Patent Publication Number: US-2003233047-A1

Title: Dual-purpose medical curing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a dual-purpose medical curing device. More particularly, this invention relates to a blood pressure measurement device capable of stimulating acupuncture points of a user, thereby preventing heart disease.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] As lifestyle changes rapidly, people live in modern environment are facing a great deal of stress everyday. Stress brings about a lot of bad habits like unhealthy eating, smoking and drinking that can all lead to heart disease. Heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the stressed society, is any condition that causes heart to malfunction. When the words “heart disease” are used generically, what people are usually referring to is Coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attacks and angina, ultimately caused by Atherosclerosis. But there are a wide range of other diseases of the heart, for example, Congestive Heart Failure, Valvular Heart Disease—Diseases of the heart valves, Cardiac Arrhythmias—Irregular heartbeats, Diseases of the Pericardium (sac around the heart), Diseases of the Myocardium (heart muscle), Endocarditis (infection of a heart valve), Congenital Heart Disease—birth defects of the heart.  
       [0005] Researchers have been racing to seek approaches to avoiding heart disease. In eastern, one of these approaches is an acupuncture point caring apparatus that generates far infrared radiation, electromagnetic wave, or implementing direct massage to Nei Guan (Inner Pass) acupuncture point of one&#39;s arm. As known in the art, Nei Guan (Inner Pass) acupuncture point belongs to so-called acupuncture points of pericardium channel system. Referring to FIG. 9, according to the Chinese medicine, pericardium channel of hand jue-yin is one of the 12 primary channels (also known as meridians or jing-luo) of human body. The pericardium channel of hand jue-yin is a channel in relation to human heart system. It is believed that frequently massaging the acupuncture point of pericardium channel comes out positive effects on preventing or curing certain heart disease. However, the prior art acupuncture point caring apparatus as mentioned has a shortcoming that it cannot measure and monitor a patient&#39;s (or tester&#39;s) blood pressure at the same time while he or she is using this kind of medical device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is therefore the primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a dual-purpose medical curing device. The dual-purpose medical curing device of this invention comprises: a main casing; a control circuit capable of executing blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation disposed inside the main casing; a bladder connected to or embedded in the main casing, the bladder being electrically connected to the control circuit; and a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the control circuit. The plurality of electrodes are attached to skin of a tester&#39;s arm over acupuncture point of pericardium channel and proximity through a conductive line or a wristlet, by doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time, thereby preventing heart disease.  
       [0007] Another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a dual-purpose medical curing device that is capable of easing emotional tension and curing tachycardia, arrhythmia, blood pressure variation, dyspepsia.  
       [0008] Still another objective of the claimed invention is to provide a dual-purpose medical curing device that has different structures including arm-integrated type or arm-separated type, wrist-integrated type or wrist-separated type, finger-integrated type or finger-separated type.  
       [0009] These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram according to the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram according to the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a typical view according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a typical view according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a typical view according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a typical view according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a typical view according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating acupuncture points of pericardium channel system according to Chinese medicine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0020] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, this invention provides a dual-purpose medical device. As shown in figures, a main casing  20  is provided. Inside the casing  20  there is arranged a control circuit as illustrated in FIG. 2. The control circuit simultaneously executes blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point caring. More specifically, the control circuit is a low frequency electric stimulation circuit or a mid-frequency stimulation circuit.  
     [0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit comprises a power circuit  1 , a pressure sensor  2 , an amplifying circuit  3 , a analogy/digital transform circuit  4 , a display unit  5 , a driving circuit  6 , a microprocessor  7 , a memory unit  12 , button set  13 , a pulse width modulation circuit  14 , an amplifying circuit  15 , and a power switching circuit  16 .  
     [0022] As seen in FIG. 2, the power circuit  1  is comprised of a transistor Q 1 , resist R 1 , diode ZD 1 , capacitors C 1  and C 2 , and battery BT. The power circuit  1  provides the circuit unit with proper work voltage.  
     [0023] The pressure sensor  2  is used to sense pressure inside a bladder or cuff  10 .  
     [0024] The amplifying circuit  3  is comprised of amplifiers U 6 A to U 6 D, resists R 24  to R 32 . The amplifying circuit  3  is electrically connected to the pressure sensor  2 . The signals passed from the pressure sensor  2  are amplified by the amplifying circuit  3 .  
     [0025] The analogy/digital transform circuit  4  is comprised of ICU 8 , capacitor C 8 , resists R 21  to R 23 , VR 1 . The analogy/digital transform circuit  4  is electrically connected to output terminal of the amplifying circuit  3 . The analogy/digital transform circuit  4  is used to transfer the amplified signals from the amplifying circuit  3  into digital signals.  
     [0026] The display unit  5  is a liquid crystal display (LCD) used to display sensed blood pressure reading.  
     [0027] The driving circuit  6  is comprised of driver ICs U 2  to U 5  and resists R 2  to R 16 . The driving circuit  6  is electrically connected to the display unit  5  for driving the display unit  5 .  
     [0028] The microprocessor  7  is comprised of control IC U 1 , quartz crystal X 1 , capacitor C 5 , C 6 , C 7 , and resist R 25 . The microprocessor  7  is electrically connected to power circuit  1 , analogy/digital transform circuit  4 , and driving circuit  6 . The input port of the microprocessor  7  is connected with a motor  8  and a magnetic valve  9 . The motor  8  is used to pump air into the bladder  10  through a conduit. A deflating device  11  is provided between the bladder  10  and the magnetic valve  9 . The microprocessor  7  is operated according to input signals.  
     [0029] The memory  12  is comprised of a memory IC U 7 , which is electrically connected to the microprocessor  7  for accessing or storing data.  
     [0030] The button set  13  is comprised of switching devices SWI to SW 6 . The button set  13  is connected with the microprocessor  7 .  
     [0031] The pulse width modulation circuit  14  is comprised of transistor Q 4 , diode Dl, capacitor C 3 , inductor L 3 , and resist R 17 . The pulse width modulation circuit  14  is electrically connected to output port of the microprocessor  7  for adjusting output strength of the electric stimulation circuit.  
     [0032] The amplifying circuit  15  is comprised of transistors Q 5 , Q 6 , resist R 18 , VR 2 . The amplifying circuit  15  is connected with output ports of the microprocessor  7  and the pulse width modulation circuit  14 . The amplifying circuit  15  is controlled by the microprocessor  7  and is used to amplify output signals from the pulse width modulation circuit  14 .  
     [0033] The power switching circuit  16  is comprised of coil Tr and capacitor C 4 . The power switching circuit  16  is electrically connected to output end of the amplifying circuit  15 . The power switching circuit  16  is used to transform the voltage signals from the amplifying circuit  15  into high voltage signals.  
     [0034] Electrode  17  is attached to skin of one&#39;s arm over the acupuncture point of pericardium channel and proximity. The electrode  17  is electrically connected with the power switching circuit  16  and is powered by the power switching circuit  16  thereby providing the acupuncture point of pericardium channel with a proper stimulation current.  
     [0035] Referring to FIG. 3, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bladder  10  is banded around a tester&#39;s arm. Electrodes  17  are attached to skin of the tester&#39;s arm over the acupuncture point of pericardium channel. Electrodes  17  are electrically connected to conductive line  18 . By doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time. Or, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done separately.  
     [0036] Referring to FIG. 4, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes  17  are embedded in the bladder wristlet  30 . More specifically, the electrodes  17  are disposed on the interior surface of the bladder  30  such that when the bladder wristlet  30  is banded around a tester&#39;s arm or wrist, the electrodes  17  are able to contact the tester&#39;s skin. By doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time. Or, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done separately.  
     [0037] Referring to FIG. 5, according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wristlet  40  incorporating with several electrodes  17  is connected to the main casing  20 . In use, the wristlet  40  is banded around a tester&#39;s arm near his or her wrist. The electrodes  17  embedded in the wristlet  40  are in contact with skin of the tester&#39;s arm. A bladder  10  is banded around the tester&#39;s upper arm as illustrated. By doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time. Or, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done separately.  
     [0038] Referring to FIG. 6, according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main casing  20  is attached to the wristlet  30 . The wristlet  30  incorporates with several electrodes on the interior surface of the wristlet  30 . In use, the wristlet  30  is banded around a tester&#39;s arm near his or her wrist. The electrodes  17  embedded in the wristlet  40  are in contact with acupuncture point of pericardium channel of the tester&#39;s arm. By doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time. Or, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done separately.  
     [0039] Referring to FIG. 7, the control circuit may be an electromagnetic wave stimulation circuit. As illustrated, the amplifying circuit  15 ′ is comprised of a transistor Q 6 , resist R 18 . The power switching circuit  16 ′ is comprised of coil L 4  and capacitor CP.  
     [0040] Referring to FIG. 8, the bladder  10  may be stored inside the main casing  20 . In use, a tester inserts his finger into the bladder  10  to measure his blood pressure. At the same time, electrodes (not shown in this figure) are attached to skin of the tester&#39;s arm over the acupuncture point of pericardium channel. The electrodes are electrically connected to a conductive line. By doing this, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done at the same time. Or, the blood pressure measurement and acupuncture point stimulation can be done separately.  
     [0041] To sum up, this invention presents several advantages as follows:  
     [0042] 1. Heart disease can be prevented or curing by applying therapy by aid of the stimulation function of this invention.  
     [0043] 2. Blood pressure can be monitored at the same time.  
     [0044] 3. By stimulating acupuncture point of pericardium channel with a proper stimulation current, tachycardia, arrhythmia, blood pressure variation, dyspepsia can be cured.  
     [0045] 4. There are various user-friendly structures available.  
     [0046] They are arm-integrated type or arm-separated type, wrist-integrated type or wrist-separated type, finger-integrated type or finger-separated type.  
     [0047] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, the RAM and the flash memory may be replaced with other similar memory devices known in the art. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.