JPH07148273A - Stimulating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit a stimulation signal by radio waves or light to an electrode embedded into a living body. CONSTITUTION:This stimulating device is constituted to rebuild the function of a paralyzed part by imparting the stimulation signal to the electrode embedded in the living body. The device described above has a stimulation signal output section 1 having a modulation circuit 5 for modulating the stimulation signal and a transmission coil 6 for transmitting the stimulation signal by radio waves and a receiving section 9 having a receiving coil 10 for receiving the signal to be modulated transmitted from the transmission coil 6, a demodulation circuit 11 for taking the stimulation signal out of the received signal to be modulated and a current rectifying circuit 13 for taking DC electric power out of the signal to be modulated. Only the transmission coil 6 is formed attachable and detachable to and from the receiving section 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stimulator for applying electrical stimulation to paralyzed extremities or the like to reconstruct biological functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, stimulators for performing function reconstruction and function recovery training by applying electrical stimulation to nerves and muscles of paralyzed limbs have been known.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which such a stimulator is connected to an electrode embedded in, for example, a paralyzed arm via a connector. In FIG. 5, a plurality of electrodes (not shown) embedded near the nerves / muscles of the arm
Is connected to a connector A via a lead wire L1, and this connector A is connected to a connector B connected to a lead wire L2 on the stimulator 30 side. The electrode and the lead wire L1 connecting the electrode are preliminarily embedded in a predetermined part in the living body by an operation, and the lead-out portion of the lead wire L1 is wound by a fixing band 31 such as gauze disinfected so that the connector A is exposed. I was trying to fix it. Also, connectors A and B
Are used so that they do not get in the way of the patient.

The stimulator 30 provides various stimulation patterns for paralyzed arms, such as "grasping", "releasing", "raising arms", and "lowering arms", which correspond to reconstructing motions of the arms and hands. It is stored in advance. During use, the stimulator 30 is fixed to the patient's waist or the like with a belt or the like, and as shown in FIG. 5, the patient connects the connector A on the living body side to the connector B on the stimulator 30 side by himself or by the assistance of another person. Connecting. The patient operates the switch with one healthy hand or inputs a control input signal for reading a stimulation pattern by voice or the like into the stimulator 30, reads out a desired stimulation pattern from various stimulation patterns, and outputs a stimulation signal. , It is designed to perform a rebuilding operation on paralyzed arms.

As another method of transmitting a stimulation signal by radio waves, a transmitter in which a receiver and an electrode connected to the receiver are embedded in a living body, and electric power for operating the stimulation signal and the receiver is attached outside the body Is also known to be transmitted wirelessly. In this method, a receiver and an electrode are preliminarily operated to be implanted in the living body in the vicinity of nerves and muscles of the paralyzed limb, and when they are no longer needed, they are taken out again by surgery.

[0006]

However, it is difficult for a paralyzed patient to attach / detach the connector with one hand, and there has been a need for the assistance of another person.

Further, the lead-out portion of the lead wire connected to the electrode must be sterilized at all times in order to prevent infection with bacteria and the like, and must be covered with gauze or the like. However, to make the connection with the stimulator,
It is necessary to pull out the lead wire on the living body side with some allowance, and it is difficult to maintain the cleanliness of the lead-out portion and fix the connector at home.

It is desirable that the connector be as small as possible so that it does not disturb the patient. However, if an ultra-compact connector is used, it is difficult to attach / detach with one hand and durability is deteriorated. Stimulus signals may not be transmitted.

Further, since the lead-out portion from the living body is connected to the stimulator via the lead wire, if the lead wire is accidentally pulled or hooked, the electrode in the living body connected to the tip portion of the lead wire. Moves from a predetermined embedding position, or the lead wire is broken. In such a case, it is required to perform surgery again to implant the electrode at a predetermined position or replace the electrode, which imposes an excessive burden on the patient.

Furthermore, in the method of implanting both the receiver and the electrode in the living body, implantation surgery and removal surgery when they are no longer necessary are required, which makes the patient more invasive. Therefore, this method is not suitable for use in a relatively short period of time such as function reconstruction or function recovery training or for trial use.

Therefore, in view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stimulating device which can be easily attached to and detached from a living body and minimizes invasion to a patient.

[0012]

A stimulator according to the present invention is a stimulator that applies a stimulus signal to an electrode embedded in a living body to reconstruct the function of a paralyzed region, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. A stimulus signal output unit 1 having a modulation circuit 5 for modulating a stimulus and a transmission coil 6 connected to the modulation circuit 5 for transmitting a stimulus signal by radio waves; and a reception for receiving a modulated signal transmitted from the transmission coil 6. Coil 10 and demodulation circuit 1 for extracting a stimulation signal from the received modulated signal
1 and a rectifier circuit 12 for extracting DC power from the modulated signal
And a receiving section 9 having a and the transmitting coil 6 alone is attachable to and detachable from the receiving section 9.

In addition, the stimulus signal output unit 1a has a light emitting element 17.
By providing each of the light receiving elements 18 in the receiving unit 9a, it is possible to transmit the stimulation signal and the power by light.

[0014]

[Function] A reception unit for receiving and outputting a stimulation signal to a paralyzed arm is surrounded and fixed by an adhesive dressing for wound or the like, and the transmission coil of the stimulation signal output unit is brought close to the reception coil of this reception unit. Then, the stimulus signal and the electric power to be the power source of the receiving unit are transmitted by radio waves. On the receiver side, the stimulus signal and the power are separated and extracted from the transmitted modulated signal. By doing so, it suffices to attach and detach the transmitting coil to and from the receiving part, and it is possible to prevent the lead wire connected to the electrode in the living body from being inadvertently caught, and also to prevent the lead wire from leading to the outside of the living body. You can always keep it clean.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A stimulator of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same or similar reference numerals are given to corresponding portions.

It is also possible to transmit the stimulation signal and power from the stimulation signal output section to the receiving section by light.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the stimulation signal output unit 1 is configured as follows. Reference numeral 2 denotes an AD converter, which converts a control input signal, which is input from a control signal input unit 8 described later via the connector C1, and which reads out a required stimulation pattern, into a digital signal. Reference numeral 3 denotes a control unit, which is composed of, for example, a microcomputer including a ROM and a RAM. Storing patterns corresponding to various reconstruction operations are stored in advance in the ROM, and a predetermined stimulating pattern is generated by an instruction from the control signal input unit 8. Read out. Further, the control unit 3 outputs the stimulation pattern as a modulation signal in time series and controls the entire apparatus.

The modulation circuit 5 is an FS which is a kind of FM modulation.
A carrier wave of, for example, 100 KHz, which is composed of K (frequency shift keying) and is output from the oscillator 4, is modulated based on the stimulation pattern output from the control unit 3.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a transmission coil, which transmits a modulated signal modulated by the stimulus signal from the modulation circuit 5. In FIG. 1, the transmission coil 6 is shown by winding a coil around a core made of a magnetic material such as iron, but may have a flat shape in which only the coil is molded with resin or the like.
Only the transmitting coil 6 is joined to the receiving portion described later by extending the lead wire.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a power supply unit composed of, for example, a battery or the like, which supplies electric power to the above-mentioned respective units in the stimulation signal output unit 1.

The above-mentioned control signal input section 8 is composed of, for example, a push button or the like, is connected to the main body of the stimulation signal output section 1 via a connector C1 by a lead wire, and is operated by being held and operated by the patient. Depending on the number of times
The required stimulation pattern is input. Alternatively, the control signal input unit 8 is fixed at a position of the stimulation signal output unit 1 where the patient can easily operate, and is configured so that the patient can operate the finger with a healthy arm or the like.

The stimulus signal output section 1 configured as described above
Can be fixed to the waist of the patient by a belt or the like, or attached to a walking aid or the like, and can move together with the patient.

Next, the structure of the receiver 9 will be described. 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a receiving coil, which is molded with resin or the like like the transmitting coil 6 of the stimulus signal output unit 1, is attached to the inner surface of the upper portion of the receiving unit 9, and faces the transmitting coil 6 when the transmitting coil 6 is joined. Placed in position.

A demodulation circuit 11 includes a filter (not shown) and extracts a stimulation signal from the modulated signal received by the receiving coil 10.

Further, 12 is a rectifying circuit, which is the receiving coil 10
The modulated signal output from the receiver is input for rectification, and a DC potential is supplied to each unit in the receiving unit 9 as a power supply voltage. Therefore, it is not necessary to send a special signal for sending power to the stimulation signal output unit 1 side.

A D / A converter 13 converts a stimulus signal corresponding to the stimulus pattern output from the demodulation circuit 11 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to the demultiplexer 14. The demultiplexer 14 switches the stimulus signals output in time series as analog signals from the D / A converter 13 in parallel and sequentially outputs them. The stimulation signal output from the demultiplexer 14 is output to the electrode group E embedded in the living body via the connector C2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view in which the transmitting coil and the receiving unit having the above-described structure are attached to, for example, a paralyzed arm of a patient. The receiving unit 9 is operated in advance in the living body M such as a paralyzed arm of a patient, and is provided in the vicinity of a lead-out unit where the lead wire connected to the embedded electrode group E is pulled out, such as an adhesive dressing for a wound. The covering material 15 surrounds the periphery and is fixed.

Further, a predetermined position of the receiving portion 9 of the covering material 15,
That is, for example, a velcro tape T2 is attached to the position where the transmission coil 6 is joined, and a velcro tape T1 that is joined to the velcro tape T2 is attached to the bottom surface of the transmission coil 6. Both tapes T1 and T2 are arranged at positions where the transmission coil 6 and the reception coil 10 face each other when the transmission coil 6 is attached to the reception unit 9. By doing so, the mounting positions of the transmitting coil 6 and the receiving coil 10 can be easily determined.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of joining the transmitter coil and the receiver. In FIG. 3, the transmitter coil 6
In addition, the joining with the receiving unit 9 uses, for example, a magnet instead of the magic tape shown in FIG. in this case,
Recesses are formed in the bottom surface of the transmission coil 6 and the top surface of the reception unit 9, and ring-shaped magnets M1 and M2 are fixed in the recesses with an adhesive or the like so that the facing surfaces have different magnetic poles. Alternatively, the magnets M1 and M2 may be fixed as they are with an adhesive without forming recesses on the bottom surface of the transmitter coil 1 and the top surface of the receiver 9. By using a magnet as the joining means, the mounting of the transmission coil 1 and the adjustment of the mounting position thereof are further facilitated as compared with the joining of the magic tape.

When the transmitting coil 6 is bonded onto the receiving portion 9 as described above, the transmitting coil 6 and the receiving coil 10 closely face each other, so that the transmitting coil 6 and the receiving coil 10 are coupled by electromagnetic induction, The modulated signal from the transmitting coil 6 is transmitted to the receiving coil 10.

The operation of the embodiment having the above structure will be described. The receiving portion 9 is connected to the connector C2 of the lead wire of the embedded electrode group E, and is attached to the predetermined position of, for example, the arm of the paralyzed patient with the covering material 15. A velcro tape T2 is attached to a position corresponding to the receiving coil 10 of the receiving section 9 on the upper surface of the covering material 15, and a velcro tape T1 attached to the lower surface of the transmitting coil 6 is joined thereto.

A control signal input unit 8 is connected to the stimulus signal output unit 1 via a connector C1, and a power switch (not shown)
Turn on.

When the patient presses a switch (not shown) of the control signal input section 8 to operate it, the control input signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 2 and output to the control section 3. The control unit 3 reads out a predetermined stimulation pattern from the ROM by this control signal and outputs the stimulation signal to the modulation circuit 5 in time series. The modulation circuit 5 modulates the carrier wave output from the oscillator 4 according to the stimulation signal output from the control unit 3, and outputs the modulated signal to the transmission coil 6.

The modulated signal transmitted from the transmitting coil 6 is received by the receiving coil 10 of the receiving section 9 and output to the demodulating circuit 11 and the rectifying circuit 12, respectively. The demodulation circuit 11 inputs the modulated signal via the filter, takes out the original stimulus signal converted into a digital signal, and outputs it to the D / A converter 13. The stimulus signal converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13 is switched to a plurality of parallel signals by the demultiplexer 14 and output to the electrode group E embedded in the living body to perform a rebuilding operation of the paralyzed function. It

The modulated signal input to the rectifying circuit 12 is rectified and converted into a DC voltage, which is supplied to each unit in the receiving unit 9 as a power supply voltage. For this reason, since it is not necessary to provide a power source unit such as a battery in the receiving unit 9 and the size can be reduced, the patient is not disturbed even with the receiving unit 9 attached. Further, since the modulated signal for transmitting the stimulus signal is used for power transmission, the configuration for transmitting a special signal for power in the stimulus signal output unit 1 is not necessary.

As is clear from the above description, the transmitter coil 6 and the receiver 9 can be easily attached and detached, and the lead wire connected to the electrode group E does not intervene when the transmitter coil 6 is attached and detached. It is possible to prevent the movement of the electrode and the disconnection of the lead wire due to pulling or catching. Further, since the periphery of the receiving portion 9 is covered with the covering material 15, the lead-out portion of the lead wire outside the body can be kept clean and infection by bacteria can be prevented.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention. The parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. In the configuration of FIG. 4, the stimulus signal and power are transmitted by radio waves in the above-described embodiment of FIG. 1, whereas the stimulus signal and power are transmitted by light. Transmitting coil 6 and receiving coil 10
The configuration other than is similar to that of the embodiment of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the transmission means on the side of the stimulus signal output unit 1a is composed of the pulse generation circuit 16 and the light emitting element 17 composed of, for example, a light emitting diode. It is composed of an element 18 and an amplifier 19. Also, FIG.
In the same manner as in the above embodiment, the lead wire is extended and only the light emitting element 17 of the stimulation signal output section 1 is attached to the living body M.
The light emitting element 17 can be molded into a flat shape with, for example, a transparent resin or the like.

In this example, the light emitting element 17 is connected to the receiver 9
In the case of bonding to a, a hole through which light passes is provided on the upper surface of the receiver 9a at a position where the light receiving element 18 and the light emitting element 17 of the receiver 9a face each other, and this hole is sealed with a transparent plastic tape or the like. Alternatively, at least the upper surface of the receiving portion 9a side is made of a transparent material such as transparent plastic. Further, a hole is also provided at a position where the light emitting element 17 and the light receiving element 18 of the covering material 15 (FIG. 3) covering the receiving portion 9 face each other, and the hole is closed by a light transmitting member such as a transparent plastic tape.
With this configuration, the periphery of the lead wire lead-out portion to the outside of the body is enclosed in a substantially sealed state, so that the lead-out portion can be kept clean.

In such a configuration, the stimulation signal output section 1a
The modulated signal output from the modulation circuit 5 (FIG. 1) is converted into a pulse signal by the pulse generation circuit 16 and causes the light emitting element 17 to emit light. The light receiving element 18 of the receiver 9a receives the modulated signal from the light emitting element 17, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs it to the amplifier 19. Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the modulated signal from the amplifier 19 is demodulated into a stimulation signal by the demodulation circuit 11 and output to the plurality of electrode groups E via the D / A converter 13 and the demultiplexer 14. Along with
It is rectified into a DC voltage by the rectifier circuit 12 and is supplied as a power supply voltage to each unit in the receiver 9a.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, only the transmitting coil or the light emitting element can be attached to and detached from the receiving portion, and the stimulus signal and the electric power are transmitted by radio waves or light. The lead-out portion of the wire outside the living body is always covered to keep the lead-out portion clean, and the movement and disconnection of the electrode due to pulling or catching of the lead wire can be prevented as in the conventional case.

Further, since the transmitter coil or the light emitting element and the receiver can be joined with a magic tape or the like, there is no need to connect the embedded electrode to the living body with a connector or the like,
It is extremely easy to attach and detach the connection with the stimulus signal output unit, and it can be used by a paralyzed patient even at home without requiring the assistance of medical staff or others.

Further, since the electric power is transmitted by the carrier wave for transmitting the stimulus signal, a required power is supplied to the receiving side with a simple structure without sending a special signal from the transmitting side, and the structure of the receiving section is constituted. However, there is an advantage that it can be made compact and the discomfort of the patient can be reduced even if it is worn for a long time.

[0045]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a stimulator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing joining of a transmitter coil and a receiver in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another joining of the transmitting coil and the receiving unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of another embodiment by optical transmission.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between a conventional stimulator and electrodes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stimulation signal output unit 5 Modulation circuit 6 Transmission coil 9 Reception unit 10 Reception coil 11 Demodulation circuit 12 Rectification circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A stimulator for applying a stimulus signal to an electrode embedded in a living body to reconstruct the function of a paralyzed part, wherein a modulation circuit for modulating the stimulus signal and a stimulus signal connected to the modulation circuit. A stimulus signal output section having a transmission coil for transmitting by radio waves, a reception coil for receiving the modulated signal transmitted from the transmission coil, and a demodulation circuit for extracting the stimulation signal from the received modulated signal, A stimulator comprising: a receiver having a rectifier circuit for extracting DC power from the modulated signal, wherein only the transmitter coil is attachable to and detachable from the receiver. 2. A stimulator for applying a stimulus signal to an electrode embedded in a living body to reconstruct the function of a paralyzed part, wherein a modulation circuit for modulating the stimulus signal and the stimulus signal connected to the modulation circuit. A stimulus signal output section having a light emitting element for transmitting by light, a light receiving element for receiving a modulated signal transmitted from the light emitting element, and a demodulation circuit for extracting the stimulus signal from the received modulated signal, A stimulator comprising: a receiver having a rectifier circuit for extracting DC power from the modulated signal, wherein only the light emitting element is detachable from the receiver.