Abstract:
To provide a user friendly electrotherapy device not large in space taken and not requiring a human operator or special treatment time, the electrotherapy device uses as a skin adhering charge carrying pad a soft kneaded material comprising a silicone rubber as a binder in which a fine powder of mugwort charcoal etc. is mixed and kneaded well. The ratio of mixture of the powder of charcoal with respect to the silicone rubber is preferably at least 5 wt %. This skin adhering charge carrying pad is superior in the sustainability of the charge. Many reports of good results have been obtained by just continuously adhering pads to suitable locations of the body in accordance with the symptoms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrotherapy device suited for providing therapy adhered to the skin. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the past, there has been known an electrotherapy device applying a weak current of a high potential to a seated body and repeating this over several days so as to treat arthritis, backaches, aching shoulders, languidity, fatigue, chills, poor blood circulation, and other chronic symptoms of unknown cause. There is little scientific or theoretical explanation of why application of an alternating current of a high potential (several thousand volts) &#34;cures&#34;. 
     Everyone suffers from one of the chronic symptoms characteristic of middle and old age where this type of chronic pain or hardship persists. This being said, the extent of suffering of a person is not something judged objectively, but can only be understood by the statements of the person in question, so frequently tends to be ignored. Further, if the person in question pays too much attention to it, the reliability of his or her statements becomes questionable and conversely delays the determination of the cause. Accordingly, for this type of symptom, the general treatment is first applied and the result then examined. As such treatment, there are electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, heat and hot spring therapy, &#34;shiatsu&#34; finger-pressure therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion, vibration therapy, and other physical therapy. 
     It is well known that the voltage and potential of the body fluids play an important role in the tissue, organs, cellular level, and nervous system of the human body. Electrical factors are highly involved in ensuring the autonomous homeostasis of the body. 
     The afore-mentioned electrotherapy, however, applies too unnaturally high a potential (several thousand volts) from the outside to substantially the entire body in an unlimited manner and therefore is nothing more than a kind of electric shock treatment. Repeated exposure to a high potential over several days, while painless to the person in question, must be said to rather be an extreme measure and may do much more harm than good. 
     From this standpoint, the present inventor engaged in intensive studies to find a new type of electrotherapy and as a result found that it is necessary to limit the area treated (diseased area or pressure point) such as seen in shiatsu therapy and acupuncture and moxibustion and that it is suitable to give some sort of electrical stimulus to such an area treated. The problem is to &#34;give . . . electrical stimulus&#34;. For example, giving voltage or a current to the area treated, while the therapeutic significance is unknown, resembles local electric shock acting forcibly from the outside. 
     In view of this problem, the present inventor found that even patients complaining about such chronic symptoms of unknown cause can be said to be merely suffering from a slight collapse of their autonomic balance and arrived at the idea that it was sufficient to induce an autonomic recovery from this unbalance (unclear point). Accordingly, what should be done to the body from the outside is to &#34;sustain&#34; the procedure of &#34;guiding&#34; the treated area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, a new electrotherapy device realizing such sustained electrical guidance on a local area must meet the following requirements. 
     That is, the first object of the present invention is to provide a user friendly electrotherapy device not large in space taken and not requiring a human operator or special treatment time. 
     A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrotherapy device able to reduce the cost of treatment. 
     To attain the above objects, the present inventor arrived at the idea of using a skin adhering charge carrying pad as the new electrotherapy device. If this skin adhering charge carrying pad is directly or indirectly adhered to the treated area, the charge caused by the electrostatic induction is concentrated locally at the ski where the pad is adhered, so the electrostatic field penetrates deep through the skin directly underneath it. So long as the skin adhering charge carrying pad is adhered to the treated area, the above local electrostatic field will continue penetrating into the body. The amount of the charge of the skin adhering charge carrying pad, however, gradually decreases due to discharge into the air etc., so it is necessary to select one with a high sustainability of the charge in order to realize a practical skin adhering charge carrying pad. 
     Therefore, the present inventor studied various charge carrying substances and as a result discovered that it was best to use a soft material or elastic material comprised of a plastic insulating substance in which a powder of charcoal is dispersed as the skin adhering charge carrying pad. If a powder of charcoal of a conductor is dispersed in a plastic insulating substance, electrostatic electrons (e-) collect around the carbon (C) atoms and give a negative charge as a whole as for example in an ebonite rod. With a rigid body (hard substance) such as an ebonite rod, when adhered closely to the skin using a tape etc., there is a strong discomfort upon contact with the skin and therefore, from the viewpoint of sustainability, long term adhesion is impossible. 
     Due to this situation, the present inventor succeeded in eliminating the discomfort at the time of adhesion to the skin by using a soft kneaded material such as a soft material or elastic material comprised of a plastic insulating substance as a binder for the skin adhering charge carrying pad. In particular, if a plastic insulating substance such as a silicone rubber is used as the binder, the viscoelasticity and kneadability an be maintained as they are. Rekneading is possible at any time by the fingers etc. The friction from the kneading generates an abundant amount of static electricity. The electrons accumulate around the carbon atoms to generate a high charge, so regeneration of the charge carrying pad becomes easy and repeated use becomes possible. 
     Further, as the powder of charcoal, it is possible to use carbon black or other mineral charcoal. Experiments, however, show that when carbon black powder is dispersed in the kneading material, the amount of charge carried ends up halving in about one day just be standing in an air environment and therefore the sustainability of the charge is short. 
     Therefore, the present inventor studied the sustainability of the charge using various types of charcoal and discovered that the sustainability of the charge is longer if plant charcoal is used rather than mineral charcoal. The reason is unknown, but the sustainability of the charge becomes stronger when an inorganic element other than carbon is included as an impurity rather than carbon black of a high purity of carbon. Among these, mugwort charcoal has a high charge carrying property and high sustainability. 
     Further, the present inventor investigates the ratio of mixture of the powder of charcoal when using a silicone rubber as a binder, whereupon he discovered that the charge carrying property is saturated at about 5 wt %. In the case of mugwort charcoal, the charge carrying property is highest. Therefore, it is preferable to mix at least 5 wt % charcoal powder. Mixture of an extreme amount over 30% probably will lead to deterioration of the charge carrying property since the conductivity is increased. 
     The inventor conducted clinical experiments adhering a skin adhering charge carrying pad comprised of this soft kneaded material such a soft material or elastic material as an electrotherapy device to a diseased area or pressure point, whereupon numerous reports were received of good effects on various symptoms. 
     The above skin adhering charge carrying pad is adhered to the skin using a sticking plaster etc., but it is also possible to use a band with skin adhering charge carrying pads which is able to be attached without using a sticking plaster. This band with skin adhering charge carrying pads is comprised of an attachment band to which one or more of the skin adhering charge carrying pads are attached to at least one side, conductive wiring connected to the skin adhering charge carrying pads along said attachment band, and power terminals provided at part of the conductive wiring. By attaching this band to the body, it is possible to apply an electrostatic field to a plurality of diseased areas or pressure points and improve the ease of use. Further, if a charge is applied to the power terminals, it is possible to replenish the charges carried by the charge carrying pads through the conductive wiring and achieve sustainability of the electrostatic field. 
     Further, by using a charging device for replenishing the carried charge to the skin adhering charge carrying pads, it is possible to achieve the easy replenishment of the charge to charge carrying pads which have weakened in charge. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and features as well as other features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skin adhering charge carrying pad as an electrotherapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a graph of the time dependency of the residual charging potential difference for a kneaded material obtained by kneading silicone rubber and powder of various charcoals; 
     FIG. 3 is a graph of the dependency of the charging potential difference on the ratio by weight of the charcoal powder for a kneaded material obtained by kneading silicone rubber and powder of various charcoals; 
     FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the state where a sheet like kneading material using mugwort charcoal is suitably adjusted in size to the symptoms and adhered to various positions of the body; 
     FIG. 5(A) is a partial plane view of a band with skin adhering charge carrying pads according to Example 2 of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5(B) is a cut perspective view of the state cut away along the line B--B in FIG. 5(A); 
     FIG. 6 is a back view of a person wearing the band with the skin adhering charge carrying pads. 
     FIG. 7(A) is a sectional view of the layer structure of a band with skin adhering charge carrying pads shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7(B) is a sectional view of another layer structure. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, examples of the present invention will be explained based on the attached drawings. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skin adhering charge carrying pad of an electrotherapy device according to Example 1 of the present invention. This skin adhering charge carrying pad is obtained by using a silicone rubber (plastic insulating substance) as a binder, mixing a fine powder of charcoal into this, and mixing well to disperse the powder in it. For sale, it is shaped into the sheet like kneaded material 1 shown in FIG. 1 which is used by treating it into suitable sizes. In the middle of the kneading, the static electricity generated by the friction of the kneading is discharged. The front and reverse of the sheet like kneading material 1 shaped into a thin sheet are covered by insulating films 2a and 2b with perforations for division. Note that it is also possible to use latex or another vulcanized rubber as the binder. 
     The type of the power of charcoal mixed together with the silicone rubber (RTVKE45 made by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo Inc.) is selected from carbon black, oak charcoal, bamboo charcoal, and mugwort charcoal. Consideration is given to the relationship between the time elapsed from a reference point of 10 hours after the end of the kneading and the potential difference due to the charging. The time 10 hours after the end of the kneading is used as a reference point because the charge carried is too strong directly after kneading and measurement ends up becoming impossible or unstable. For the measurement, use is made of a millivolt potential difference meter, that is, a D-13 type measurer made by Horiba Seisakusho (Glass Electrode ORP Meter). 
     As shown in the graph of FIG. 2, the residual charge potential difference (mV) of carbon black follows substantially the same trend as the case of just silicone rubber (RTVKE45) and ends up attenuating down to 1/10 after the elapse of one day. With oak charcoal, bamboo charcoal, and mugwort charcoal, however, there is no sudden attenuation and a gradual attenuation is followed so a sustainability of charge of several months is observed. In particular, with mugwort charcoal, the rate of attenuation is extremely low. It is learned that it has the greatest sustainability of charge among all plant charcoal. 
     Further, consideration was given to the dependency of the charge carried on the charcoal powder content. FIG. 2 shows the charge potential difference at the point of time 10 hours after the end of kneading with respect to the percent weight of fine powder charcoal mixed into the silicone rubber (RTVKE45 made by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo Inc.). In the case of all of the charcoal powder, it was learned that the charge carrying property was saturated at about 5 wt %. Among these, the charge carrying property was highest in the case of mugwort charcoal. Therefore, as the skin adhering charge carrying pad, it is desirable to mix in 5 wt % of charcoal powder. In this experiment, the amount mixed in was stopped at 30 wt %. If the ratio is increased, probably the charge carrying property will conversely deteriorate since the conductivity is increased. 
     The sheet like kneading material 1 using mugwort charcoal is torn into a suitable size and adhered by sticky plaster etc. to the treated area (diseased areas or pressure point) shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the symptoms. It may be directly brought into contact with the skin as well. Further, it may be adhered through gauze, nonwoven fabric, paper, etc. It may be affixed using adhesive tape etc. When clinical experiments were performed, many reports were obtained of good effects regarding various symptoms. Examples of the reports are given below. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________(Runny Nose)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________A1     Runny nose due               1         Stopped immediately  to coldA2     Suffered from               1         Stopped immediately  constant runny         (started again after  nose                   removal)A3     Suffered from               1         Stopped immediately  runny nose  during tripA4     Runny nose due               1         Stopped immediately  to coldA5     Runny nose   1         Stopped when adhered,                         but appeared when                         removed______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________(Coughs)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________B1     Suffered from               6         Stopped when adhered  cough due to coldB2     Suffered from               6         No more coughing  night time  coughing, and  insufficient sleep  due to coldB3     Suffered from               6         Coughing stopped.  night time             Started again when  coughing due to        removed in morning  coldB4     Coughing when               6         No more coughing even  talking                if talkingB5     Suffered from               6         No more coughing,  coughing when          phone calls possible  talking on phone______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________(Sore Throat)                AdheredPatient  Symptoms    position  Results______________________________________C1       Coughing and                6         Sore throat relieved    sore throat due       slightly earlier    to coldC2       Coughing and                6         Sore throat relieved    sore throat due       slightly earlier    to coldC3       Coughing and                6         Sore throat appeared to    sore throat due       be relieved slightly    to cold               earlierC4       Coughing and                6         Coughing relieved    sore throat due       earlier. Sore throat    to cold               when relieved______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________(Aching Shoulders)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________D1     Aching shoulders               3         Appears to have  due to simple          worked. Eased when  fatigue                reattachedD2     Aching shoulders               3         No more need for  due to simple          shoulder massage  fatigueD3     Aching shoulders               3         Eased, so adhered  due to simple          continuously every day  fatigueD4     Aching shoulders               3         Became easier in about  due to simple          three hours after being  fatigue,               widely adhered  physically well  fleshedD5     Aching shoulders               3         Became easier  due to simple  fatigue,  physically well  fleshedD6     Aching shoulders               3 and 8   Shoulders became  due to office          lighter in about 40  work                   minutesD7     Aching shoulders               3 and 8   Aching shoulders  due to office          became no longer  work                   noticeableD8     Aching shoulders               3         Adhered for about one  due to simple          hour, then ache no  fatigue                longer noticeableD9     Baker        3         Worked on one                         shoulder. Became                         better when reattached______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________(Headache)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________E1     Could not sleep               2         Appears to have  due to headache        worked in about 30                         minutes. Learned when                         waking up in morningE2     Took pain    2         Relief obtained in 20 to  reliever every         30 minutes  dayE3     Took pain    2 and 3   Believed to have come  reliever every         from shoulders. When  day                    attached to 3 in                         addition to 2, ache                         relieved in about 30                         minutesE4     Head suddenly               2         Immediately cured  began aching______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________(Knee Pain)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________F1     Pain starting five               7         Pain relieved over  years ago              nightF2     Pain in right               7         Pain immediately  knee                   relievedF3     Pain in left knee               7         Pain relieved  and could not  sleep at nightF4     Pain in both 7         Pain relieved in one  knees,                 day  hospitalizationF5     Pain in right               7         Pain relieved in one  knee                   dayF6     Over weight, 7         Pain relieved in about  knee pain when         two days, work possible  workingF7     Both knees   7         Pain disappeared when  injured in             waking up, could sit  accident five          cross-legged  years agoF8     Ankles painful               10 and 11 No fatigue next day,  for long period        work possible______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 7______________________________________(Backache)                AdheredPatient  Symptoms    position   Results______________________________________G1       Hospitalization                9          Backache relieved,    for hernia seven       numbing weakened    years ago,    backache,    numbing of left    leg______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 8______________________________________(Others)               AdheredPatient  Symptoms     position  Results______________________________________H1     Upset stomach               4         Symptoms relieved  and vomiting           after about 20 minutes  feeling after  mealsH2     Acute stomach               5         Returned to normal  ache                   after about 30 minutes                         and able to eat.H3     Suffered from               Ear lobe  Complete relieved in 30  ear ache               minutes.H4     Constipated and               5         Medicine became  ingested               unnecessary and bowel  medicine daily         movement became                         dailyH5     Diarrhea     5         Diarrhea conditions  conditions             disappeared  continuedH6     Constipation 5         No change______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 2 
     FIG. 5(A) is a partial plane view of a band with skin adhering charge carrying pads according to Example 2 of the present invention, FIG. 5(B) is a cutaway view showing the state cut along the line B--B in FIG. 5(A), and FIG. 6 is a back view of the human body with a band with skin adhering charge carrying pads attached. 
     The band 10 with skin adhering charge carrying pads of this example uses substantially round skin adhering charge carrying pads 5 (5a to 5i) obtained by dividing the sheet like kneading material 1 according to Example 1 into suitable sizes. That is, the band 10 with skin adhering charge carrying pads it comprised of a flexible attachment band 6 able to be wrapped around the waist, a thin layer like conductive wiring 7 laid around one side (reverse side) of the attachment band 6, skin adhering charge carrying pads 5a to 5i attached at separate locations at predetermined portions of the conductive wiring 7, and a protective fabric 8 covering the charge carrying pads 5a to 5i and the conductive wiring 7. The charge carrying pads 5a to 5i are arranged at locations corresponding to the pressure points of the waist. The conductive wiring 7 is power wiring for replenishing the charge of the charge carrying pads 5a to 5i. Rivet shaped power terminals 9 are provided at parts of the same. 
     Such a band 10 with skin adhering charge carrying pads is wrapped around the waist so that the charge carrying pads 5a to 5i correspond to the pressure points of the waist. The charge carrying pads 5a to 5i carry a charge, so the charge due to the electrostatic induction collects locally at the skin of the adhered portions, so the electrostatic field penetrates deep below the skin directly beneath the same. When the attachment time becomes longer, the charge carrying pads 5a to 5i lose the charge and the electrostatic field gradually weakens. In such a case, the electrostatic field can be sustained by bringing a negative electrode of a charging device into contact with the power terminal 9 and injecting a negative charge to replenish the charge of the charge carrying pads 5a to 5i. 
     The charging device, when a commercial power supply is used, may be comprised of a rectifier diode circuit (for example, a diode bridge circuit) and a smoothing capacitor. A battery and capacitor are also acceptable. The charge carrying pad 5 and the skin where it is adhered constitute a type of capacitor, so it may also be constituted by a piezoelectric element and rectifier diode rectifying the pulse current. 
     The band 10 with skin adhering charge carrying pads of this example, as shown in FIG. 7(A), is structured with the engagement projections 7a of the conductive wiring 7 fit in the engagement holes 6a of the flexible attachment belt 6. Charge carrying pads 6 of unnecessary locations on the conductive wiring 7 may be removed. Further, the number of charge carrying pads 5 may be increased as well. The invention is not limited to this structure. As shown in FIG. 7(B), it may be a sandwiched layer structure comprised of a conductive wiring 7 covered by an attachment belt 16 and 16 on the two sides, wherein the engagement projections 15a of the charge carrying pads 15 are fit with the engagement holes 16a. 
     Note that the invention is not limited to just the above charge carrying pads. For example, it is possible to use an electrotherapy device to which magnetic pads (magnetic granules) are attached as well. 
     As explained above, the present invention is characterized by using a skin adhering charge carrying pad as a new electrotherapy device and using a kneading material such as a soft material or elastic material comprised of a plastic insulating substance in which a powder of charcoal is dispersed as a skin adhering charge carrying pad. The following distinctive effects were exhibited. 
     (1) It is possible to continuously adhere pads to suitable locations on the body according to the symptoms and possible to expect an excellent result effective against various symptoms due to the local action of the charge carrying pads. It is possible to provide a handy, user friendly electrotherapy device. Further, it is possible to realize a reduction in the treatment costs. In particular, since a kneading material such as a soft material or elastic material using a plastic insulating material as a binder is used as the skin adhering charge carrying pad, it is possible to eliminate the discomfort at the time of adhesion to the skin. 
     (2) If plant charcoal is used as the powder of charcoal, the sustainability of the charge becomes longer. 
     (3) In particular, with mugwort charcoal, the charge carrying pad has a high charge and high sustainability. 
     (4) If a silicone rubber plastic insulating substance is used as a binder, the viscoelasticity and kneadability can be maintained as they are. Rekneading becomes possible at any time by the fingers etc. A large amount of static electricity is generated by he friction at the time of kneading, so easy recharging of the charge carrying pads is possible and repeated use becomes possible. 
     (5) If more than 5 wt % of charcoal powder is intermixed, the chargeability becomes higher. 
     (6) By attaching the band with skin adhering charge carrying pads to the body, it is possible to apply an electrostatic field to a plurality if locations of diseased areas or pressure points and improve the ease of use. Further, if a charge is applied to the power terminals, it is possible to replenish the charge carried by the charge carrying pads through the conductive wiring and possible to achieve sustainability of the electrostatic field. 
     (7) By using a charging device for replenishing the charge carried by the skin adhering charge carrying pads, it is possible to achieve easy replenishing of the charges.