JP7612137B2 - Treatment equipment - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies. The product will lose novelty upon the start of sales on July 1, 2019.

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies. The publication on the website on July 1, 2019 will result in loss of novelty.

The present invention relates to a thermal therapy device, or a thermal therapy device having the functions of an electric potential therapy device, a low frequency therapy device, or other therapeutic devices.

A thermal therapy device is a device that performs thermal therapy by supplying electricity to the heater wires of an electric mat, warming the user's body and providing thermal effects such as fatigue recovery and promoting blood circulation. For example, a thermal potential therapy device is a combination of a thermal therapy device and a potential therapy device that applies a high voltage between electrodes or between an electrode and an earth to generate an electric field, and places the user's body within that electric field to provide effects such as relieving headaches and stiff shoulders.

As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a typical configuration of such a treatment device that combines a thermal treatment device and an electric potential treatment device is a mat that incorporates both a heating element for thermal treatment and an electric potential treatment bed, and a controller that controls the thermal treatment, electric potential treatment, or a combination of the two.

Other examples of combined treatment devices with thermal treatment devices include those combined with low-frequency treatment devices. In this case, Patent Document 2 discloses a treatment device that is equipped with a heater on the pad that supplies therapeutic low-frequency signals to the human body, and performs thermal treatment along with low-frequency treatment.

In such a combination treatment device, the output, the duration of use of the treatment device, or the treatment time, etc., are set for each treatment method by the user's operation and used. For example, the output and treatment time of heat treatment, electric potential treatment, low frequency output, etc. are set. Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, by performing a so-called preheating, which is a method of warming the pad with a heat function before the user starts treatment, the user can use the treatment device comfortably without feeling cold, and it is provided with a function that is effective in improving the treatment effect. In a heat electric potential treatment device, the function of preheating the mat before the user gets on the mat before starting treatment is also expected to improve the treatment effect.

JP 2008-344 A JP 2004-305580 A

In particular, in winter, when the treatment head of a treatment device becomes cold and low in temperature, users are reluctant to use the cold treatment head for treatment, which is a factor that discourages users from using the treatment device. When warming up a cold treatment head, especially in treatment devices that are capable of heat treatment, it is necessary to output heat beforehand to warm the treatment head appropriately. This operation requires complex operations similar to those required during treatment, such as selecting the output and level, and these complex operations are also a factor that discourages users from using the treatment.

When a preheating system is used to warm up a chilled treatment device, treatment cannot be started during preheating, and treatment must be started by waiting for preheating to finish and then operating the treatment device. This not only results in inefficient use of time and reduced treatment efficiency, but also prolongs the start of treatment, making it a hassle and a further factor that discourages patients from using the treatment device.

The standard for the above-mentioned thermotherapy device, the standard for home thermotherapy devices (JIS T 2008:2018), stipulates that the rated time for the timer is 8 hours or less. Therefore, when using the preheat function in a thermoelectric potential therapy device, treatment must be performed within 8 hours after the preheat ends, but some users may actually start treatment by using a mat during the preheat.

In addition, the standard for combined household medical devices (JIS T 2009:2018) states that outputs from parts that make up multiple combined functions must not be generated simultaneously, so this standard must also be taken into consideration.

It is possible to configure the device so that treatment is automatically started after the preheat time has elapsed by operating the treatment device during preheating, but as mentioned above, if the user starts using the treatment device during preheating, the user will continue treatment for the sum of the usage time during preheating and the treatment time, which may result in exceeding the regulated upper limit of treatment time, and in the worst case scenario, the efficiency of treatment may actually decrease.

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention separates the preheat time from the treatment time, that is, by forcibly ending the preheat before starting the treatment, it is possible to realize a thermoelectric potential treatment device that satisfies the above standard and can perform an efficient treatment. More specifically, (1) the present invention takes the following measures to solve the above problem. That is, the treatment device of the present invention includes a main body having a treatment element that performs thermotherapy and potential treatment, an input means that accepts at least one of a first instruction related to the treatment or a second instruction related to preheating that increases the temperature of the treatment element prior to the treatment, a timer that measures the time of the treatment and the time of the preheating, and a control means that starts measuring a second time, which is the operation time of the treatment, based on the first instruction after accepting the second instruction, when the treatment is started by the first instruction before the lapse of a predetermined first time, which is the operation time of the preheating , and the control means is characterized in that it sets the time obtained by subtracting the measured preheating time from the time set as the time of the treatment as the second time.

This allows users to efficiently use preheat to warm up cold treatment devices, allowing them to use their time efficiently and improving treatment efficiency.

(2) Furthermore, as another embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, the control means has the timer, and when the input means accepts the first instruction before the first time has elapsed, the timer is reset and has a function of starting to measure the second time.

This allows treatment to begin immediately if the operation to start treatment is performed even during preheating, allowing time to be used efficiently and improving treatment efficiency.

The present invention provides an effective and efficient treatment that satisfies standard restrictions by controlling the operation system or treatment time in a treatment device that performs electric potential treatment and thermal treatment and is equipped with a preheat function, taking into account the time of the preheat function.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a treatment device of the present invention that is composed of a main body and a treatment element (controller + electric bed mat). FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main body of the treatment device of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a first embodiment of a control unit of a main body of a treatment device of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of a second embodiment of a control unit of a main body of a treatment device of the present invention. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a third embodiment of a treatment device of the present invention, which is composed of a main body and a treatment head, in which a sensor is provided in the treatment head. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of a third embodiment of a control unit of a main body of a treatment device of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the alternating mode of thermal therapy and electric potential therapy of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a thermal potential therapy device that is a combination of an electric potential therapy device and a thermal therapy device will be described as an example of a therapy device, but the combination with the thermal therapy device may be an electric potential therapy device, a low frequency therapy device, a negative charge therapy device, or a therapy device used in combination with other therapy devices.

1 is a block diagram of a treatment device 1 according to the present invention, which is composed of a main body 11, a treatment element 12, and an electric bed cord 13. The main body 11 is a so-called controller, which sets up heat treatment and electric potential treatment using the treatment element 12. The treatment element 12 is an electric bed mat equipped with heat treatment and electric potential treatment functions, and is equipped with a plug 131 for connecting to the electric bed cord 13, and is connected to the main body 11 via the electric bed cord 13. The main body 11 comprises a heat circuit section 111 which supplies current to the heating wire 121 of the treatment element 12 to perform heat treatment, a potential circuit section 112 which applies a potential to the potential wire 122 of the treatment element 12 to perform potential treatment, a control section 113 which is a control means for controlling each operation of heat treatment and potential treatment according to values inputted by an operation section 114, an operation section 114 which is an input means for each level of heat treatment and potential treatment, treatment time and operation mode, and a display section 115 which displays the heat and potential treatment level, treatment time, operation mode, etc. according to the values inputted by the operation section 114 to inform the user. In addition, the main body 11 comprises a power supply section 116 for supplying power to each section, which is connected to a commercial power source via a power cord, but as this is not an essential part of the present invention, a description thereof will be omitted. The treatment element 12 is equipped with a heating wire 121 for performing thermal treatment and a potential wire 122 for performing potential treatment, and is connected to the corresponding circuit parts of the main body part 11, the thermal circuit part 111 and the potential circuit part 112, through the electric bed cord 13, and receives the respective energy supplies to perform treatment operations.

Figure 2 is a six-sided view of the exterior of the main unit 11 according to the present invention. The main unit 11 in Figure 2 is equipped with a power switch 1161, a treatment mode selection switch 1141, a potential output level selection switch 1142 for potential treatment, a heat output level selection switch 1143 for heat treatment, a timer switch 1144, a start switch 1145 for starting treatment, a preheat switch 1146 for preheating the treatment element 12 to warm it up before treatment, a treatment mode display unit 1151, a heat level display unit 1152, a potential level display unit 1153, and a timer display unit 1154 so that it can perform thermal treatment and electric potential treatment. Furthermore, the electric bed cord 13 extends directly from the main unit 11 and connects to the treatment element 12 via a plug 131.

The main body 11 and the treatment device 12 are connected via the plug 131 of the electric bed cord 13 extending from the main body 11. When the power switch 1161 in Figure 2 is turned on, the main body 11 starts up, and when it is pressed again, all output is stopped and the main body 11 is powered off. In other words, the power switch 1161 also functions as an emergency stop button.

The treatment mode selection switch 1141 selects one of the following modes: a heat mode in which only the output for heat treatment (hereafter referred to as "heat output") is provided, a potential mode in which only the output for potential treatment (hereafter referred to as "potential output") is provided, or an alternating mode in which heat output and potential output are alternated. In the alternating mode, after the heat output has been continued for a certain period of time, the heat output and potential output are alternated in accordance with the requirements of the standard for combined home medical devices (JIS T 2009:2018), and both outputs are not output to the user at the same time.

The electric potential treatment electric potential output level selection switch 1142 may be set to three levels, for example, low, medium, and high, by switching between them each time it is pressed, or the level may be set by increasing or decreasing it with the plus and minus buttons, or the level may be set directly with a numerical value. Similarly, the heat output level selection switch 1143 may be set to three levels, low, medium, and high, by switching between them, or the level may be set by increasing or decreasing it with the plus and minus buttons, or the level may be set directly with a numerical value.

The timer switch 1144 is used to set the treatment time. The time setting may be changed each time the button is pressed, or may be set directly by a numerical value. When the start switch 1145 is pressed, a heat output or potential output is supplied to start the treatment, and the timer starts measuring the treatment time. If the treatment mode selection switch 1141 is pressed again during the treatment, the timer stops temporarily and the output is stopped, allowing the treatment mode to be changed to heat mode, potential mode, or the like. Pressing the start switch 1145 resumes the timer measurement and treatment. The output is also stopped when the timer expires. Based on the requirements of the standard for home thermotherapy treatment devices (JIS T 2008:2018) and the requirements of the standard for home electric treatment devices (JIS T 2003:2018), the timers for the heat mode and potential mode are set to a maximum of 8 hours. In the case of alternating mode, the total time for heat and potential is allocated so that it does not exceed the respective standards, for example, a maximum of 12 hours in total. In this way, when the treatment mode is changed midway, the timer is temporarily stopped in the above example, but this is not limited to this and the timer may continue to measure time. The treatment time is very long, measured in hours as described above, while the time to select the treatment mode is negligible, at most a few minutes. This eliminates the need for a timer pause function, simplifying the timer device and control and reducing costs. Alternatively, the timer may be reset based on the mode change and the treatment time may be measured from zero. It is better to be able to reset the timer to ensure that treatment is performed in the correct treatment mode, for example if the treatment mode is set incorrectly midway.

When the preheat switch 1146 is pressed, heat is output for a predetermined fixed time. The fixed time is set to a time (called the first time or preheat time) for sufficiently warming the treatment element 12, for example, 1 hour. The first time may be, for example, 30 minutes or other time. The mode used to warm the treatment element 12 in advance for a certain time is called preheat. If the heat level is not specified at this time, a predetermined value, for example, maximum output or 50% of the maximum output, is output. The heat level may be changeable. Usually, preheat continues for the first time, which is a predetermined preheat time, and ends after the preheat time has elapsed. After the preheat ends, the user selects each mode with the treatment mode selection switch 1141, selects a level with the heat output level selection switch 1143, selects the treatment time with the timer switch 1144, and presses the start switch 1145 to start treatment. In other words, when using preheat, the user must wait until the preheat time has elapsed, and cannot interrupt preheat in the middle of preheat and start treatment immediately. Alternatively, the user had to press the preheat switch 1146 again to stop the preheat and then start the treatment. Therefore, in the present invention, even during the preheat, the preheat can be stopped by the first instruction to start the treatment, and the user can start the treatment without waiting for the first time to elapse. Specifically, when the treatment mode selection switch 1141, the heat output level selection switch 1143, the timer switch 1144, the potential output level selection switch 1142, or the preheat switch 1146 is pressed during the measurement of the first time, the measurement of the preheat time and the preheat are stopped. After that, the user selects each mode with the treatment mode selection switch 1141, selects a level with the heat output level selection switch 1143 or the potential output level selection switch 1142, and selects the treatment time with the timer switch 1144, and presses the start switch 1145 to start the treatment and the measurement of the treatment time (second time) by the timer. In this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the timer and preheat are stopped by an operation related to the treatment, such as the operation of the treatment mode selection switch 1141 or other switches. Control in which at least the preheat is stopped by an operation related to treatment is preferable for the following reasons. For example, if the timer is stopped but the preheat is continued, if the user interrupts the operation after the operation related to treatment or forgets to press the start switch 1145, the preheat will continue even though the timer is stopped, which is undesirable in consideration of the burden on the user, deterioration or damage of the treatment element 12, or fire. Conversely, such problems do not occur with control in which at least the preheat is stopped. In this embodiment, the timer and preheat are stopped by operating the treatment mode selection switch 1141 or other switches, but this is not limited to this. The timer and preheat are not interrupted by these switch operations, or only the preheat is interrupted and the timer continues to measure the preheat time, and the timer may start measuring the treatment time by operating the start switch 1145 even before the preheat time has elapsed. In this case, it is preferable to have a configuration in which the preheat is also stopped by operating the start switch 1145. Note that the output is stopped when the timer expires or by pressing the treatment mode selection switch 1141. Also, the preheat switch 1146 is invalid during treatment.

Another embodiment (2) will be described. In this embodiment, the preheat operation after pressing the preheat switch 1146 is the same. After the timer expires or the preheat ends due to pressing the treatment mode selection switch 1141 or the preheat switch 1146, if necessary, the treatment time is selected with the timer switch 1144, the heat mode is selected with the treatment mode selection switch 1141, and the start switch 1145 is pressed to start treatment. The sum of the preheat expiration time or the measured preheat time and the timer switch setting time is calculated, and if it exceeds the maximum standard time of 8 hours, the time obtained by subtracting the preheat expiration time or the measured preheat time from 8 hours is set in the timer as the actual treatment time. There are cases where the user starts using the treatment device 1 during preheating, that is, the user starts using the treatment device 1 before the preheat time has elapsed. In this case, the total of the preheat time and the treatment time may exceed the maximum standard time of 8 hours depending on the setting of the second time, which is undesirable. In other words, it is desirable to control the total of the preheat time and the treatment time so that it does not exceed a predetermined maximum time, for example, 8 hours as in this embodiment. When preheat is used and the treatment time is set to 8 hours, it is desirable to have a control to change the set treatment time, for example, a configuration to set a time obtained by subtracting the preheat time from the treatment time. If the preheat time is 1 hour, even if the user selects 8 hours as the treatment time, the treatment time is automatically changed and set to 7 hours, and if the preheat time is 30 minutes, the treatment time can be changed and set to 7.5 hours. Alternatively, as a similar control, a configuration may be used in which the treatment time cannot be set to more than the predetermined maximum time of 8 hours minus the preheat time, taking the preheat time into consideration, or only a configuration may be selected that is less than the predetermined maximum time of 8 hours minus the preheat time. For example, if the preheat time is 1 hour and the predetermined maximum time is 8 hours, the treatment time cannot be set to more than 7 hours, and if the preheat time is 30 minutes, the treatment time cannot be set to more than 7.5 hours, i.e., only a configuration may be used in which only a treatment time of 7 hours or less can be selected. Alternatively, in a treatment device that can use preheat regardless of whether or not preheat is used, a configuration may be used in which the time that can be set as the treatment time (e.g., 8 hours) minus the preheat time (e.g., 1 hour) can be selected, or a configuration may be used in which the maximum time that can be set as the treatment time (e.g., 8 hours) cannot be set. After treatment has started, the treatment mode is ended similarly when the timer expires or by pressing the treatment mode selection switch 1141. The same processing may be performed when the alternating mode is selected with the treatment mode selection switch 1141.

Another embodiment (3) will be described. In this embodiment, a sensor is provided in the treatment element 12 to detect whether the user has started treatment using the treatment element 12 during preheating, and if the start of use is detected during preheating, the treatment operation will automatically start from that point. That is, the mode is selected in advance using the treatment mode selection switch 1141, and the timer time is set using the timer switch 1144, and the preheat operation is started by pressing the preheat switch 1146. When the sensor detects the start of use (such as a drop in temperature using the temperature sensor described below), the treatment operation will proceed to the same treatment operation as when the start switch 1145 is pressed, even if there is no voluntary treatment start operation using the start switch 1145. In this case, since the preheating and treatment time can be clearly distinguished, even if the timer value for the treatment time is set to the maximum of 8 hours in hyperthermia treatment, or the maximum of 12 hours in alternating mode, sufficient treatment time can be ensured without any problems in terms of standards.

Figure 3 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the treatment device 1 in the case of Example 1. After the power of the treatment device 1 is turned ON, it is determined whether the preheat switch 1146 has been operated (S301). If the preheat switch 1146 is pressed down, heat is output for a fixed time (S302), and measurement of the preheat time begins (S303). If the preheat time expires (S306), or if the treatment mode selection switch 1141 (S305) or the preheat switch 1146 (S304) is pressed midway, the preheat ends (S307). Next, when starting treatment, the treatment operation mode is selected (S311) and the treatment parameters are selected (S312) by pressing the treatment mode selection switch 1141, the heat output level selection switch 1143 and the potential output level selection switch 1142 are used to select the level setting, and the timer switch 1144 is used to select the treatment time. When it is determined that the start switch 1145 has been pressed (S313), output is started in each operation mode of heat treatment, potential treatment, and alternating mode based on the mode selection (S314), and measurement of the treatment time is started (S315). When the treatment time expires (S317) or the treatment mode selection switch 1141 is pressed (S316), the output of the treatment device 1 is stopped and the treatment is ended (S318). By using an operation system that clearly distinguishes between preheating and treatment, even when preheating is performed, the operation of starting the treatment is realized after the preheating is definitely finished, so that the maximum standard for the treatment time of the heat treatment is not exceeded.

Figure 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the treatment device 1 in the case of the second embodiment. After the power supply of the treatment device 1 is turned on, the operation of the preheat switch 1146 is judged (S401). When the preheat switch 1146 is pressed, a fixed time of heat output is performed (S402), and measurement of the preheat time is started (S403). When the preheat time expires (S406), or when the operation judgment of the treatment mode selection switch 1141 (S405) or the operation judgment of the preheat switch 1146 (S404) judges that the switch is pressed, the preheat is ended (S408). Here, the control unit 113 holds the measured output time from the start of measurement of the preheat output time to the end of the preheat output (S407). When the preheat switch 1146 is pressed again to start preheating, the total value is held by adding the current output time to the previous output time held value. To reset the held preheat time, the power supply is turned off. Alternatively, a separate reset button may be provided. Next, when starting treatment, the treatment mode is selected with the treatment mode selection switch 1141 (S411) and the treatment parameters are selected (S412), the heat output level selection switch 1143 and the potential output level selection switch 1142 are used to select the level setting, and the timer switch 1144 is used to select the treatment time. When it is determined that the start switch 1145 has been pressed (S413), the selected treatment mode is determined (S414). In the case of the heat mode or the alternating mode described below, the measured and held (S407) preheat output time is added to the timer setting value, and a total time determination process (S415) is performed. If the total exceeds 8 hours, the time obtained by subtracting the measured and held preheat output time from 8 hours is set as the actual thermotherapy timer time (S416), and treatment is started (S417). If the total does not exceed 8 hours, the set timer value is set as the thermotherapy timer time as is, and treatment is started (S417). On the other hand, when the potential mode is selected with the treatment mode selection switch 1141, there is no need to consider the standard of hyperthermia treatment, so the timer value set with the timer switch 1144 is set as it is, and treatment is started (S417). When the alternating mode is selected, the total value of each of the heat and potential treatment times is calculated, and a judgment process (S415) is performed using the total value of the measured and held preheat output time and the hyperthermia treatment time in the alternating mode. If the total value exceeds 8 hours, the time obtained by subtracting the measured and held preheat output time from 8 hours is similarly set as the hyperthermia treatment time, which is converted into the time in the alternating mode and set as the timer value (S416), and treatment is started (S417). If the total value does not exceed 8 hours, the set timer value is set as the timer value in the alternating mode, and treatment is started (S417). Thereafter, measurement of the treatment time is started from the start of the treatment output, as in the first embodiment (S418). The treatment ends when the timer is determined to have expired (S420) or the treatment mode selection switch is pressed (S419) (S421). The above process makes it possible to achieve operation that satisfies the maximum standard for treatment time, even if the user uses the electric mat of the treatment device 12 during the preheat time and actual treatment begins. Another advantage is that the timer setting for the treatment time is automatically processed internally, so the user does not need to manually reset the treatment time.

Figure 5 shows the treatment device 1 consisting of the main body 11 and treatment element 12 in the case of Example 3. In addition to the configuration of the treatment element 12 shown in Figure 1, the treatment element 12 in Figure 5 is equipped with a sensor 123 so as to detect when the user has started treatment using the treatment element 12. Information detected by the sensor 123 is sent to the control unit 113 of the main body 11 via the electric bed code 13. If the phenomenon used to detect when the user has started treatment is, for example, temperature, a temperature sensor is used for the sensor 123. If the user starts using the treatment device 1 during the preheat period, when the human body comes into contact with the electric bed mat, which is the treatment element 12, heat is transferred from the electric bed mat, which has been warmed by the preheat, to the user's body, resulting in a drop in the temperature of the electric bed mat. Therefore, by mounting a temperature sensor as the sensor 123 on the electric bed mat, which is the treatment device 12, and monitoring the temperature with the control unit 113, it is relatively easy to know the time when the treatment device 12 was started to be used. The above is an example in which temperature is used as the detection of the user's start of use of the treatment device 1, but for example, the use of the electric bed mat may be determined by pressure or the user's position, in which case a pressure sensor or ultrasonic sensor is used as the sensor 123. Furthermore, other detection objects and sensors that sense them may also be used.

Figure 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the treatment device 1 in the case of Example 3. After the power supply of the treatment device 1 is turned on, the operation of the preheat switch 1146 is judged (S501). Before turning on the preheat switch 1146, each mode is selected with the treatment mode selection switch 1141 (S512), and treatment parameters such as level setting selection with the heat output level selection switch 1143 and the potential output level selection switch 1142, and treatment time selection with the timer switch 1144 are selected (S513). After that, in the operation judgment of the preheat switch 1146 (S501), if the preheat switch 1146 is pressed down, sensor monitoring is started (S502), heat output is performed for a fixed time (S503), and measurement of the preheat time is started (S504). When the preheat time expires (S509), or when the operation of the treatment mode selection switch 1141 (S508) or the operation of the preheat switch 1146 (S507) is judged to have been pressed, the sensor monitor is terminated (S510) and the preheat is terminated (S511). In the third embodiment, during the preheat period, the setting of the treatment mode and treatment parameters is judged (S505), and if they are set, the control unit 113 judges whether the user has started using the treatment unit 12 (electric bed mat) based on the results of the sensor monitor obtained from the sensor 123 (electric bed mat) (S506). For example, when a temperature sensor is used, the temperature rise process of the treatment unit 12 is monitored when the preheat starts, but when the user starts using the treatment unit 12, heat is transferred from the treatment unit 12 to the user's body at that time, so that a temporary drop in temperature or a change in the rate of temperature rise is observed. This is judged to be the start of use, and the monitor operation is terminated (S520), and the treatment operation is automatically started (S515) with the previously set treatment mode and temperature setting without pressing the start switch 1145. Thereafter, as in the first and second embodiments, treatment time measurement is started (S516), and when the timer expires (S518) or the treatment mode selection switch 1141 is pressed (S517), the output of the treatment device 1 is stopped and the treatment ends (S519). In this way, by detecting the start of use by the user and automatically switching from preheat to treatment mode, the maximum treatment time standard is satisfied and simple treatment operation is achieved. Note that if the treatment mode, temperature setting, and timer setting before the start of preheat are not set, if they were selected during the previous treatment operation, those values are used, and if they are not, the automatic transition to treatment operation is not performed (S505 NO judgment), and normal preheat operation is performed.

In the first, second, and third embodiments, the alternating mode of the thermal treatment and the electric potential treatment will be described. In the alternating mode, the thermal output and the electric potential output are automatically switched and output alternately. In the alternating mode, the total thermal treatment time is set so as not to exceed the standard of 8 hours as the time allocation of the thermal mode and the electric potential mode and the maximum timer setting time. Figure 7 shows an example of the alternating mode, where the maximum timer time is set to 12 hours, and only thermal output is performed for 2 hours from the start of output, and then the electric potential output is output for 4 minutes and the thermal output is output for 6 minutes alternately. Note that a rest period is provided between the electric potential output and the thermal output. The rest period is set to 2 seconds, for example. This is to satisfy the standard that multiple functional configurations should not be output simultaneously, as specified in the Combined Home Medical Device Standard (JIS T 2009:2018). In this way, in the alternating mode, the total time of the thermal mode during treatment will not exceed 8 hours even when the maximum timer setting is set. In the combination with the first embodiment, the preheat time and the treatment time are distinguished in the operation procedure, so there is no particular problem. In Example 2, the timer time, including the preheat time, can be adjusted taking into account the total heat output time. Alternatively, when preheating, the first two hours of heat time can be skipped and the treatment can begin by repeating the potential and heat therapy. In Example 3, the start of treatment is automatically detected by a sensor from the preheat time, so there is no problem, and in combination with any means, operation that does not pose a problem under the standards can be achieved with a simple operating means.

Although the alternating mode has been described above, it is also possible to use different alternating modes when preheat is used and when preheat is not used. For example, the first alternating mode is used when preheat is not used, and the second alternating mode is used when preheat is used. As the second alternating mode when the control as shown in FIG. 7 is used as the first alternating mode, it is desirable to use an alternating mode in which the first output immediately after the start of treatment is a potential output, or a control that shortens the time of the first output, which is the heat output, as described above. Even when preheat is used, if the first alternating mode as shown in FIG. 7 is used, the heat output is continued for another two hours even though the treatment element 12 is sufficiently warmed by the preheat, so that effective treatment in the alternating mode cannot be obtained. Therefore, in the present invention, the first output of the second alternating mode is a potential output, or when the first output of the second alternating mode is a heat output, the duration of the first output, which is the heat output, is controlled to be shorter than the duration of the first output, which is the heat output, in the first alternating mode. Alternatively, in an alternating mode in a treatment device with a preheat function, the first output may be a potential output, which can provide the effects of potential treatment more efficiently and improve treatment efficiency.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various combinations, etc. are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.
In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention realizes a thermoelectric potential therapy device that satisfies the above standard and can perform efficient therapy by separating the preheat time from the treatment time, i.e., by forcibly ending the preheat before starting the treatment. More specifically, (1) the present invention takes the following measures to solve the above problem. The device includes a main body having a therapy element that performs thermotherapy and potential therapy, an input means for receiving a first instruction related to the therapy and a second instruction related to preheating that increases the temperature of the therapy element prior to the therapy, and a control means for starting to measure a second time, which is the operation time of the therapy, based on the first instruction after receiving the second instruction and before the first time, which is the operation time of the preheat, has elapsed.
In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention realizes a thermoelectric potential treatment device that satisfies the above standard and can perform efficient treatment by separating the preheat time from the treatment time, i.e., by forcibly ending the preheat before starting the treatment. More specifically, (1) the present invention takes the following measures to solve the above problem. The device includes a main body having a treatment element that performs thermotherapy and potential treatment, an input means for receiving a first instruction related to the treatment and a second instruction related to preheating that increases the temperature of the treatment element prior to the treatment, and a control means for starting to measure a second time, which is the operation time of the treatment, based on the first instruction after receiving the second instruction and before the first time, which is the operation time of the preheat, has elapsed, and the control means controls the second time so that the sum of the measured preheat time and the second time does not exceed a third time, which is a predetermined maximum time.
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention separates the preheat time from the treatment time, i.e., by forcibly ending the preheat before starting the treatment, it is possible to realize a thermoelectric potential treatment device that satisfies the above standard and can perform efficient treatment. More specifically, (1) the present invention takes the following measures to solve the above problem. That is, the treatment device of the present invention includes a main body having a treatment element that performs thermotherapy and potential treatment, an input means that receives at least one of a first instruction related to the treatment or a second instruction related to preheating that increases the temperature of the treatment element prior to the treatment, and a control means that starts measuring a second time, which is the operation time of the treatment, based on the first instruction after receiving the second instruction and before the lapse of a predetermined first time, which is the operation time of the preheat, and the control means is characterized in that it sets the second time as the time obtained by subtracting the measured preheat time from a third time, which is a predetermined maximum time.
(2) Furthermore, as another embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, the control means has a timer, and when the input means accepts the first instruction before the first time has elapsed, the timer is reset and has a function of starting to measure the second time.

1 Treatment device 11 Main body 111 Heat circuit section 112 Potential circuit section 113 Control section 114 Operation section 115 Display section 116 Power supply section 12 Treatment device 121 Heating wire 122 Potential wire 123 Sensor 13 Electric bed cord 1161 Power switch 1141 Treatment mode selection switch 1142 Potential output level selection switch 1143 Heat output level selection switch 1144 Timer switch 1145 Start switch 1146 Preheat switch 1151 Treatment mode display section 1152 Heat level display section 1153 Potential level display section 1154 Timer display section 131 Plug S301, S304, S401, S404, S501, S507 Preheat switch judgment process S302, S402, S503 Preheat output S303, S403, S504 Preheat timer start processing S305, S316, S405, S419, S508, S517 Treatment mode selection switch determination processing S306, S406, S509 Preheat timer expiration determination processing S307, S408, S511 Preheat output end processing S311, S411, S512 Treatment mode selection processing S312, S412, S513 Treatment parameter selection processing S313, S413, S514 Start switch determination processing S314, S417, S515 Treatment output S315, S418, S516 Treatment time measurement start processing S317, S420, S518 Treatment timer expiration determination processing S318, S421, S519 Treatment output end processing S407 Preheat time measurement total value processing S414 Treatment mode selection determination processing S415 Treatment time determination process S416 Treatment time correction process S502 Sensor monitor start process S505 Treatment mode/treatment parameter setting determination process S506 User use start determination process S510, S520 Sensor monitor end process

Claims (2)

A therapist who performs thermal therapy and electric potential therapy;
an input means for receiving at least one of a first instruction regarding a treatment and a second instruction regarding preheating to increase the temperature of the treatment element prior to the treatment ;
A timer for measuring the treatment time and the preheat time;
a control means for starting measurement of a second time, which is an operation time of the treatment, based on the first instruction when the treatment is started by the first instruction after receiving the second instruction and before a predetermined first time, which is an operation time of the preheat, has elapsed;
The control means sets the second time as a time obtained by subtracting the measured preheat time from the time set as the treatment time . The treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the control means has a timer, and when the input means receives the first instruction before the first time has elapsed, the timer is reset and begins measuring the second time.