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EP-4735101-A1 - DEVICE FOR PERFORMING HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTROTHERAPY, AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A SUITABLE CARRIER FREQUENCY

EP4735101A1EP 4735101 A1EP4735101 A1EP 4735101A1EP-4735101-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) for performing high-frequency electrotherapy, and to a method for identifying a suitable carrier frequency. The device (2) according to the invention has two electrodes (22) or alternative skin-contact elements for coupling high-frequency signals into a body (100). The high-frequency signals are generated and transmitted using a transmitter and/or a modulator (18). A low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) is designed to generate a high-frequency carrier frequency, and a signal-generating device (4) is designed to generate a therapy frequency. The modulator (18) generates the high-frequency signal by means of an amplitude modulation of the high-frequency carrier frequency with the therapy frequency.

Inventors

  • HILBURG, ANDREAS
  • KRZIZAN, MATTHIAS

Assignees

  • Biobedded Systems GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240613

Claims (14)

  1. 1. Device (2) for carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy with a) two electrodes (22) or alternative skin contact elements for coupling high-frequency signals into a body (100) of a human or an animal, b) a transmitter (42) for transmitting a high-frequency signal and/or a modulator (18) for generating and transmitting a high-frequency signal to the electrodes (22) or to the alternative skin contact elements, c) wherein a low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) is designed to generate a high-frequency carrier frequency and a signal generating device (4) is designed to generate a therapy frequency, and wherein d) the modulator (18) generates the high-frequency signal in such a way that it results from an amplitude modulation of the high-frequency carrier frequency with the therapy frequency.
  2. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signal generating device (4) and the low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) have at least one of the following features: The signal generating device (4) and the low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) are designed as mains-independent devices; the signal generating device (4) and the low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) are functionally connected to a transformer (42) with galvanic isolation.
  3. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier frequency is at least twice as high as the highest therapy frequency.
  4. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the therapy frequency is selected from a frequency range between 0.1 MHz and 12.5 MHz.
  5. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two electrodes (22) or the alternative skin contact elements are spaced apart by a maximum of 20 cm.
  6. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two electrodes (22) or the alternative skin contact elements for coupling in high-frequency signals are part of at least one positioning unit.
  7. 7. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one positioning unit is designed in the manner of a band enclosing a body region.
  8. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a carrier frequency determination module (50) is provided, which is designed to carry out at least one test measurement on a user in order to determine a carrier frequency particularly suitable for the user based on the result of the at least one test measurement.
  9. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal generating device (4) and the low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) are each part of separate devices which are functionally linked to one another for the purpose of application.
  10. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal generating device (4) and the low-impedance signal generator (6, 16) are designed to be directly or indirectly connectable.
  11. 11. Method for determining a suitable carrier frequency for introducing high-frequency signals into a body (100) with a transmitting device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10 and a measuring device (50), the method comprising at least the following method steps: (i) generating a radio frequency signal of a first frequency using the transmitting device (2); (ii) coupling the generated high frequency signal into the body (100) using two electrodes (22) or alternative skin contact elements at a first position on the surface of the body (100); (iii) receiving the coupled radio frequency signal at a second position on the surface of the body (100) using the measuring device (50); (iv) generating at least one further high-frequency signal of at least a second frequency using the transmitting device (2); (v) coupling the generated at least one further high-frequency signal into the body (100) using two electrodes (22) or alternative skin contact elements at a first position on the surface of the body (100); (vi) receiving the coupled-in at least one further high-frequency signal at a second position on the surface of the body (100) using the measuring device (50); and (vii) evaluating the received high-frequency signals using a processor unit (56) of the measuring device (50) or using a processor unit (26) of the transmitting device (2), wherein the carrier frequency is determined to be the frequency of the high-frequency signal at which the quotient of the power received by the measuring device (50) to the power generated by the transmitting device (2) is greatest.
  12. 12. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein either the transmitting device (2) and/or the measuring device (50) has at least one transmitter (42) with galvanic isolation.
  13. 13. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein after carrying out method steps (i) to (vi) of claim 11, method steps (iv) to (vi) of claim 11 are carried out several times with different high-frequency signals of different frequencies.
  14. 14. Method according to one of the preceding claims 11 to 13, wherein all high-frequency signals that are introduced into a body (100) are selected from a predeterminable frequency range.

Description

Device for carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy and method for determining a suitable carrier frequency > Description The invention relates to a device for carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy and a method for determining a suitable carrier frequency. Devices for generating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic signals for treating the human body are known in practice, particularly in the form of electrostimulation devices. Such devices can in most cases be operated at different frequencies. In many cases, the success of the devices depends on determining and applying a suitable therapy frequency for the respective individual case. For this purpose, a specialist is often consulted who has the appropriate experience and, on the basis of his experience and taking into account the circumstances of the respective individual case, determines and applies a suitable therapy frequency or recommends its use. In particular, reference is made to devices known from practice which are sold under the brands "Timewaver" and "Healy" in various designs. Reference is made to the products "Timewaver Frequency", "Timewaver Home" and "Healy" only as examples. The invention relates in particular to further developments in connection with these and comparable products. All technical features of the products mentioned are therefore expressly referred to here, in particular those features which are implemented in the same way or in a similar manner in all of the products mentioned. DE 10 2015 002 565 A1 discloses a system for controlling stimulation pulses during stimulation of a user, which system has at least one sensor, at least one data processing unit and at least one pulse unit. A wide range of different types of sensors are mentioned as suitable sensors, including near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors. In this system, the data processing unit is to be configured to compare a value measured by a sensor with a threshold value and to generate a control signal to the pulse unit when the measured value and the threshold value are in a predefinable relationship to one another. DE 297 09 094 U1 discloses a device for bioresonance therapy for the therapeutic delivery of electromagnetic therapy signals to a body with an electrical circuit for receiving the body's own or substance's own input signals by means of a receiving antenna or receiving electrode. A signal processing stage for processing the signals of an output circuit for feeding the output signals to a transmitting antenna or transmitting electrode is also to be provided, the signal processing stage having a delay circuit by means of which output signals can be delayed in time with respect to the input signals. DE 100 02 251 A1 discloses an interactive wellness device for holistic sensory stimulation of humans, the functions of which are at least indirectly controlled and modulated by measured body conditions of the person using the device. From US 2006/0064139 A1 and from DE 10 2015 002 565 A1, devices for generating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic signals are known, which can be used with different therapy frequencies for the treatment of the human body. The invention is based on the object of providing a device for carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy and a method for determining a suitable carrier frequency for introducing high-frequency signals into a body, which offer a new and easy-to-use possibility of carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy, in particular by self-application at home without implementation and/or supervision by a doctor or other medically trained person, such as a naturopath or special therapist. The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent claims. Further practical embodiments are described in connection with the dependent claims. A device according to the invention for carrying out high-frequency electrotherapy has two electrodes or alternative skin contact elements for coupling high-frequency signals into the body of a human or an animal. The device also has a transmitter for transmitting a high-frequency signal and/or a modulator for generating and transmitting a high-frequency signal to the electrodes or the alternative skin contact elements. A transformer in the sense of the invention is understood to be a structural unit that is designed in such a way that it can ensure a cable separation from a power grid to a body. In other words, the design of the transformer ensures that mains current from the power grid cannot flow to earth through a body arranged on the device. A modulator in the sense of the invention is understood to be a structural unit which can carry out a modulation of a signal. In particular, a modulator in the sense of the invention is understood to be a structural unit which has at least two inputs and at least one output, wherein the modulator carries out an amplitude modulation of at least two inputs and at least one output. signals. The a