Full-range electrotherapy unit with digital force modutator

• US 7,209,782 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Fwu Suen, Link Yu
• Original Assignee: Ching-Fwu Suen, Link Yu
• Inventors: Suen, Ching-Fwu, Yu, Link
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Yun Haeng
• Application Number:
  US11/011,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 128/901, 128/902, 128/908, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems

Abstract

An electrotherapy unit includes a central processor, a digital force modutator connected to and controlled by the central processor, a voltage-increasing transformer, and two conductive pads connected to a secondary coil of the voltage-increasing transformer. The digital force modutator includes two pairs of transistors each having an input side connected to the central processor. The central processor controls conduction/non-conduction of the transistors. A loop for each transistor is connected to the power supply and the primary coil of the voltage-increasing transformer. A diode and a capacitor are connected in parallel between a collector and an emitter of each transistor. The diodes avoid damage to the transistors resulting from an electromotive generated by the primary coil of the voltage-increasing transformer. The capacitors reduce noise signals generated during switching operation of the transistors and the diodes. The capacitors provide bypass for high-frequency noise signals.

Claims

1. An electrotherapy unit comprising:

a digital force modutator;

a power supply connected to the digital force modutator and supplying power to the digital force modutator;

a central processor connected to the digital force modutator, the central processor being downloadable with programs to output signals for controlling operation of the digital force modutator;

a voltage-increasing transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil; and

two conductive pads connected to the secondary coil;

the digital force modutator comprising two pairs of transistors, each said transistor including an input side connected to the central processor, the central processor controlling conduction/non-conduction of the transistors, a loop for each said transistor being connected to the power supply and the primary coil of the voltage-increasing transformer, a diode and a capacitor being connected in parallel between a collector and an emitter of each said transistor;

wherein the voltage-increasing transformer, one of the transistor, one of the diodes connected to said one of the transistors, and one of the capacitors connected to said one of the transistors together form a loop for providing a near-zero voltage switching function.

2. The electrotherapy unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply comprising an additional digital force modutator including an input end connected to the central processor and an output end connected to a power source end of the digital force modutator, the electrotherapy unit further comprising a rectifying transformer connected to the output end of said additional digital force modutator, output power of said additional digital force modutator being controlled by the programs of the central processor.

3. The electrotherapy unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrotherapy unit further comprises a current sensor connected to the central processor, the central processor providing a feedback to compensate or to stop therapy when the current sensor detects abnormal current of the digital force modutator.

4. An electrotherapy unit comprising:

an analog power amplifier;

a power supply connected to the analog power amplifier and supplying power to the analog power amplifier, the power supply including a digital force modutator and a rectifying transformer;

a central processor connected to the power supply and the analog power amplifier, the central processor being downloadable with programs to output signals for controlling operation of the digital force modutator and to output pulse signals to the analog power amplifier;

a voltage-increasing transformer; and

two conductive pads connected to the voltage-increasing transformer;

the digital force modutator comprising two pairs of transistors, each said transistor including an input side connected to the central processor via an encoder, the central processor controlling conduction/non-conduction of the transistors, a loop for each said transistor being connected to the power supply and a primary coil of the rectifying transformer, the rectifying transformer including an output connected to the analog power amplifier, a diode and a capacitor being connected in parallel between a collector and an emitter of each said transistor;

wherein the voltage-increasing transformer, one of the transistors, one of the diodes connected to said one of the transistors, and one of the capacitors connected to said one of the transistors together form a loop for providing a near-zero voltage switching function.

5. The electrotherapy unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrotherapy unit further comprises a voltage sensor, the central processor providing a feedback to compensate or to stop therapy when the voltage sensor detects abnormal voltage.