Abstract:
A detection method for an ultrasonic treatment device is disclosed. A current value presently flowing through an output circuit of the ultrasonic treatment device is detected when a probe of the ultrasonic treatment device is in contact with a surface of a user&#39;s skin. Whether or not the change in the current values maintains within a predetermined current error range is determined, and whether or not a sampling holding time during which the change in the current values maintains within the current error range exceeds a predetermined time reference value is also determined. When the probe is determined to be under abnormal conditions according to the current error range, time reference value and the upper limit value of working time, the probe is stopped from generating ultrasonic energy, thereby lowering the risks for the user and preventing the user from injuries.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the design for safely using an ultrasonic treatment device, and particularly to a detection method for an ultrasonic treatment device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventional heat therapy for treatments of bone, muscle and other sports injuries is nothing more than covering injuries with a hot towel, steaming, or directly soaking the injured parts in hot water. However, these methods can only conduct the heat to the surface of the skin, thus is unable to conduct the heat deeply into the muscle and bone, particularly to treat maladies of the joints and deep seated muscles. 
         [0003]    Therefore, the industry has developed an ultrasonic treatment device that uses the resonance principles of ultrasonic waves to transfer heat into the bones and muscles. The ultrasonic wave is transferred to the injured bones, muscles or joints to enhance the metabolism of the bodies that can reduce and alleviate the pains and cure the parts. Moreover, the ultrasonic wave can promote the permeation of the ointment into the muscles and bones that is helpful to treatment. 
         [0004]    Ultrasonic treatment devices in the prior art mainly comprise a probe that contacts the surface of the skin and generates ultrasonic energy. Ultrasonic treatment devices are effective in medical applications, but in contrast, may also cause risks and injuries, thus a physician&#39;s approval is generally needed for this form of treatment to be used. If the user is not a specialist, they are unable to safely and effectively use the ultrasonic treatment device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the foregoing, there are many dangers and risks when using an ultrasonic treatment device. The biggest problem is being unable to use the device at a fixed point for a long period of time. The device must be continuously maintained in a state of motion or sliding during use. If left in contact in the same position for a long period of time, the wave energy accumulated would cause subcutaneous tissue or organs to be injured. Furthermore, when the energy of the ultrasonic treatment device is under a no-load condition (zero load), the energy in the probe is unable to dissipate, resulting in the heating up of the probe which could very easily cause burns when a user is not paying attention. 
         [0006]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an detection method for an ultrasonic treatment device to prevent the&#39;user from injuries or risks during use of the device, enabling the user to safely and effectively use the ultrasonic treatment device. 
         [0007]    The solution adopted in the present invention is to provide a detection method for an ultrasonic treatment device. A current value presently flowing through an output circuit of the ultrasonic treatment device is detected when a probe of the ultrasonic treatment device is in contact with a surface of a user&#39;s skin. Whether or not a change in the current values maintains within a predetermined current error range is determined, and whether or not a sampling holding time during which the change in the current values maintains within the current error range exceeds a predetermined time reference value is also determined. When the probe is determined to be under abnormal conditions according to the current error range, time reference value and the upper limit value of working, the probe is stopped from generating ultrasonic energy, thereby lowering the risks for the user and preventing the user from injuries. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment, whether or not the change in the current values maintains within the current error range Rt is determined by first comparing the detected current value with a current value detected from the last sampling in order to obtain a current change. Then, it is determined whether or not the current change is smaller than the current error range and whether or not the ultrasonic energy should be stopped. 
         [0009]    The techniques employed by the present invention can determine whether or not the probe of the ultrasonic treatment device is in motion or sliding according to set parameters during use, whether or not it is staying at a point unmoving for a long period of time, or if it is not in contact with the surface of the skin causing a zero load to happen. The moment it is determined that any of the above is at risk to the user or will cause injuries, the ultrasonic energy is stopped or paused from being emitted to prevent the user from injuries or danger during use of the device. Therefore, the user is able to safely and effectively use the ultrasonic treatment device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a control circuit of an ultrasonic treatment device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a control flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a control flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a control circuit of an ultrasonic treatment device  100 . The ultrasonic treatment device  100  comprises a central control unit  1 , a power supply  2 , an oscillator  3 , an output circuit  4 , and a current detection circuit  5 . 
         [0014]    The central control unit  1  controls the entire ultrasonic treatment device and is connected to a voltage regulator  11 , a display  12 , an input unit  13 , a function setting unit  14 , and an interrupt loop  15 . The voltage regulator H is connected to the power supply  2  to regulate an input power source V provided by the power supply  2 , and then supply the input power source V to the central control unit  1 . The display  12  provides the function for displaying images, graphics, data, information, etc. The input unit  13  provides input commands. The function setting unit  14  enables the setting of high/low mode, the timer, and the memory for emitting the ultrasonic energy. The interrupt loop  15  provides various interrupt timing. 
         [0015]    The oscillator  3  is connected to the central control unit  1  via the oscillator switch loop  31  and generates a sequence of oscillator signals S to the output circuit  4 . The output circuit  4  receives the oscillator signals S and generates ultrasonic energy through a probe  41 . 
         [0016]    The current detection circuit  5  is connected to the output circuit  4  via the oscillator switch loop  31  and the oscillator  3 , and is also connected to the central control unit  1  via the signal converting circuit  51 . The current detection circuit  5  is used to detect a current value A N  flowing through the output circuit  4 , which is converted by the signal converting circuit  51  into a current signal Fb and then sent to the central control unit  1 . At this point, the central control unit  1 , the interrupt loop  15 , the current detection circuit  5 , and the signal converting circuit  51  forms an intelligent detection loop  6  to carry out safety detection during use. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a control flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Please also refer to  FIG. 1 . The ultrasonic treatment device is first activated by supplying an input power source V from the power supply  2  (Step  101 ). Before starting ultrasonic therapy, firstly the necessary parameters are set to the ultrasonic treatment device, wherein the parameters comprise a current error range Rt, a time reference value T 0 , and an upper limit value for working time Tw 0  (Step  102 ). These parameters can be set by the input unit  13 , and can also be pre-stored into a memory. After completing the settings, the oscillator  3  is activated, which generates the oscillator signals S to the output circuit  4  and then to the probe  41  to generate the ultrasonic energy (Step  103 ). At this point, the interrupt loop  15  simultaneously starts timing and obtaining the sampling working time Tw during which the ultrasonic energy is generated (Step  104 ). 
         [0018]    After the ultrasonic energy is generated from the probe  41 , detection of a load is first carried out to determine whether or not the probe  41 - is in contact with a surface of a skin (Step  105 ). During practical application, from the changes in the current values A N  flowing through the output circuit  4  detected by the current detection circuit  5 , it is able to determine whether or not the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin. The detected current value A N  when the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin is different from that when the probe  41  is not in contact with the surface. By applying this principle, it can determine whether or not the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin. Additionally, when the probe  41  is under a no-load condition (not in contact with the surface of the skin), the wave energy is unable to dissipate and causes a high temperature. Therefore, by detecting a temperature of the probe  41 , it is able to determine whether or not the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin. 
         [0019]    When it is determined that the probe  41  is not in contact with the surface of the skin, the probe  41  is stopped or paused from generating ultrasonic energy. This is achieved by the central control unit  1  which generates a control signal SO to the oscillator switch loop  31  and causes the oscillator switch loop  31  to turn to an open state which disables the oscillator  3 , thereby stopping or pausing the probe  41  from generating ultrasonic energy. Of course, the input power source V provided by the power supply  2  can also be directly cut off to stop the generation of ultrasonic energy. 
         [0020]    When it is determined that the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin, a motion detection is performed. The method for motion detection comprises firstly, using the current detection circuit  5  to detect the current value A N  presently flowing through the output circuit  4  (Step  106 ), and then determining whether or not the changes in the detected current value A N  are maintained within the current error range Rt (Step  107 ). 
         [0021]    When the ultrasonic treatment device  100  performs oscillations and generates ultrasonic energy, the changes in loads causes the current values A N  to change significantly. According to this principle, the current error range Rt preset within the ultrasonic treatment device becomes the reference value. If the change in the detected current values A N  exceed the current error range Rt, the range of change in the current value A N  is wide enough, thereby indicating that the probe  41  is maintained in a state of motion or sliding. If the change in the detected current values A N  stays within the current error range Rt, this indicates that the probe  41  is not moving or sliding and is staying in the same position for a long period of time. 
         [0022]    In the present embodiment, whether or not the change in the current values A N  are maintained within the current error range Rt is determined by first comparing the detected current value A N  with a current value A N-1  detected from the last sampling in order to obtain a current change ΔA N  (Step  107   a ). Then, it is determined whether or not the current change ΔA N  is smaller than the current error range Rt (Step  107   b ). Comparing the results of the present sample and the last sample allows the exclusion of some errors caused by variables affected by time, thereby enabling more accurate determination. Moreover, the current error range Rt is set in the central control unit  1  which determines the changes of the current values A N . Besides, by means of the circuit design, the signal converting circuit  51  is also used to compare the changes in the current values A N  with the current error range Rt while a signal is converted by the signal converting circuit  51 . Then, the current condition signal Fb fed from the signal converting circuit  51  is transmitted to the central control unit  1  to be subsequently determined. 
         [0023]    When the changes in the detected current value A N  exceed the current error range Rt (staying in a state of motion or sliding), it is determined whether or not the sampling working time Tw during which the ultrasonic energy is generated from the probe  41  obtained by the interrupt loop  15  reaches a predetermined upper limit value for working time Tw 0  (Step  108 ). When the sampling working time Tw during which the ultrasonic energy is generated from the probe  41  reaches the upper limit value for working time Tw 0 , the probe  41  is stopped from generating ultrasonic energy to prevent the excessive working time that would cause accidents. The probe  41  is stopped by disabling the oscillator  3  by the central control unit  1 , and also by directly cutting off the input power source V provided by the power supply  2 . 
         [0024]    When the detected changes in the current value A N  are maintained within the current error range Rt (not in motion or sliding), it is determined whether or not the sampling holding time T during which the change in the current values A N  maintained within the current error range Rt exceeds the time reference value T 0  (Step  109 ). This can be achieved by obtaining the sampling holding time T by the interrupt loop  15  (Step  109   a ), and by determining whether or not the sampling holding time T exceeds the time reference value T 0  by the central control unit  1  (Step  109   b ). When the sampling holding time T is determined to exceed the time reference value T 0 , the probe  41  is stopped from generating ultrasonic energy (Step  110 ) to prevent the probe  41  from staying in contact in the same position for a long period of time, letting wave energy build up, and cause injuries. The probe  411  is stopped by disabling the oscillator  3  by the central control unit  1 , and also by directly cutting off the input power source V provided by the power supply  2 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a control flowchart of according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The steps of this embodiment are essentially the same as that of the aforementioned first embodiment, thus the same steps are designated with the same reference numerals. The difference is that the step for determining whether or not the probe  41  is in contact with the surface of the skin is eliminated, and the subsequent detection of motion or sliding is proceeded. 
         [0026]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, as well as the best modes for carrying out the present invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.