WO2008108543A1

WO2008108543A1 - Apparatus for stimulating growth plate

Info

Publication number: WO2008108543A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000943
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myung Keun Ji
Original assignee: Myung Keun Ji
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2008-02-18
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: KR100833251B1

Abstract

An apparatus for stimulating a growth plate is provided. The apparatus for stimulating a growth plate includes a controller, a current supplying unit, and at least one growth plate stimulator. The controller outputs the driving command signal in response to an external input which determines at least one of an amount of the current and a frequency of the current. The current supplying unit supplies a current corresponding to the driving command signal to the growth plate stimulator. The growth plate stimulator stimulates the growth plate by using the current supplied from the current supplying unit.

Description

APPARATUS FOR STIMULATING GROWTH PLATE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a growth plate stimulating apparatus, and more particularly, to a growth plate stimulating apparatus capable of effectively stimulating a growth plate of the knee even in an asleep time. Background Art

[2] In general, an increase in height of a child denotes an increase in length of a bone.

The increase in length of the bone is a result of changing a cartilage bone at a distal end of the bone into hard bone cells. If the number of new bone cells is increased, the length of the bone is increased, so that the height of the child is increased. The cartilage bone at a distal end of the bone is generally referred to as a growth plate. The growth plates are mainly distributed at ankles, bottoms of the feet, and the knees. Stimulating of the growth plate facilitates generation of a growth hormone for increasing a height of a child.

[3] Conventionally, as a growth plate stimulating apparatus, shoes for stimulating the growth plates are mainly used so as to stimulate the ankles or the bottoms of the feet.

[4] Therefore, the conventional growth plate stimulating apparatus is not effective in an asleep time. In addition, the conventional growth plate stimulating apparatus cannot stimulate the growth plates of the knees. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] The present invention provides a growth plate stimulating apparatus capable of being carried conveniently in an asleep time and effectively stimulating a growth plate, particularly, a growth plate of the knee. Technical Solution

[6] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a growth plate stimulating apparatus comprising a controller, a current supplying unit, and at least one growth plate stimulator.

[7] The controller outputs a driving command signal. The current supplying unit supplies a current corresponding to the driving command signal. The growth plate stimulator stimulates the growth plate by using the current supplied from the current supplying unit. Brief Description of the Drawings

[8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a growth plate stimulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [9] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a growth plate stimulator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[10] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a case used for the present invention.

[11] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a band used for the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[12] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[13] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a growth plate stimulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[14] Referring to FIG. 1, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 basically includes a controller 110, a current supplying unit 120, and at least one growth plate stimulator 130.

[15] The controller 110 outputs a driving command signal Sl to the current supplying unit

120 so as to drive the growth plate stimulator 130. The controller 110 may output the driving command signal S 1 in response to an external input Input which determines at least one of an amplitude of a voltage, an amount of a current, and a frequency of the current. The controller 110 may include a plurality of switches (not shown). The driving command signal S 1 may be a signal for enabling only one switch selected from the plurality of switches according to the external input Input.

[16] The driving command signal Sl may be one of various signals according to the external input Input of the controller 110. For example, the external input Input may have a value of 1 to 5 according to the amount of current, and the driving command signal S 1 may be a signal for commanding supplying a current corresponding to one value selected from the values of the external input Input. In this case, the controller 110 may output to the current supplying unit 120 the command signal for supplying the current corresponding to the value of 1 to the growth plate stimulator 130. Similarly, the controller 110 may output to the current supplying unit 120 the command signals for supplying the currents corresponding to the values of 2, 3, 4, and 5 to the growth plate stimulator 130.

[17] The current supplying unit 120 supplies to the growth plate stimulator 130 a first current il corresponding to the driving command signal Sl of the controller 120 so as to stimulate the growth plate. The current supplying unit 120 and the growth plate stimulator 130 may be connected to each other through a wire line 305.

[18] In the above embodiment, when the driving command signal Sl for supplying the current corresponding to the value of 1 among the values of the external input Input is received from the controller 110, the current supplying unit 120 supplies to the growth plate stimulator 130 the predetermined first current il corresponding to the value of 1 among the values of the external input Input. When the driving command signal S 1 for supplying the current corresponding to the value of 2, 3, 4, or 5 among the values of the external input Input is received from the controller 110, the current supplying unit 120 supplies to the growth plate stimulator 130 the predetermined first current il corresponding to the value of 2, 3, 4, or 5 among the values of the external input Input.

[19] The first current il flowing from the current supplying unit 120 to the growth plate stimulator 130 may be a low-frequency current having a frequency of 10kHz that is known to be harmless to a human body. The current supplying unit 120 may be connected to a battery (380 in FIG. 3) for the convenience of carrying. Preferably, the battery (380 in FIG. 3) is a rechargeable battery.

[20] At least one growth plate stimulator 130 stimulates the growth plate by using the first current il supplied from the current supplying unit 120. In the human body, most of the growth plates are distributed as one pair, for example, at front portions of the two knees and at recessed rear portions of the two knees. Therefore, it is preferable that one pair of the growth plate stimulators 130 are provided to be driven simultaneously.

[21] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the growth plate stimulator

130 shown in FIG. 1. The growth plate stimulator 130 includes a surface portion 210, a stimulating member 220, and a driver (not shown).

[22] The surface portion 210 is a portion contacting with the grow plate of the human body. The surface portion 210 may be made of a silicon material. If the surface portion 210 contacting with the human body is made of a metal, a plastic, or a rubber, an environmental hormone may affect a bad influence to the human body. In addition, since the growth plate of the human body is very vulnerable, such a soft material as the silicon is used as the surface portion 210 of the growth plate stimulator 130 so as not to damage the growth plate of the human body.

[23] The stimulating member 220 is disposed in an inner portion of the growth plate stimulator 130. The stimulating member 220 may be an elastic member such as a spring or a vibration member. The stimulating member 220 is connected to the driver (not shown) such as a motor disposed in an inner portion of the growth plate stimulator 130. The growth plate can be stimulated by the driving of the stimulating member 220, for example, movement of the elastic member such as a reciprocal motion of the spring or vibration of the vibration member during the supplying of the first current il from the current supplying unit 120 to the driver (not shown).

[24] The stimulating member 220 may be one of the elastic member and the vibration member. In addition, the stimulating member 220 may be a combination of the elastic member and the vibration member, so that the growth plate of the human body can be stimulated through the movement of the elastic member and the vibration of the vibration member. In case of the stimulating member 220 constructed in a combination of the elastic member and the vibration member, the elastic member and the vibration member may be separated from each other. Otherwise, the vibration member may be inserted into an inner portion of the elastic member.

[25] Referring to FIG. 1, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 may further include a melody function in addition to the growth plate stimulating function. In order to implement the melody function, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 may further include a melody output unit 150 in addition to the controller 110, the current supplying unit 120, and the growth plate stimulator 130.

[26] The controller 110 outputs to a melody storage unit 140 a melody outputting command signal S2 for outputting to the melody output unit 150 the melody stored in the melody storage unit 140 as well as outputting to the current supplying unit 120 the driving command signal Sl for driving the growth plate stimulator 130. The melody storage unit 140 stores the melody and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the stored melody to the melody output unit 150 in response to the melody outputting command signal S2. The melody output unit 150 converts the electrical signal to a sound and outputs the sound. The melody output unit 150 may be a speaker (360 in FIG. 3).

[27] The controller 110 may simultaneously or separately apply the driving command signal Sl for driving the growth plate stimulator 130 and the melody outputting command signal S2 for outputting the melody. In addition, the melody storage unit 140 may store various melodies. As well known to the ordinarily skilled in the art, one of the melodies selected according to the external input Input may be output, and a volume of the output melody may be adjusted.

[28] Referring to FIG. 1, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 according to the present invention may further include a time adjusting function in addition to the growth plate stimulating function. In order to implement the time adjusting function, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 may further include a timer 160 connected to the controller 110 in addition to the controller 110, the current supplying unit 120, and the growth plate stimulator 130.

[29] The timer 160 can perform a basic watch function, a function of driving the growth plate stimulator 130 for a time set according to the external input Input, and a function of driving the growth plate stimulator 130 at a time scheduled according to the external input Input.

[30] The function of driving the growth plate stimulator 130 for a time set according to the external input Input denotes that the driving of the growth plate stimulator 130 is stopped when a set time elapses from the driving state of the growth plate stimulator 130. On the other hand, the function of driving the growth plate stimulator 130 at a time scheduled according to the external input Input denotes that the driving of the growth plate stimulator 130 is started at a predetermined time from the non-driving state of the growth plate stimulator 130.

[31] In order to implement the functions, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 may further include a timer 160 which outputs a count signal S4 in response to a control signal S3 having information of the time when the growth plate stimulator 130 stops driving or the count signal S4 in response to a control signal S3 having information of the scheduled time when the growth plate stimulator 130 starts driving. The control signal S3 having information of the time when the growth plate stimulator 130 stops driving and the control signal S3 having information of the scheduled time when the growth plate stimulator 130 starts driving are output from the controller 110.

[32] For example, when the time information of the current driving time or the scheduled driving time is input as the external input Input, the controller 110 transmits the control signal S3 corresponding to the time information to the timer 160. When receiving the control signal S3, the timer 160 counts the time at which the growth plate stimulator 130 is to be driven and outputs a count signal S4 to the controller 110. Alternatively, the timer 160 may compare the current time with the scheduled driving time and outputs to the controller 110 a count signal S4 indicating whether or not the time of starting driving the growth plate stimulator 130 arrives. If the count signal S4 output from the timer 160 corresponds to the current driving time, the controller 110 determines based on the count signal S4 whether or not the driving command signal Sl is to be maintained. If the count signal S4 output from the timer 160 corresponds to the scheduled driving time, the controller 110 determines based on the count signal S4 whether or not the output of the driving command signal Sl is to be started.

[33] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a case used for the present invention.

[34] Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 110 and the current supplying unit 120 of the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a case 310. In addition, the case 310 may further include an on/off switch 320 for an external input Input, a stimulating strength adjusting unit 330, and a stimulating time adjusting unit 340. In addition, the case 310 may further include a connector of a battery 380 connected to the current supplying unit 120 or an adaptor connector 350 for using an a general indoor electric power instead of the battery 380. In addition, the case 310 may further include a speaker 360 for outputting the melody and an earphone connector 370 for using an earphone instead of the speaker 360.

[35] The on/off switch 320, the stimulating strength adjusting unit 330, and the stimulating time adjusting unit 340 are connected to the controller 110 so as to control the current supplying and the current supplying time of current supplying unit 120 and an amount of the supplied current.

[36] A surface of the case 310 may be made of an elastic material. If the case 310 is made of the elastic material, the case 310 attached to the human body arouses a less unpleasant feeling in comparison with a case made of a hard material. In addition, if a character image is illustrated on the surface of the case 310, an unpleasant feeling of children to the apparatus can be alleviated.

[37] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a band used for the present invention.

[38] The case 310 may be connected to at least one band 410 for wrapping a portion of the growth plate of the human body or attaching the case on a waist of the human body. The band 410 may be subject to a silver nano process such as spraying of silver nano particles or coating of a silver nano film.

[39] As an example, one case 310 and two pairs of growth plate stimulators 130 may be used. In this example, each pair of the growth plate stimulators 130 are attached to the portion of the growth plate of each knee, and the growth plate stimulators 130 are fixed by using the band 410, so that the apparatus can be effectively used in an asleep time. The case 310 may be disposed beside the human body or attached on the waist by the wrapping of the band 410.

[40] In addition, each pair of the growth plate stimulators 130 may have a size and shape suitable for a recessed portion of the knee where the growth plate exists, the surface of the case 310 may be made of an elastic material, and the case 310 may have a suitably small size. In this example, the apparatus is attached to a rear portion of the knee, and the knee, the one pair of growth plate stimulators 130, and the case 310 are wrapped with the band 410. Accordingly, a growth plate stimulating apparatus capable of not arousing an unpleasant feeling in an asleep time can be implemented in a portable type. Generally, an ordinary person cannot easily identify the portion of the growth plate in the knee. However, according to the example, the ordinary person can easily identify the growth plate in the human body.

[41] According to a recently published search, a growth hormone has the highest activity in a time interval between 10 o'clock p.m. to 2 o'clock a.m. In other words, 90% of the growth of bone is made in an asleep or resting time. The bone is not almost grown in a standing or walking time. According to a recent published search, the reason why the bone is grown only at night as follows. The growth plate made of a cartilage bone at a distal end of the bone is pressed in the standing or walking time to suppress the growing of the bone. However, the pressing of the growth plate is removed when the human lies down. Since the growth plate seems to be a spring, the growth plate is pressed in the standing or walking time. However, in the asleep or lying-down time, the pressing of the growth plate is alleviated, and thus, the growth of the bone starts again.

[42] In traditional Korean medicine centers, stimulating of the growth plate, massaging or stretching of the growth plate, and the like are practiced so as to cure various disease such as dyspepsia and gastroenteric disorder and to increase a height of a child.

[43] Accordingly, the growth plate stimulating apparatus 100 according to the present invention can stimulate the growth plates of the knees or the like in the human body in an asleep time through vibration or movement, so that it is possible to effectively stimulate the growth plates, particularly, in the asleep time.

[44] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Industrial Applicability

[45] As described above, a growth plate stimulating apparatus according to the present invention can be carried conveniently in an asleep time. In addition, the growth plate stimulating apparatus can be implemented in a small size. In addition, since a surface of a case is made of an elastic material, an unpleasant feeling to a human body can be alleviated.

Claims

[1] An apparatus for stimulating a growth plate of a human body, comprising: a controller which outputs a driving command signal and a melody outputting command signal, wherein the controller includes a melody storage unit which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a stored melody in response to the melody outputting command signal and a melody output unit which converts the electrical signal output from the melody storage unit into a sound and outputs the sound; a current supplying unit which supplies a current corresponding to the driving command signal; and a growth plate stimulator which stimulates at least one growth plate by using the current supplied from the current supplying unit, wherein the growth plate stimulator includes a surface portion contacting with the growth plate of the human body, a stimulating member, and a driver driving the stimulating member by rotating a motor driven by the current supplied from the current supplying unit.

[2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller outputs the driving command signal in response to an external input which determines at least one of an amount of the current and a frequency of the current.

[3] The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timer which outputs a count signal in response to a control signal output from the controller, wherein the control signal includes information on a time when the driving of the growth plate stimulator is stopped.

[4] The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timer which outputs a count signal output from the controller, wherein the count signal includes information of a scheduled time when the driving of the growth plate stimulator is started.

[5] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface portion is made of a silicon material.

[6] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stimulating member includes at least one of an elastic member for stimulating the growth plate of the human body through movement and a vibrating member for stimulating the growth plate of the human body through vibration.