration table are measured by the pressure sensor and the acceleration sensor, processed by the signal processing device such as A/D conversion, etc., and the measurement results are displayed on the display device. If the measurement result is different from the input parameters, the vibration output by the table top can meet the expected requirements through the adjustment of the adjustment device.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the load of the present invention is 10-100kg, the frequency is 0-100Hz, and the amplitude is 0-5mm, which can provide sinusoidal, pulse or various composite waveform vibrations with a maximum acceleration of 1g, which can make human bones produce 50-50mm vibrations. The strain of 2000με puts the bone in the stage of bone remodeling and bone shaping, thereby promoting the process of bone remodeling and balancing bone metabolism.

The present invention compensates to a certain extent the side effects caused by the reduction of the mechanical stimulation of the bones, thereby forcing the bones to produce a corresponding change in this stress, so that the bones maintain a normal state, and avoid the Decreased bone mass leads to a decrease in the ability of the bones to resist loads, which causes the body to be unable to adapt to the normal gravity environment. Experiments have confirmed that the device can effectively prevent and treat disuse bone loss in ground rats, and the device is safe and reliable, and no damage to other organs has been found.

The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the device for preventing and treating spatial bone loss according to the present invention

In the figure, 1-limit block, 2-guide rail, 3-fastening knob, 4-sliding plate, 5-shoulder fixer, 6-waist fixer,

  7-knee joint immobilizer, 8-elastic drawstring, 9-vibration table, 10-drawing rope, 11-pulley, 12-torque motor,

        13-bracket, 14- drawstring holder;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device for preventing and treating bone loss in ground simulation space according to the present invention

Among the figure, 15-support platform;

Fig. 3 is the structural representation of the vibrating table of the present invention

In the figure, 16-table top, 17-guide rod, 18-guide sleeve, 19-suspension spring, 20-housing, 21-driving device,

  22-Pressure sensor, 23-Acceleration sensor

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the vibrating table of the present invention

Detailed ways

Embodiment 1. Device for preventing and treating spatial bone loss

Referring to Fig. 1, the device of the present invention includes a limit block 1, a guide rail 2, a fastening knob 3, a sliding plate 4, a shoulder fixator 5, a waist fixer 6, a knee joint fixator 7, an elastic drawstring 8, a vibrating table 9. Pull cord 10, pulley 11, torque motor 12, bracket 13 and drawstring fixing frame 14, guide rail 2, fastening knob 3, sliding plate 4, vibrating table 9, pulley 11, torque motor 12, support 13 and drawstring The fixed frame 14 is all made of aluminum-magnesium alloy, and the limit block 1, the shoulder fixator 5, the waist fixer 6, and the knee joint fixer 7 are made of carbon/carbon composite material. Limiting baffles 1 are fixed at both ends of the guide rail 2, and a fastening knob 3 for braking or fixing the sliding plate is arranged at the front end of the sliding plate 4. The shoulder fixer 5 is inserted into the fixing groove of the sliding plate 4 and fixed. Waist immobilizer 6 and knee joint immobilizer 7 are fixed on the slide plate 4 with screws, and the degree of tightness is regulated according to different people. The knee joint fixer 7 is a polymer material, and a sponge pad can be installed on the side of the knee joint fixer 7 near the knee joint according to different human bodies. In order to meet the requirements of the special space environment, the guide rail 2 is fixed on the bulkhead of the spacecraft, the limit stoppers 1 are respectively fixed on both ends of the guide rail 2 , and the sliding plate 4 is installed on the bulkhead through the guide rail 2 . The vibrating table 9 is located below the sliding plate 4, and is fixed on the bulkhead of the spacecraft through a bracket 13; one end of the stay rope 10 is fixed on the sliding plate 4, bypasses the pulley 11 fixed on the bulkhead, and the other end is connected to the torque motor 12 On the rotating wheel, the torque motor 12 pulls the sliding plate 4 through the pull cord 10 to make people generate a certain pressure on the vibrating table 9, so as to ensure that the vibration generated by the vibrating table 9 is effectively applied to the human body. Both sides of the vibrating table 9 are equipped with drawstring fixing frames 14 for connecting the elastic drawstring 8. The upper end of the elastic drawstring 8 is placed on the shoulder or hand of the human body, and the pulling force generated by the elastic drawstring 8 keeps the human body fixed in the vibration. On stage 9.

With reference to Fig. 3, described vibrating table 9 is the core component of the present invention, comprises table top 16, guide bar 17, guide sleeve 18, suspension spring 19, housing 20, drive unit 21, pressure sensor 22, acceleration sensor 23, signal Generators, power amplifiers, display units, regulators. The convex table top 16 and the concave housing 20 are adopted, the concave upper edge of the housing 20 is turned inwardly, and the notch of the housing coincides with the convex platform of the table top. Eight suspension springs 19 are divided into four groups, and every two are connected as a group at the upper and lower sides of the table top 16. The four groups of springs are symmetrically distributed in the four corners of the housing 20, and the table top 16 is fixed in the middle of the two layers of suspension springs 19. The driving device 21 adopts a voice coil motor or a small electromagnetic driver, its upper end is connected to the table 16 , and its lower end is fixed to the bottom of the casing 20 . Vibration that requires a waveform is achieved through a signal generator and a power amplifier drive. The guide rod 17 is fixed on the platform 16 , the guide sleeve 18 is fixed on the housing 20 , and the guide rod 17 is coaxially inserted into the guide sleeve 18 . A pressure sensor 22 and an acceleration sensor 23 are fixed on the table top 16 of the vibrating table 9, and the signals are drawn out to signal processing and display devices through lead wires.

When the human body is stimulated by vibration, the position of the shoulder fixator 5 is adjusted according to the width of the shoulders so that it is located at the top of the two shoulders. When the lower limbs of the human body are stimulated by the vibration, the upward movement of the human body can be restricted. Adjust the position of the waist stabilizer 6 according to the human body. Adjust the position of the knee joint fixer 7 so that the knee is positioned in the reserved hole thereon. Appropriately increase or decrease the thickness of the sponge pad to ensure that the knee joint is always in an upright state. Since the transmission of vibration in the human body is closely related to the degree of muscle tension of the human body and the degree of coupling between the human body and the table, it is necessary to increase or decrease the pressure exerted by the human body on the table 16 of the vibrating table to achieve different vibration effects. Adjust the position of the sliding plate 4 back and forth until the soles of the feet touch the table top 16 of the vibration table. At this time, the output torque of the torque motor 12 is gradually increased, and the sliding plate 4 is approached to the table top 16 of the vibration table through the pull rope 10 and the pulley 11, so as to increase the human body's contact with the table top. 16 Generated pressure. The parameters of pressure and acceleration can be measured by the pressure sensor 22 and the acceleration sensor 23 fixed on the table 16, the signals pass through the signal processing device, and the pressure and acceleration values are read out on the display device. When the parameter reaches the required value, turn the fastening knob 3 to fix the sliding plate 4, and then the vibration stimulation can be accepted. It is also possible to utilize only the torque motor 12 to provide continuous pulling force.

Embodiment 2. A device for preventing and treating bone loss caused by weightlessness in ground-based simulated space

Referring to Fig. 2, the core components of the device of the present invention are the same as the device for preventing and treating bone loss due to space gravity, except that the device for foundation simulation includes a support platform 15, and the sliding plate 4 can move along the support platform 15 within the range allowed by the guide rail. Sliding freely on the length direction of the support table 15 and the slide plate 4 through the guide rail 2 combination. The torque motor 12 is positioned at the rear of the slide plate 4, and is fixed on the support table 15 by a bracket 13, so that the direction of vibration of the table top 16 is horizontal, that is, consistent with the sliding direction of the slide plate. When the human body receives the vibration stimulation, it lies flat on the sliding plate 4, and the specific connection method and method are the same as in the first embodiment.

Claims (5)

1, the device of a kind of prevention and treatment spatial weightlessness bone loss, comprise positive stop, guide rail, sliding panel, shoulder holder, lap anchor, knee joint fixator, vibration table, stay cord, pulley, torque motor and support, it is characterized in that: guide rail is installed on the stationary plane, the guide rail two ends are fixed with positive stop, sliding panel is installed on the guide rail, and front end is useful on the fixedly tightening knob of sliding panel; Shoulder holder, lap anchor, knee joint fixator are installed on the sliding panel; Vibration table is positioned at guide rail extended line direction, is connected on the stationary plane by support; One end of stay cord is fixed on the sliding panel, walks around the pulley that is fixed on the stationary plane, and the other end is connected on the moving runner of torque motor.

2, according to the device that utilizes described prevention of claim 1 and treatment spatial weightlessness bone loss, it is characterized in that: described positive stop, guide rail, sliding panel, shoulder holder, lap anchor, knee joint fixator, vibration table, pulley, torque motor and support adopt alloy in lightweight or composite.

3, according to the device that utilizes described prevention of claim 1 and treatment spatial weightlessness bone loss, it is characterized in that: described vibration table both sides are equipped with the drawstring fixed mount and are connected elastic drawstring, and the upper end of elastic drawstring connects human body.

4, according to the device that utilizes described prevention of claim 1 and treatment spatial weightlessness bone loss, it is characterized in that: described vibration table comprises table top, guide post, guide pin bushing, spring, housing, driving device, signal generator, power amplifier, pressure transducer, acceleration transducer, display device, adjusting device; Table top is separately installed with one group of spring for four jiaos and connects housing; Driving device adopts voice coil motor or compact electromagnetic driver, and its upper end is connected in table top, and lower end and housing are connected; Signal generator, power amplifier connect driving device; Guide post is fixed on the table top, and guide pin bushing is fixed on the housing, and guide post is coaxial to be inserted in the guide pin bushing; Be fixed with pressure transducer, acceleration transducer on the table top of vibration table, signal leads to signal processing apparatus by lead-in wire, and signal processing apparatus is exported to display device, and adjusting device is connected with power amplifier with signal generator.

5, according to the device that utilizes described prevention of claim 1 and treatment spatial weightlessness bone loss, it is characterized in that: described guide rail and vibration table are fixed on the brace table, and sliding panel can be along being free to slide on the length direction of brace table in the scope that guide rail allows; Torque motor and pulley are fixed on the brace table; One end of stay cord links to each other with sliding panel, walks around pulley, and the other end is connected on the moving runner of torque motor; Vibration table is positioned at the sliding panel rear.

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