U.S. patent number 3,885,573 [Application Number 05/342,938] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-27 for therapeutical apparatus applying superposed output of dc and ac voltages.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hakuju Institute for Health Science Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Akikuni Hara.
United States Patent |
3,885,573 |
Hara |
May 27, 1975 |
Therapeutical apparatus applying superposed output of DC and AC
voltages
Abstract
A therapeutical apparatus applying a superposed output of DC and
AC voltages to a human body comprising a voltage generating part
producing a superposed output of DC and AC voltages and an electric
field forming part including two sheets of parallel electrodes to
which said output is applied, wherein said superposed output of DC
and AC voltages is applied to the human body disposed in the
electric field forming part to receive electrical and therapeutical
treatment.
Inventors: |
Hara; Akikuni (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Hakuju Institute for Health Science
Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
23343941 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/342,938 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N
1/40 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61N
1/40 (20060101); A61n 001/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/1C,2.1R,419R,420,421,423 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
919,338 |
|
Feb 1963 |
|
GB |
|
1,317,060 |
|
Dec 1962 |
|
FR |
|
1,065,950 |
|
Sep 1959 |
|
DT |
|
1,063,293 |
|
Aug 1959 |
|
DT |
|
Other References
Buchsbaum "Electronic World," Sept., 1963, pp. 27-29..
|
Primary Examiner: Kamm; William E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Larson, Taylor & Hinds
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A therapeutic treatment apparatus utilizing superimposed DC and
AC voltages, said apparatus comprising: therapeutic voltage
generating means for generating an output comprising superimposed
DC and AC voltages, means for producing a therapeutic electric
field including first and second parallel opposed electrodes, and
means for connecting the output of said therapeutic voltage
generating means to said electrodes, said therapeutic voltage
generating means including transformer means comprising a primary
winding adapted to be connected to an AC power source, and first
and second secondary windings, one of said secondary windings
forming an AC generating circuit, a rectifier means, means for
connecting said rectifier means to the other of said secondary
windings so as to form a DC generating circuit, and means for
connecting said DC generating circuit to said AC generating circuit
in a mutually superimposed relationship to therapeutic voltage
terminals so that an output comprising superimposed DC and AC
voltages is presented at said terminals, said therapeutic voltage
terminals being connected respectively to said opposed electrodes
of said therapeutic electric field producing means and one of said
electrodes being adapted to be connected to the subject for
therapeutic treatment, the AC voltage presented at said terminals
being a low AC voltage as compared to the AC voltage used in
conventional therapeutic treatment apparatus.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said electrodes
is adapted to be mounted on an insulator on a ceiling and the other
of said electrodes is adapted to be in contact with the subject for
therapeutic treatment.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrode which is
adapted to be in contact with the subject is mounted on an
insulated table, the other of said electrodes being disposed above
and in opposed relationship to the first mentioned electrode, said
apparatus further including means for grounding said further
electrode and said voltage generating means.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes comprise
spaced parallel plates.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transformer means
comprises first and second transformers, said primary winding and
said first secondary winding forming the primary and secondary
windings of said first transformer and a further primary winding
and said secondary winding forming the primary and secondary
windings of said second transformer, each of said transformers
including an auto-transformer on the primary side thereof and one
of said transformers including, on the secondary side thereof,
connected in the secondary circuit with said rectifier means, a
protective resistor, a condenser connected across said rectifier
means, and a polarity reversing switch connected to the output of
said rectifier means, the secondary side of said first transformer
being connected in series with the secondary side of said second
transformer.
Description
This invention relates to an electrical apparatus for
therapeutically treating a human body, which comprises an output
voltage generating part in which an AC voltage and a DC voltage can
be superposed in a predetermined proportion and an electric field
forming part including two sheets of opposite parallel electrodes,
wherein the superposed output of DC and AC voltages which is fixed
in polarity is applied to the human body entered into the electric
field forming part to make effective electrical and therapeutical
treatment of the human body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known for the therapeutical treatment of the human body by
applying an electric voltage, the present inventor has proposed an
apparatus which has previously been incorporated in Japanese Pat.
No. 284,946 and Japanese Pat. No. 284,947.
These inventions are generally intended to provide an apparatus
which can therapeutically treat the human body disposed above or
beneath the insulated electrodes applying an AC high voltage of
approximately 3,000 V to 1,000,000 V through a condenser of a
capacitance as predetermined.
The therapeutical treatment by means of the described apparatus is
primarily based on the known principle that the human body as the
subject of the therapeutical treatment is charged with an electric
current from an AC electric field of a high voltage and caused
variation in the internal organs or systems of the body and in the
blood of the human body calcium ions would increase and magnesium
and phosphor decrease.
It is well known that unhealthy body is reduced in the amount of
calcium ions and increased in that of magnesium and phosphor. The
described known apparatus is provided to increase calcium ions and
decrease magnesium and phosphor in the blood by charging a high AC
voltage to the unhealthy body. Such unhealthy body is thereby
favorably affected and whose cells of organs are reactivated so as
to cause the sickness of the body to be remedied. However the
apparatus in use of a high AC voltage of the type as described has
involved the problem of reaction to occur during the treatment.
Such reaction during the therapeutical treatment means a particular
transient reactionary phenomenon which occurs in the course of
recovery from sickness, that is, pains in sick portions or physical
fatigue.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel apparatus for therapeutical
treatment which has overcome the problems involved in the
conventional apparatus for therapeutical treatment such as caused
from charging AC high voltage. The novel construction of the
apparatus according to the invention comprises a voltage generating
part producing a superposed output of DC and AC voltages, and two
sheets of opposite electrodes to be applied such superposed output
of DC and AC voltages. The human body entered said therapeutical
electrical field is served electrical and therapeutical treatment
by being applied with the superposed output of DC and AC voltages
which is fixed in polarity by DC voltage.
Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which is directed to the effective therapeutical
treatment of the human body by charging a superposed output of DC
and AC voltages without a danger to the human body.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which
can perform the effective electrical and therapeutical treatment
most adapted to the human body by applying a superposed output of
DC and AC voltages of a predetermined proportion.
Another object of the invention consists in an apparatus capable of
providing the effective electrical and therapeutical treatment to
the human body not rendering unpleasing reaction to the body during
treatment by conventional use of an AC high voltage.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which by
use of a low AC voltage enables an effective electrical and
therapeutical treatment of the human body to obtain the same effect
as desired by means of conventional AC high voltage.
These objects may be attained by utilizing various parts of the
apparatus and operation thereof as illustrated in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings and in the description of
the specification.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, a therapeutic
treatment apparatus utilizing superimposed DC and AC voltages is
provided which comprises therapeutic voltage generating means for
generating an output comprising superimposed DC and AC voltages and
means for producing a therapeutic electric field including first
and second parallel, opposed electrodes, the electrodes, which
preferably comprise spaced parallel plates, being connected to the
output of the therapeutic voltage generating means. The therapeutic
voltage generating means includes a transformer means which
comprises a primary winding connected to an AC power source and
first and second secondary windings, one of the secondary windings
forming an AC generating circuit. A DC generating circuit is formed
by the other of the secondary windings in combination with a
rectifier circuit and the DC generating circuit and AC generating
circuit are connected together in a mutually superimposed
relationship to therapeutic voltage terminals so that an output
comprising superimposed DC and AC voltages is presented at these
terminals. The therapeutic voltage terminals are connected to the
parallel, opposed electrodes and one of the electrodes is connected
to the subject for therapeutic treatment.
In accordance with one embodiment, one of the electrodes is mounted
by an insulator on a ceiling while the other of the electrodes is
in contact with the subject. In another embodiment the electrode in
contact with the subject is mounted on an insulated table which
itself is insulatingly mounted. The other of the electrodes is
grounded and is disposed above and in opposed relationship to the
first mentioned electrode.
In a second embodiment of the theraputic voltage generating means
two transformers are used. An auto-transformer is connected on the
primary side of each of the transformers and one of the
transformers includes, on the secondary side thereof, connected in
the secondary circuit with the rectifier, a protective resistor, a
condenser and a polarity reversing switch. The secondary side of
the first transformer is connected in series with the secondary
side of the second transformer.
Many variations and modifications of the construction of the
apparatus may be understood all to be included in the scope and
spirit of the claims and specification of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a circuitry diagram illustrating the essential principle
of the therapeutical operation performed by means of the apparatus
of the superposed DC-AC output type of the invention;
FIG. 2a, b, c, FIG. 3a, b, c and FIG. 4a, b, c are schematic
diagrams of waveforms showing the therapeutical operation of the
apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 5 a-f are schematic diagrams of waveforms showing ratios of
superposed output of DC and AC voltages;
FIG. 6a, b, c are schematic diagrams illustrating the vertical and
horizontal orientation of cellular molecules of the human body;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the orientation of
cellular molecules of the human body which is solely applied an AC
voltage;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the orientation of
cellular molecules of the human body which is applied a superposed
output of DC and AC voltages;
FIG. 9 is a circuitry diagram illustrating a voltage generating
part of the apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing waveforms of outputs of DC
and AC voltages as shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an overall view of an embodiment of the apparatus
according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is a view showing another embodiment of the apparatus of
the invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing waveforms of an output of DC
and AC voltages of the apparatus of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a view showing an embodiment of a circuitry of the
apparatus of the invention having DC and AC voltages variable with
mixture ratios of voltages;
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the variation of
polarity of a DC voltage during the application of superposed
output of DC and AC voltages according to the invention; and
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the variation of
mixture ratios of DC and AC voltages according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention is
now illustrated. The drawings show the basic principle of the
therapeutical treatment which is applied superposed DC and AC
voltages. As shown in FIG. 1, a human body M is positioned between
electrodes Ea and Eb and these electrodes are connected to a power
source Vo. In the figure, Eh designates a potential of the human
body. When three kinds of waveforms of voltages, i.e., DC, AC and
DC-AC, are applied there are produced waveforms of current as shown
in FIG. 3a, b and c corresponding to waveforms of voltages as shown
in FIG. 2a, b and c respectively, with the current flowing through
the circuit including the human body. In the instant case, the
waveforms of electric currents which would flow through the human
body M are shown in FIG. 4a, b and c.
For the DC voltage, a transient current flows in one pass in the
direction as shown in FIG. 4a and thereafter no more current flows.
For the AC voltage, current flows both in the positive and negative
directions as shown in FIG. 4b, while the voltage is applied to the
human body, where a very slight potential Eh is provided in the
human body as a bias potential. In this case the positive and
negative currents are not set off with each other but a small
differential of the positive and negative currents flows in one
direction as shown in the drawing.
In the case were a DC voltage and an AC voltage are superposed as
shown in FIG. 4c, the oriented current flowing in the human body is
largest as compared with the case where a DC voltage and an AC
voltage are used respectively singly. FIG. 5 shows that different
types of waveforms are obtained as shown in FIG. 5a, b, c, d, e and
f by varying the mixture ratios of DC voltage and AC voltage and
further the polarity of DC voltage.
The cellular molecule of the human body essentially has in itself
positive and negative polarities which provides the molecule with
an orientation of orderly arrangement. As typically shown in FIG.
6a, when external stress F is imparted in the orientation as shown
in FIG. 6b, the cellular molecule is disordered in the orientation,
or, When intensity of polarization that the molecule internally has
is decreased, the cellular molecule is disordered as shown in FIG.
6c and this movement would generates a stress. With superposed DC
and AC voltages applied and thereby polarization intensified
(inductive dipole), the cellular molecule can regain the normal
orientation as shown in FIG. 6a.
If the stress is suppressed solely by AC electric field, where
electrical bonding of the cellular molecules is weakened so that a
large orientation is produced by influence of the AC high voltage
field and then results a loss of large energy. Nearly same fatigue
will appear in the human body as frequently seen after physical
excercise of the body. The described fatigue is normally called the
therapeutical reaction, which can be recovered to normal condition
as shown in FIG. 6a, without giving fatigue to the human body by
providing a DC voltage in a definite direction and an orientation
by AC voltage to lessen the orientation angle of molecule. The DC
voltage used at this time is required to have the same direction as
the polarizing direction of the cellular molecule. FIGS. 7 and 8
illustrate in details the above condition. FIG. 7 shows further the
instance in which AC voltage solely is applied and the angle of
orientation of the cells is given by .theta.. FIG. 8 illustrates
the case in which superposed DC and AC voltages are applied, where
the angle of orientation is given by .theta.'. In the drawings, it
is noted that .theta. is larger than .theta.' and therefore fatigue
of the body due to orientation is decreased.
These therapeutical effects were obtained by experimental tests
using DC and AC voltages respectively of 500 V with quite
satisfactory result. Same effect may also be obtained by properly
adjusting the charging time of voltages above or below the
described DC and AC voltages.
Construction of the apparatus used for practicing the present
invention according to the above principle will be illustrated
below.
FIG. 9 shows a circuit for the therapeutical voltage generating
part A according to the present invention. In the circuit, AC power
source E.sub.o is connected to terminals t.sub.1, t.sub.2 of a
primary winding L.sub.1 of a transformer T. Secondary windings
L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 are provided on the secondary side of the
transformer T, which secondary windings are connected in series
through rectifier S and protective resistor R. Condenser C is
connected between terminals of the protective resistor R at a point
P and terminal t.sub.4 of the secondary winding L.sub.2.
In the circuit shown, the primary winding L.sub.1 is connected to
the AC power source E.sub.o. Thus, a DC voltage E.sub.1 is produced
between the point P and terminal t.sub.4 and an AC voltage E.sub.2
between the point P and terminal t.sub.3. Further between the
terminal t.sub.3 and terminal t.sub.4, there is produced superposed
DC and AC voltages such as in the form of output voltage E.sub.3.
Such voltages are shown in the waveforms of FIG. 10 and
incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 11 for practical treatment.
In FIG. 11, one terminal t.sub.3 of the therapeutical voltage
generating part A as shown in FIG. 9 is connected to the electrode
1 depended by insulative material 2 from the ceiling 3 of the
therapeutical electrical field forming part B with other terminal
t.sub.4 connected to a conducting plate 4 which is earthed 5.
The human body M which is applied the therapeutical treatment is
laid on the conducting plate 4. A commercial power source is
connected to the terminals t.sub.1 and t.sub.2. The output voltage
E.sub.3 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is applied between the electrode
1 and conducting plate 4 to apply electric field E.sub.x to the
human body M which is to be therapeutically treated.
FIG. 12 illustrates a modified embodiment of the apparatus, in
which the electrode 1 is mounted on an insulated table 6 supported
by the insulative material 2. The human body is directly laid on
the insulating table 6. Above and in opposite to the electrode 1 is
provided the conducting plate 4 which is earthed 5.
In this embodiment, it will be noted that the connection of the
rectifier S is provided in opposite direction to that shown in the
circuit of FIG. 9. In the same embodiment, the waveform of the
voltage applied to the electrode 1 takes the waveform of the
voltage E.sub.3 as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, the electric field
E.sub.x may act on the human body M similarly as shown in FIG. 11.
If the insulative material 2 is extended and the conductor plate 4
above the body is moved close to the electrode 1, the electric
field E.sub.x may act more effectively on the human body M,
although there is produced an electric field beneath the insulating
table 6.
FIG. 14 is an embodiment showing the circuit of the present
invention. In the embodiment, the DC voltage and AC voltage are
separately provided as being adjustable of output voltages. An
autotransformer T.sub.1 for adjusting DC output voltage and an
autotransformer T.sub.2 for adjusting AC output voltage are
provided, these autotransformers having respectively switches
SW.sub.1, SW.sub.2 and pilot lamps PL.sub.1, PL.sub.2 on the input
side and transformers T.sub.3, T.sub.4 on the output side. The
rectifier S is of the full-wave rectifier type which is connected
to terminals of a smoothing condenser C.sub.s through a polarity
changing switch SW.sub.3. R.sub.1, R.sub.2 designate protective
resistors and t.sub.3, t.sub.4 output terminals.
In the construction as above described, the autotransformers
T.sub.1, T.sub.2 is preferably adjustable to select the mixture
ratios of the DC voltage E.sub.1 and AC voltage E.sub.2 or
otherwise the polarity of the DC voltage may be preferably
determined so as to apply the most suitable therapeutical treatment
to the condition of sickness of the human body.
FIG. 15 shows the basic data obtained from experimental tests for
the therapeutical treatment by changing polarity of DC voltage. In
the instant case, a flicker value measuring device was used in
order to affirm the effect of the therapeutical treatment. The
flicker value measuring device is provided for the application of
flicker light to the human body, which device would vary the
frequency of flicker light so as to measure the frequency of
threshold value ranging from sensing to non-sensing points of the
flicker light to detect the degree of fatigue in the nerve
center.
In FIG. 15, the Curve I shows the variation of the flicker value
relative to time where a voltage is not applied when stimulation is
not imparted to the human body. Curve II represents the variation
of flicker values when superposed voltages of AC 500 V (peak value)
and DC-500 V are applied and Curve III the variation of flicker
values when superposed voltages of AC 500 V and DC +500 V are
applied.
From these curves, it is seen that superposed voltages of AC
voltage and negative DC voltage maintain the excitement of body
organs and superposed voltages of AC and positive DC voltage
rapidly lower the excitement of body organs to properly reduce the
stress of organs. The same effect was available by applying a
voltage between 100 V to 3,000 V in addition to the case of 500 V
as sbove described.
Difference in the therapeutical effect due to variation in the
mixture ratio of a DC voltage and an AC voltage is shown in FIG.
16.
In the diagram, variations of flicker values relative to time are
respectively shown, in which Curve I represents a DC voltage -15KV
containing AC voltage 8.3 %; Curve II a DC voltage -15KV containing
AC voltage 64.2 %, and in the similar way, Curve I' represents a DC
voltage +15KV containing an AC voltage 6.6 % and Curve II' a DC
voltage +15KV containing an AC voltage 25.1 %.
These curves suggest that the DC voltage -15KV containing a
relatively high percentage of AC voltage components can achieve a
promotional effect in a very short period of time and enhance the
excitement of visual organs of the human body, while the DC voltage
+15KV containing a relatively high percentage of AC voltage
components rapidly results the limitation of excitement.
Thus, according to the apparatus of the superposed DC-AC voltage
system of the invention, the apparatus does not produce any danger
to the human body as has been usual in the conventional
therapeutical treatment in use of an AC high voltage nor producing
electrostatic reaction but instead enables an effective
therapeutical treatment by means of a very low voltage.
* * * * *