Background technology
Electricity irritation is utilizing in the mode of TENS/Tens (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation-TENS) already.TENS relates to lower energy, and typically relates to the energy that is applied to the transmission between two surface electrodes on the skin.This energy carries out amplitude modulation(PAM) with the beat frequency of 0.1Hz to 200Hz, sometimes carries out frequency modulation(PFM).Existing clinical literature has proved the biological cell effect of these frequencies on health, comprises that muscle contraction and lax, vasoconstriction and vasodilation and pain weaken.TENS treatment is subject to the energy size that can apply, when high-energy more, energy level may become pain with non-treatment, or even harmful.The TENS treatment is larger on textura epidermoidea's impact, and does not touch darker tissue.
Electricity irritation has developed into and has comprised, utilizes higher frequency (typically more than 4000Hz) as " carrier wave " frequency.Under higher frequency, the resistance of health is less, thereby the higher energy of permission transmits between electrode and can not produce retroaction.Under higher frequency, carrier waveform can deeper advance in the bodily tissue.
The carrier frequency waveform that newer electric stimulation comes amplitude modulation(PAM) to transmit between two electrodes with the beat frequency between the 0.1Hz to 200Hz.So, the system of renewal can be passed to darker tissue with the relevant beat frequency of biology.The waveform penetration depth is determined by increasing or reducing carrier frequency.For the elbow damage, possible 4000Hz is comparatively suitable.Yet, by carrier frequency being increased to about 8000Hz, the treatment beat frequency deeper can be passed to tissue.Reached and surpassed the carrier frequency of 20,000Hz in use.The carrier frequency electricity irritation of transmitting between two electrodes of this amplitude modulation(PAM) (sometimes being frequency modulation(PFM)) is called as " two utmost points " electricity irritation.
Recently, four electrode electricity irritation have been designed.In this mode, electrode typically is arranged to rectangular patterns.A carrier frequency is transmitted between two corner electrodes.Second carrier frequency transmitted between opposite corner electrode.In the place that carrier frequency intersects, carrier frequency experience destructive interference and constructive interference.The poor synthetic waveform that produces equivalence of carrier frequency.For example, if 4000Hz carrier frequency and 4200Hz carrier frequency " intersect ", then frequency synthesis is the beat frequency (4200Hz subtracts 4000Hz=200Hz) of 200Hz.Beat frequency appears at the depth with the degree of depth equivalence of each carrier frequency of penetrating body.The treatment of this form is called " quadrupole " electricity irritation.
Two polar stimulations act directly on the tissue of electrode below, and down to carrier frequency with the depth that penetrates.Quadrupole stimulation begins at waveform depth that intersect and more deep tissue.
Shown that the carrier only frequency also can ease the pain.This is widely known by the people in medical circle.
" local opium effect " is described to the increase of the natural opium concentration in pain position.Opium is natural " analgesic ", is the method that health self eases the pain.
" pain gate effect " is described as alleviating the pain signal that marches to brain and send from brain." door " relates to the passage that the pain signal that comes from the pain position marches to brain.At brain signal is made an explanation, and signal is returned to the pain position.The pain of brain explains and determines patient to the perception level of pain that this perception level changes to some extent according to different patients.Return to a lot of behaviors of signal deciding of pain position, comprise inflammation.Under a lot of situations, inflammation strengthens the pain signal that will cause getting back to brain and further strengthens.This is the feedback system that possible become vicious cycle.Pain medical science relates to the interruption of this feedback cycle.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1: back, brain, spinal column and the rumpbone and the spinal cord that show patient.
Fig. 2: show nerve root and from extended between the bone vertebra and from the extended nerve of rumpbone, it is connected with body parts.
Fig. 3: the example that shows the nerve root of leaving spinal column and being connected with patient's elbow to a certain extent.
Fig. 4: show a pure high_frequency sine wave that is used in the modern electricity irritation.
Fig. 5: show beat frequency and may be the pure low-frequency sine (with respect to sine wave shown in Figure 4) that is used for causing local opium effect of 0.1Hz to 200Hz.
Fig. 6: the sine wave that shows amplitude modulation(PAM) (AM).The AM sine wave is the combination of the beat frequency of the carrier frequency of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
Fig. 7: show typically and can use again or disposable electronic pads.The adapter of projection comprises that the power supply pin inserts and then transmit hole or the terminal for the treatment of waveform.
Fig. 8 A and Fig. 8 B: show typical reusable Venturi tube electrode.Electrode comprises screw-type or the buckling connector that uses the pipe that is electrically connected.Pipe transmits compressed air, and described compressed air enters from entrance, and process is opened the aperture on the sucker inboard, and discharges from outlet.By venturi-effect, air is discharged from the sucker below, thereby produce suction, in order to electrode is held down on skin.In case metal or conductive plane in suction electrode and the contact skin, suction cup carrier just are carried to skin with electrical waveform from pipe.Suction electrode has additional advantage, is about to the electric conductivity that electrolyte takes the surface to and then increases the surface, and provides nutrition for body fluid.
Fig. 9: show so that two electrodes that the mode that TENS or two utmost point electricity irritation are transmitted between two electrodes is arranged.
Figure 10: show so that two different carrier frequencies are transmitted between the electrode group of two separation and intersect four electrodes arranging in the mode that is used for transmitting quadrupole stimulation at the middle part.
Figure 11: show one embodiment of the present of invention.Show three electrodes.An electrode receives a side of carrier only frequency.Two other electrode receives the opposite side of carrier only frequency.Space in the triangle is coated with the carrier only frequency.
Figure 12 A and Figure 12 B: show one embodiment of the present of invention.The electrode of present embodiment comprises three electrode surfaces that are incorporated in an electrode body.Three terminals allow three electric pins will treat electrical stimulation signal and are carried to pad, and enter in the patient body in the mode of Figure 11 structure.
Figure 13 A and Figure 13 B: show one embodiment of the present of invention.The electrode of present embodiment comprises three suction electrodes including an electrode body in.Three terminals allow three pipes of charged pin to carry treatment electricity irritation and compressed air (or other gas), and enter in the patient body in the mode of Figure 11 structure.
Figure 14: the example that again shows the nerve root of leaving spinal column and being connected with patient's elbow to a certain extent.This diagram is easily reference for last diagram.
Figure 15: show patient body, the nerve root of leaving spinal column and being connected with patient's elbow.In this example of one embodiment of the invention, patient's elbow pain may be the situation of " tennis elbow ".In the quadrupole arrangement of electrodes of the arranged around of facies cubitalis posterior, thereby transmit the quadrupole electricity irritation of beat frequency between 0.1Hz and 200Hz.New three plate electrodes of the present invention are placed on the nerve root of leaving spinal column, and shroud in the zone of carrier only frequency, nerve root will be carried to brain from the pain signal of pain position.
The specific embodiment
Fig. 1
Patient body (1000) is depicted as the line drawing profile, and comprises brain (1005), spinal cord (1010) and spinal column (1015) and rumpbone (1020).
Fig. 2
The nerve root (2005) of leaving cervical vertebra, thoracic vertebra, lumbar vertebra and sacral be depicted as cover shown in Figure 1 on.
Fig. 3
Neural circuit (3010) is depicted as dotted line, and nerve root in position (3015) is located the pain position leaving spinal column and be connected to supposition, is elbow (3020) in this case.
Fig. 4
Show sine wave (4005), should show at least carrier frequency of 4000Hz by sine wave (4005) in embodiments of the present invention.When this sine wave is passed to patient body, has zero net charge, shown in the waveform of between positive pole and negative pole, walking, about zero volt (4010).
Fig. 5
Show sine wave (5005), in embodiments of the present invention should sine wave (5005) be illustrated in the beat frequency between 0.1Hz and the 200Hz.When this sine wave is passed to patient body, has zero net charge, shown in the waveform of between positive pole and negative pole, walking, about zero volt (5010).This can be the synthetic beat frequency that the TENS waveform maybe can represent quadrupole stimulation.
Fig. 6
Show sine wave (6010), in embodiments of the present invention should sine wave (6010) show the carrier frequency with at least 4000Hz of beat frequency after the sine wave between 0.1Hz and the 200Hz (6015) carries out amplitude modulation(PAM).This is the example of two polar stimulations.When this sine wave is passed to patient body, has zero net charge, as from shown in the waveform of walking between positive pole and the negative pole, about zero volt (6005).
Fig. 7
Circular electrode (7005) is conventional design, and diameter is 1.25 inches in this example, has the terminal (7010) that connects for electricity pin (being in this example the pin of 2mm diameter), and wherein terminal and electricity pin are all very common in the prior art.Electrode (7005) can be made by a lot of materials.In some cases, electrode (7005) is non-conductive, and terminal (7010) is connected to the conductive surface on the bottom of electrode (7005) with wire.Under other situation, electrode (7005) top conductive, and the below of electrode (7005) has the conducting resinl that adheres to skin.Under other situation, as be doped with under the situation of silicone rubber of a large amount of white carbon blacks whole electrode (7005) conduction.To fill up (7005) with band or other device and be fixed to skin.In some cases, form and being electrically connected fully of skin with conducting resinl and even non-distilled water.
Fig. 8 A and Fig. 8 B
Circular magnetic chuck (8005) is depicted as has the terminal that comprises threaded Metallic rod (8010) on the top.The pipe that is electrically connected is sent compressed air and the signal of telecommunication (8920) into terminal.The signal of telecommunication (8920) is passed to conductive plane (8015).Compressed air (8920) enters threaded Metallic rod (8010), enters in the sucker (8005) by the hole on the conductive plane (8015), and discharges from the other end of bar (8010) as compressed air stream (8930).The compressed air (8920) that enters by the hole in the sucker (8005) is discharged air in sucker (8005), and when being applied to such as skin surperficial, attracts sucker (8005) downwards by suction.This suction produces by venturi-effect.When being attracted to conductive plane (8015) with contact skin, electricity irritation (8920) is passed to patient.
Sucker (8005) is typically by flexibility but fluid-resistant and make for the non-conducting material of biologically inert, such as silicone rubber.Threaded shank (8010) is the same with conductive plane (8015), typically by metal construction.
Fig. 9
Show two electrodes (9005) and (9010) that are disposed at TENS or two polar stimulations.Electricity irritation (9015) is transmitted between two electrodes (9005) and (9010).Can suppose that electrode (9005) contacts with patient skin with (9010).
Figure 10
Show two electrodes (10,005), the carrier only that is illustrated by the broken lines (10,030) transmits between two electrodes (10,005).Show two extra electrodes (10,010), the carrier only (10,020) that is represented by solid line transmits between two electrodes (10,010).Can suppose that electrode contacts with patient skin.In this structure, two carrier waves (10,020) and (10,030) interact in the place that they intersect, and form different waveforms by constructive interference and destructive interference.In this case, quadrupole stimulation is transmitted in electrode (10,005) and (10,010).
Figure 11
Show two electrodes (11,005) that receive an identical electrical connection and the third electrode (11,010) that receives the opposite side that is electrically connected.Carrier only frequency (11,020) is transmitted between electrode (11,005) and electrode (11,010).Stimulate (11,020) not such direct transmission shown in arrow (11,020), but in triangle, occur.Can suppose that electrode (11,005) and (11,010) contact with patient skin.
Figure 12 A and Figure 12 B
Show the electrode (12,005) of one embodiment of the invention.Electrode (12,005) comprises three terminals (12,010) and (12,015) that have for the 2mm hole of electricity pin (prior art is common) connection.Comprise conductive pad (12,020) and (12,030) below the electrode (12,005).Two conductive pads (12,020) receive an identical electrical connection, and the 3rd conductive pad (12,030) receives the opposite side that is electrically connected.The carrier only frequency is transmitted between two conductive pads (12,020) and conductive pad (12,030).Stimulation transmission in the triangle that is formed by conductive pad (12,020) and (12,030).Can suppose that conductive pad (12,020) and (12,030) contact with patient skin.
Figure 13 A and Figure 13 B
Show the electrode (13,005) of one embodiment of the invention.Electrode (13,005) comprises and allows the transmission electricity irritation and be connected three threaded metal terminals (13,010) and (13,015) that pipe connects.Electrode (13,005) below comprises suction electrode (13,020) and (13,030).Two suction electrodes (13,020) receive an identical electrical connection, and the 3rd suction electrode (13,030) receives the opposite side that is electrically connected.The carrier only frequency is transmitted between two suction electrodes (13,020) and suction electrode (13,030).Stimulation transmission in the triangle that is formed by suction electrode (13,020) and (13,030).Can suppose, suction electrode (13,020) and (13,030) contact with patient skin, and when suction electrode (13,020) and (13,030) because of the gravitation of venturi-effect when compressed, the conductive plane (8015) of suction electrode (13,020) and (13,030) is attracted to skin downwards.
Figure 14
Neural circuit (14,010) is depicted as dotted line, and nerve root in position (14,015) locates to leave spinal column, and is connected to the pain position of supposition, is elbow (14,020) in this case.This diagram is consistent with Fig. 3, and is to illustrate for the ease of last diagram reference.
Figure 15
Show one embodiment of the present of invention.Patient body is depicted as have brain (15,020) and spinal cord and nerve (15,010), and nerve is expressed as dotted line and the spinal cord of the pain position (15,005) on the elbow with suitable spinal column position (15,015) connected.
As embodiments of the invention, leave the position of spinal column in neural (15,010) and place the triangular-shaped electrodes (15,030) that comprises three conductive pads or three suction electrodes.
At four common electrodes of pain position (15,005) (situation that may occur in such as " tennis elbow ") placed around or suction electrode (15,025).
The triangular-shaped electrodes of one embodiment of the invention (15,030) is shrouded the nerve root of the nerve (15,010) that is subjected to the carrier only frequency stimulation, thereby causes pain gate effect.Transmit quadrupole electricity irritation at elbow (15,005) quadrupole electrode structure (15,025) on every side, thereby cause local opium effect.
Two kinds of effects have additional and/or synergism.Reduce pain by increasing the opium concentration of locating pain position (15,005).The signal rows that weakens proceeds to brain (15,020), in this pain gate effect of locating together with related neural root (15,015) and make signal further weakened.Brain (15,020) is processed weakened pain signal, thus make patients' feeling to pain weaken, and make and be passed to the painful response signal weakening that pain position (15,005) is located.Typically after be shorter than 1 hour period of (60 minutes), it is maximum that effect reaches.In addition, by this new nerve block, further processing can be accepted in pain " numbness " position (15,005), such as simple surgical operation.Realize reducing of total consumption by this structure and system that shows medication analgesic effect.