CA1278045C

CA1278045C - Apparatus and method for generating vital information signals

Info

Publication number: CA1278045C
Application number: CA000509146A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Wu Dumin; Gu Hansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-15
Filing date: 1986-05-14
Publication date: 1990-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-18
Also published as: EP0211159A1; EP0211159B1; HK31391A; SG34391G; DE3673478D1; US5018524A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for generating vital information signals which are formed by a pulse train made up of bursts of the same width and distance, wherein each burst is made up of a given number of pulses of a specific frequency. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pulse signal generating means and a signal output circuit for generating pulse signals and shaping their waveforms and structures to meet sepecific requirements.
The method of the present invention generates the above-mentioned signals by means of information recording medium and signal reproducing apparatus, and provides the same for medical or health care uses.

Description

127~45 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING
VITAL INFORMATION SIGNALS

Field Of The Invention The present in~ention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating vital informa~ion signals, particularly, to an apparatus and a method which can generate electric pulses that have specific digital coded sequence and minor energy. Surh signals can be used to adjust physiological functions of a living body so as to fulfi medical and health care purposes.
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-~ Background Of The Invention In recent years, basing on the field theory, the information techniques and the theory of the ; traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese researchers have made extensive researches and a great deal of experiments on the vital information, one of the most important vital charac~eristics of a living body.
Particularly, by means of modern detecting equipments, ; ~ measuring tests were made on "Fa Gong" or energy emitting phenomena of a "~i Gong" expert or a deep breathing exercises expert, resulting in remarkable achievements.
; The present inventors spent lots of efforts in this field, and their relevent research results were reported on "NATURE JOURNAL", Vol 3, No.8, August, 1~80, PP
563-566, published by Shanghai Science and Technology Publishing House, and "SCIENCE YEARBOOKn, 1981, PP
1.34-1.41, published by Shanghai Science and Technology - 1 - t~

.~ . . .
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~7~5 Publishing House.
Accordiny to the theory of physics, the physical ;~ world manifests itself in two kinds of matter, one with static mass while the other with no static mass but energy (different kinds of field). These two kinds of matter are highly correlated and any one body with its static mass possesses its own natural resonance frequency~ A living body can also be treated as a morphology system made up of cells, tissues and organs-as well as an information system made up of different kinds of field matter, such as cell's potential, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and different kinds of radiation. The ~wo systems interact on each other and coexist within the same living body.
On the basis of the field theory and the information techniques, the present inventors made researches on the relations between the morphology system and the information system of a living body, and information exchange between the information system and the environment of the living bodvj so as to utilize the information of field matter to diagnose diseases and, by means of specific signals, to adjust the conditions of the information system of a living body, thus improving the conditions of the morphology system for medical and health care purposes.
In vital information science, researches have been made on the information exchange between a living body and its environment, particularly on the information exchange windows, which include:
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~27B(~4~
information windows through which a living body can selectively receive and emit information signals, and which is represented by specific physic properties, Erequency, waveform and strength of the information signals, and address windows which is the capability of different positions on a living body for selectively receiving and emitting information signals, such as acupoints, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and so on.
Since the vital information is related to the delicate structure of a living body, the vital information signals, different from those of the conventional physiotherapy, have complicated waveforms containing a larga quantity of information therein. If the right ~ 15 windows on a living body are chosen, great biological `~ activity will be produced by the vital information signals of minor energy and good curative effects to many diseases can be achieved.
;~ ~n prior art, there are some kinds of apparatus which can genarate electric signals with certain waveforms . for medical or health care use, such as electric acupuncture apparatus, and cardiac pace-maker, etc. However, the quantity of the information contained in the signals ~; generate.d by these kinds of apparatus is small since ~, they work mainly by their own physic effects. Yet, the signals of the present invention contain a large quantity of information and minor energy, they have great biological activity and work through the information contained therein, thus making the present invention ; 30 ~: ' .
, 1~7~Q~ 70201-16 essentially different from the prior art.

. Summary Of The Invention By means of modern electronic techniques, the present invention has accomplished the apparatus and method for generating vital information signals, so as to generate a train of bursts which has an envelope in the form of pulse signals with specific frequency and duty cycle. Each burst further contains digital codes that are specially numbered and highly sequenced.
10 ~uch vital information signals with special waveform and minor signal strength can be inputted through specific address windows into a living body to fulfil medical and health care purposes.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
a pulse generator means for generating a train of main pulses of constant width and spacing, a constant frequency in the range of 230 - 280 kHz, and a constant duty cycle in the range of 0.33 -5.0, wherein each main pulse includes a plurality of secondary pulses; a signal output circuit; and at least one pair of output electrodes connected to the output circuit;
wherein the output circuit shapes and attenuates the main pulses, and the number of secondary pulses within a main pulse ~ varies in some of the main pulses.

According to another broad aspe.ct of the invention there is . . . i ,~

~7~S 70201-16 provided an apparatus for generating vital information signals and : applying them to the body of a patient, comprising;
means for generating an electrical signal comprising a pulse train consisting oE a series of bursts of pulses, wherein the bursts are regularly spaced in time, and wherein each burst is . made up of a plurality of pulses, the number of pulses in each burst varying from one burst to the next in a predetermined manner, and the frequency of the pulses in each burst varying from one burst to the next in a manner corresponding to the variation in the number of pulses in each burst such that all of the bursts are of equal time duration, the range of frequencies of the bursts being between about 230 and about 280 KHz, and the duty cycle of said bursts in said pulse train being in the range of 0.33 - 5.0;
and at least one pair of electrodes connected to said means for qeneratinq an electrical siq~al for applying said pulse train to the body of the patient.
The apparatus and method provided by the present invention can generate vltal information signals of different waveforms, the structure of which waveforms has the following features:
l, highly sequenced digital coded pulse train;

2. the pulse train or the bursts repeat periodically;

3. the specific structure of the waveform is highly correlated with certain physiological functions of a human or animal body, thus can be used for specific medical or health care purposes; and 4. each of the quantitative parameters of the pulse train ~: ~a .
, ~78~ 70201-16 (including coding structure r frequency, duty cycle, directive and alterative current components, ect) should be selected from a strictly limited range, and beyond the allowable range, the signals will lose :

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their original effects and sornetimes can even be harmful.
novel apparatus is provided b~ the present invention for generating pulse trains with the above-mentioned features.
According to a first embodiment of the apparatus o~ the present invention, the apparatus comprises a main code generating circuit, a sub-code generating circuit, an output circuit and at least one pair of output electrodes.
According to a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a coded pulse generating circuit, a code-controlling circuit, an output circuit and its output electrodes.
According to a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a clock circuit, a memory or an input inter~ace, a pulse generator, an output circuit and its output electrodes.
;~; According to a fourth embodiment oE the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus compxises ~ a light source, a light-modulating device, a photosensitive ;~ device, a device for driving the light-modulating device, an~ output circuit and its output electrodes.
The present invention also provides a signal ~25 attenuating device to be used in th~ output circuit ;;to attenuate the signals in a relatively wide range of frequency spectrum and to improve the waveform of the output signals so as to achieve a pre~ered output waveform.
:, The present invention also provides a method ..

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8~4~ii for generating the above-mentioned coded pulse train.
According to a ~irst embodiment o~ the method of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:
recording by a video signal recording apparatus the signals generated by the above-mentioned signal generating apparatus of the present invention on a signal recording medium;
reproducing by a video signal reproducing apparatus the signal recorded on the recording medium;
shaping and attenuating the above reproduced signals by the output circuit of the present invention;
and providing the signals by the electrodes for midical and health care uses~
In the present embodiment of the method, the apparatus ~or recordiny and reproducing the video signals can be a conventional tape recorder, and a video disc player, etc.
According to a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:
programming the above-mentioned pulse train into a computer routine;
inputting the routine into a memory of a compute~;
generating and sen~ing out corresponding control signals by a central processing unit according to the routine inputting the control signals into a pulse generating circuit to generate the above-mentioned coded pulse s train;
shaping and attenuating the puls~ train by the output circuit of the present invention; and 'providing the pulse train by the electrodes for medical and health care uses.
One object of the present invention is to provide a coded pulse train made up of a plurality of strictly sequenced and pexiodically repeated bursts. The specific waveform structure of the pulse train correlates with certain functions of the vital information system of a human or animal body; therefore, it can be used to adjust the vital information system, thus fulfilling specific medical or health care purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can generate the electric pulse train with the above-mentioned waveform structure and input said pulse train into specific positions on a human ox animal body for specific medical or health care purposes.
20A further object of the present invention is to provide a method which can generate an electric pulse train with the above-mentioned waveform structure ; and input said ~ulse train into specific positions on a human or animal body for specific medical or health care purposes.
A still further object oE the present invention ` is to provide a signal attenuating device which can .
shape and attenuate the electric pulse train into a prefered waveform.

~'' 8~5 Brief Description Of The Drawings The above--mentioned features and objects of the present invention and other advantages and objects thereof will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the present invention in combination with the attached drawings, in which:
Figs lA-lE are illustrative diagram~ showing the waveform analysis of the vital information signals according to the present invention;
- 10 Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the firs-t embodiment of the apparatus according to the present inven*ion;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed circuit structure of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2;
: -15 Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the signal waveform on the corresponding nodes of the circuit shown in Fig. 3:
Fig. 5A-5C are block diagrams showing the second ~: embodiment of the apparatus according to the present lnvention;
. 20 Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the signal waveform on : the corresponding nodes shown in the block diagrams of Figa SA and SB;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of the apparatus according to tha present ` 25 invention;
Fig. 8 is a flow chart of ~he apparatus shown in Fig. 7.
Fi~. 9A and 9B are illustra~ive diagrams showing the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the present in~en-tion;

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~;27~3Q45 Fig. 10 is an illustrative diagram showing the first embodiment oE the method according -to the present invention;
Fig.ll is an illustrative diagram showing the second embodiment o the method according to the present invention; and Fig. 12 is an illustrative diagram showing the output circuit according to the present invention.

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Detailed Description Of The Invention Figs lA-lE are diagrams showing waveform analysis of the vital inormation signals of the present invention.
For the convenience of analysing and understanding, the waveform characteristics of the signals are divided into ~15 the envelope characteristics and the characteristics of ;~ the bursts enclosed inside the envelope, both of them being in the form of digital pulses, thus the analysis :
can be done in a conventional approach for digital pulses. In the description hereinafter, the envelope is referred to as the main code of the vital information signals while the bursts enclosed therein are re~erred to as the sub-code of the vital information signals.
In Fig. lA, the reference character n indicates the , ;time sequence number of the vital information signals according to the present invention. In different vital information signals, difEeren-t positive integers n can be selected as the time sequence number, i.e., one cycle of the signals is made up of n main code pulses. The ' practical values of n will be explained herebelow. The _ g _ .. , .,.. , . . ~, ..

~27~P4~;i reference character C indicates the time dura-tion of one pulse period of the main code; F indicates the fre~uency of the main code, F-l/c; P indicates the pulse width of the main code E indicates the distance between two main code pulses; and D indicates -the duty cycle of the main code pulses, wherein D=P/E. In a group of waveforms of the vital information signals according to the present invention, the main code frequency F and the duty cycle are constant with F ranging from 230 to 280 K~ and 250 KHz being preferable, and with D ranging from 0.33 to 5.0 and 1.67 being preferable.
Fig. lB shows the sub-code structure with the main ;~ code wavefrom shown in Fig lA as the envelope. It can ; be seen in Fig lB tha-t ~he sub-code pulses are kep~ within the width of the main code pulses, and ~ithin each main code pulse the leading edge of the first sub-code pulse is substantially coincident with the leading edge o-f the main code pulse while the trailing dege of the last sub~
: ~ code pulse is substantially c~incident with the trailing edge oE the main code pulse. Reference characters N1-Nn indicate respectively the number of sub-code pulses enclosed in each of the main code pulses.It is shown in Fig- lB that N1=3, N2=6 Nn=8. Within the same main code pulse, the pulse width p of each sub-code pulse, the distance e and the duty cycle d, wherein d=p/e, are all kept substantially constant. The duty cycle d can be selected from the range of 0.8-1.2 with 1.0 being preEerable.
Fig. lC shows an example of the vital information signals according to the present invention, in which n=6.

~ ~ - 10-0~

The dash line shown therein represents the waveEorm of the main code which is not the actual output waveform but the envelope oE the signals. The sub~code structures shown in Fig lC are N1=3, N2=6~ N3=9~ N4=4~ N5=6, N6=8~
F=250KHz, D=1.5 and d=1Ø The wavefoxm is repeated periodically in practical use.
Four kinds of waveform acceptable by the sub-code pulses are shown in Fig. lD, in which (1) is the square wave, (2) is the s~uare wave with rounded cornexs, (3) is the integrated wave and (4) is the sine wave. In ~;~ practical use, the square wave wi-th rounded corners (2) is preferable.
Fig. lE shows the relation between the magnitude of the vital information signals and time, in which Vd indicates the directive current component of the vital information signals and Up indicates the peak-to-peak voltage of the sub-code pulses; both of them can be ~; respecti~ely selected from the ranges of O ~ Vd ~ l.OV
and O ~ Up ~ 1.5V. The sub-code pulses shown in Figs lB-lE are all positive pulses. If negative pulses are ~ used instead, similar effects,can also be achieved.
;~ Several examples of the waveform of the vital information signals are shown in Tables 1-4 hereblow and their medical effects are explained.

Table 1 n=6, F:230-280KHz , D 0.33-5.0, d: 0.8-1.2 ~'' :~

~;27~ 5 N1 M2 N3 N~ N5 N6 4 ~3 9 3 6 6 3 ~ 9 6 6 8 Each pulse train indicated in Table 1 can be used to impro~e the circulatory func-tions of a human and animal body and to increase metabolism of the living tissue~

Table 2 n=4, F: 230-280 KHz, D: 0.33-5.0, d: 0.8-1.2 The pulse train indicated in Table 2 can be used ~or vision correction with quick effects, Table 3 ~.
; n=2, F: 230-280 KHz, D: 0.33-5.0, d: 0.8-1.2 N 1 ¦ N 2 ?`~ ~
:~

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~71~Q~5 The pulse train indicated in Table 3 can also be used for vision correc-tion with long time effects.

Table 4 n=2, F: 230-280 KHz, D: 0.33-S.0, d: 0.8-1.2 The pulse -train indicated in Table 4 can be used to adjust intestinal functions. It can be used to cure both cons-tipation and diarrhoea.
Referring to Fig 2, it shows a block diagram of the first embodirnent oE the apparatus according to the present invention. The reference numberal 100 indicates the apparatus as a whole; 101 indicates a main frequency generator which can be any conventional clock circuit with the frequency F of its output signal V1 being a ~-' constant value in the range of 230-280 KHz; 102 indicates a time sequence circuit which generates n parallel time sequence signals V21-V2n according to the time sequence number n of the desired vital information signals; 103 indicates a duty cycle control circuit which controls the duty cycle of the signals V21-V2n generated by the 25 time sequence circuit 102 to keep its outputs V31-V3n ~: within the required pulse width. A main code generating circuit i5 made up of the above-mentioned main frequency generator 101, time sequence circuit 102 and duty cycle :` .

~;~7~3~4~5 control circuit 103. 104 indicates a group of sub-code generators which generate n parallel controlled sub-code ; signals V~1-V4n according to the signals V31-V3n from the control circuit 103, wherein the pulse numbers of the sub-code signals are preset as N1, N2,...~ Nn, respectively, and the duty cycle of the sub-code signals is preset as d. 105 indicates a composite circuit which combines the n parallel signals V41-V~n ~rom the sub-code generator 104 into a highly sequenced serial signal V5 with the desired waveform. The waveform of signals V1-V5 is shown in Fig 4, in which, as an example, n=3, D=1.5, N1=3, N2=6, N3=9, d=1Ø 106 indicates an output circuit which divides, shapes and attenuates signal V5 then sends it out through the electrodes 10.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit of -the embodiment shown in fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the main frequency generator 101 comprises a crystal oscillator 1011 and a frequency divider 10120 The high freguency signal generated by the crystal oscillator 1011 is divided 20 by frequency divider 1012 into a clock signal V1, as shown in Fig 4. The time sequence circuit 102 comprises a shift . , register 1021 and a multi-input OR gate 1022. When -the sequence number n of the vital informa-tion signal is 2, the -time sequence circuit 102 can also be formed by a dual "D~ Flip Flop. The shif-t register 1021, actuated by the input signal V1, sends out n parallel signals V21-V2n according to the desired value of n; the waveform of the signals is shown in Fig. 4. The time sequence circuit 102 can also be made of a ring counter or a ,~ .

..
- , ~ ~ ~78Qg~5 counter/decoder. The duty cycle control circuit 103 is made of a monostable circuit which adjusts the width of the signals V21-V2n to form signals V31-V3n according to the desired D. The sub-code generator 104 comprises n parallel controllable oscillators 1041-104n, the frequency of each of the controllable oscillators 1041-104n being preset so that Nl-Nn pulses can be sent out respectively within the pulse width of signals V31-V3n, as the signals V41-V4n shown in Figure 4. In Figure ~, Nl=3, N2=6 N3=9.
The parallel output of the sub-code generator 104 is composited into a serial signal V5 through the composite circuit 105 made of a multi-input OR gate. The output 106 comprises a multi-output circuit 106 and a plurality of shaping and attenuating circuits 1062 which will be further explained hereinafter. In Figure 3, there are also a frequency divider 107, a counter 108 and a dis-play 109, which can count the number of the sub-code pulses in the vital information signals sent out by the apparatus during a fixed period thus errors in the signals can be shown on display 109, when there are any. An alarm device can also be added to detect errors in the signals. A selecting circuit 110 can be made of a selecting switch to select respectively corresponding signals sent out parallelly from circuit 1061 and to display the signal level on the display 111. In the circuit shown in Figure 3, each waveform parameter of the output signal V5, such as F, D, Nl-Nn, and dr can be determined by presetting the frequency F
of the main frequency generator 101, the pulse width P of the duty cycle control circuit 103, the frequencies fl~fn and the duty ' ~
, ';''' `' :

71~3~4S

cycle d of the controllable oscillators and the duty cycle d of the controllable oscillators 1041-104n, so as to guarantee the correct code structure of the waveform.
Figure 5A-SC are block diagrams of the second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. In Figure 5A, the reference numeral 200 indicates the apparatus as a whole;
the main frequency generator 101, the time sequence circuit 102 ~; the output circuit 106 and electrodes 10 are the same as those shown in Figures 2 and 3, 201 indicates a coded pulse generating circuit and 202 indicates a code-controlling circuit. The coded pulse generating circuit 201 can be made of the practical circuits shown in Figure 5s or 5C, which generates a burst with a predetermined frequency according to the input clock signal and control signals, while the code-controlling circuit 202 counts ~- the pulse train sent out by the circuit 201. When the counting reaches a predeterminal value, the code-controlling circuit 202 sends out a reset pulse which resets the coded pulse generatin~
circuit 201 and the next burst with another specific frequency will be sent out after a predetermined time period. In this way, the coded pulse generating circuit 201, under the control of the circuit 202, generates a train o~ bursts, in which the frequency and the pulse number of each burst meet the predetermined ~oding requirements, as shown by Vc in Figure 6. The code-controlling circuit 202 can be made of, for example, a presettable counter, a programmable counter, a counter/pulse-distributor, or a counter/
di~ider; etc.
Figure 5B shows a circuit structure of the coded pulse generating circuit 201 which comprises a charging current switch 2011, a discharging curent switch 2012, a capacitor 2013, a pulse generator 2014 and n parallel constant current sources 2015. The pulse generator 2014 can be made of a time basa circuit, a phase locked loop freguency divider or a programmable frequency divider, ect. Under the control o~ the code-controlling circuit 202, the cons-tant current sources 2015 charge the capacitor 2013 through the charging current switch 2011. When the potential of the capacitor 2013 reaches a predetermined value, the charging current switch 2011 is opened while the discharging current switch 2012~ is closed so as to discharge the capacitor 2013. In this way, a sawtooth waveis generated, as shown in Fig. 6. The slope of the sawtooth wave can be changed by adjusting the current ; intensity of the constant current sources 2015, thus the width of the sawtooth wave is changed; therefore, the times oE charging-discharging of the current within a determined period can be changed. The signal Vb is lnputted into the pulse gen~ator 2014 to generate signal Vc which is counted by the code-controlling circuit 202, and the pulse generator 2014 is reset according to the counted value so as to gaurantee the desired distance between the bursts.
The code pulse generating circuit shown in Fig. 5B
can be replaced by a programmable frequency divider, as shown in Fig. 5C. The programmable frequency divider divides properly a high freguency clock signal according to a routine to generate pulses with a desired frequency.
Under the control of the programmable component, different ~z7~a5 signal parameters can be set to generate the vital in~ormation signals which meet diE~erent coding requirements.
It can be seen by comparing Fig 6 with Figs 1~-lE
and Fig 4 that signal Vd has the same structure with that oE -the main code shown in Fig.lA. Its ~requecy ; F is determilled by the main ~requency generator 101 while its duty cycle D is detemined by the coded pulse generating ciruit 201 as well as the coding control circuit 202. Vc has the same structure with that of the pulse train o~ the vital in~ormation signals shown in Fig. lc and Vs of Fig.4, wherein the number of the sub-code pulses enclosed within the envelope o~
the main code pulses is counted by the code-controlling circuit 202 and the counted result is controlled according to preset values or a program.
The third embodiment o~ the apparatus according to the present invention is shown in Fig.7 wherein the re~erence numeral 300 indicates the apparatus as a whole; 301 indicates a central processing unit CPU, 302 indicates a memory; 303 indicates an external input interface; 304 indicates a clock circuit which provides a timing signal ~or the system and works at a ~requency of at least 30 MHz; 305 indicates a pulse generator, which generates under the real time control o~ the CPU 301 pulse signals that are sent out by the ouput circuit 306 after being shaped and attenuated.
Fig.8 shows a ~low chart o~ the routine used in the apparatus 300. In this routine, step 100 inputs ~;2'7~ 5 initial values into CPU 301, including the time sequence number n, number of cycles of the signal M, the duty cycle of the main code D, the duty cycle of the sub-code d, the number of sub-code pulses N(i), the signal's output level U, the main code time period C, the main code pulse width P ~C=P+E, D=P/E). The meaning of each parametex is the same as that shown in Figs lA-lE. Steps 101 and 102 are conventional setting steps. After judging by the judging step 103, the routine comes to calculating steps. In step 106, P=DC/~l~D) is calculated and in step 107 the sub-code pulse width p is calculated by the equation p=dP[N(i)(d+1~-1]. In step 109, a control signal is sent out according to the sub-code pulse width calculated, lS which signal makes the pulse generating circuit 305 ~; generate a sub-code pulse with a pulse width p. After the cycling of steps 109-111, the pulse generating circuit 305 generates a oorrect number of sub-code pulses, and then the routine comes to step 112, step 112 controls the pulse generating circuit 305, which sends out a null signal during the period E (~=C-P). After step ~ 113, the routine returns to step 103 and starts calulating ;~ and sending ou-t sub-code pulses of the next main code .~
pulse. When i=n, a complete vital in~ormation signal has been sent out and the routine, controlled by step lOS, repeats the output of the vital information signal according to a predetermined number M.
Figs. 9~ and 9B show the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, in which the reference numberal 400 indicates the , ~ .

apparatus as a whole; 401 indicates a light modulating device; 402 indicates a light source which can be any conventional or laser light source; 403 indicates a photosensitive devlce such as a photosensitive diode or a photosensitiva FET etc, with its photo~lectric response time being T < 10 S, dark current I ~ 10 8A, and photoelectric sensitivity S > 100 microampere/LX;
404 indicates a driving device, such as a high speed motor, which drives the light modulating device 401 to move relatively to the light source 402 and the photosensitive device 403, 405 indicates an amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal generated by the photosensitive device 403 and feeds it to the output circuit 106. A light grid formed on the light modulating device 401 has its width corresponding to the pulse waveform of the desired signal. As shown in Fig. 9B, . when the light modulating device 401 driven by the driving device 404 moves relatively to the light source 402 and the photosensitive device 403, the light emitted ~rom the light source 403 is modulated into a light pulse train similar to the desired pulse train, and : the photosensitive device 403 generates, corresponding : to this light pulse train, an electric pulse train which can be sent out through the electrodes ~or medical and heal-th care uses or through the amplifer 405 and the output circuit 106 to give it a proper level and :.~ then send it out multiply. Ob~iously, the light modulating device 402 can be changed from transmissive type shown . ~ in Fig.9A into the reflective type and with corresponding rearrangement of tl-e light source 402 and the .~ .,.

s photosensitive device 403, a simlar result can be achieved. In this embodiment, the main code fre~uency, duty cycle and the sub-code ~requencies can be adjusted by changing the rotary speed of the dri~ing device 404, the radius of the light modulating device 401 and the distance between the slots thereon.
Referring to Fig.10, an illustrative diagram o~ the first embodiment of the method according to the present invention is shown, in which 501 indicates a signal output interface7 502 indicates a video signal reproducing apparatus, such as a video tape recorder, a laser disc player, etc; 503 indicates a video signal recording medium such as video tapes, laser discs, etc. the method includes the following steps:
1. recording the pulse traln signals generated by any one of the embodiments o~ the apparatus according to the present invention on a video signal recording medium, such as a video tape or a laser disc, after proper adjusting of the level;
2. generating coded pulse train ot the present invention by using the above-mentioned recording medium and a signal reproduction apparatus as the signal sour~e;
3. feeding the generated pulse train through the signal output interface 501 to the output circui~ 106; and 4. sending out ~he signals shaped and a~tenuated by the output circuit 106 through electrodes 10 for medical or health care uses.
Referring to Fig.11, there is shown an illustrative di~gram of the second embodiment of the method according to the present invention, in which 601 indicates an .

8~S

output interface; 602 indicates a computer which has a cloc~ frequency of over 30 MHz; 603 indicates a memory medium for the program, such as a tape, a hard disc, a soft disc or the internal memory within the 5 computerO The method includes the following steps:
1. programming the vital information signal according to the present invention into a routine by steps shown in the flow chart of Fig.8;
2. genera~ing the real time control signals by using computer 602 according to the waveform paramenters inputted in the routine;
3. feeding the control signals through the interface 601 to the pulse generator 305 for generating desired coded pulse train signals;
4. shaping and at~enuating the coded pulse train signals through the output circuit 106 and then sending out the signals for medical and health care uses.
Re*erring to Fig.12, there is shown an illustrative diagram of the output circuit 106 of the present invention, in which 1061 indicates a level adjusting ~; circuit, 1062 and 1063 are the signal attenuating device of the present invention, Vi is the input of ; the circuit, V01-Von are the n parallel outputs. The level adjusting circuit 1061 can adjust the level of the input signal Vi in a relatively wide range (0-10 MHz) and shape its waveform then send it out through multiple outputs for the use of more than one patient. The signal attenuating devices 1062 and 1063 are resistive attenuating elements with their resistance being lar~er than 107 ohm and their fre~uency ~. .:

~278~?~S

response range being between 0 to 10 MEz. The signal attenuatingdevice can be made of biological materials, such as a piece of ~;~ dried blood vessel or peritonaeum after preservative treatment, ~- so as to get the preferred output waveform~ The biological materials can be obtained from animals such as rat, rabbitr or chicken. A piece of the material should be treated by any conven-; tional antiseptic agent under sterilized conditions then sealed by any conventional sealing agent in a sealing member such as a glass or plastic tube with two ends of the piece being kept in direct contact with two electrodes which are led out of the seal-ing member. The piece of the biological material should be dried to keep the water contained therein less than 8 percent, prefer-ably 4 percent, the length of the piece can be adjusted to obtain the desired resistance value. The made-ready attenuating device should be the inserting-type and should not be soldered under high temperature.
The output electrodes of the present invention include a positive one and a negative one which can be made of any conduc-tive material, but preferably an acupuncture needle or a thin copper sheet, the latter can be used as a non-invasive electrode to avoid pain caused by the needle. When the vital information signals of the present invention are used for medical or health care purposes, the proper acupoints should be chosen as the address windows for information exchange according to patients' conditions.
The blood vessel invasion of the needles can also be used, such as invading the positive electrode into an artery vessel of one ::
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' ' ' ' ~27~5 arm and the negative electrode into a vein vessel of the opposite leg, so as to achieve better effects of the information exchange;
however, to prevent harmful effects, the invasive application of the electrodes should be avoided if the signals are not properly shaped and attenuated.
The apparatus and method for generating the vital infor-mation signals according to the present invention have been described hereinbefore, the above examples being used only for the convenience of explaining and understanding. For those skilled 10in the art, many amendments and modifications can be made to the above examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefor, the scope of the present inven-tion will not be limited to the above examples and shall only be determined by the claims attached hereinafter.

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Claims

1. Apparatus for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
a pulse generator means for generating a train of main pulses of constant width and spacing, a constant frequency in the range of 230 - 280 kHz, and a constant duty cycle in the range of 0.33 -5.0, wherein each main pulse includes a plurality of secondary pulses; a signal output circuit; and at least one pair of output electrodes connected to the output circuit;
wherein the output circuit shapes and attenuates the main pulses, and the number of secondary pulses within a main pulse varies in some of the main pulses.

2. The apparatus for generating signals defined in claim 1, wherein said pulse generator means is characterized by:
a main signal generating circuit, which comprises a main frequency generator, a duty cycle control circuit and a time sequence circuit, and generates an envelope signal having said frequency and duty cycle;
a plurality of secondary signal generators, which generate sequentially a plurality of parallel bursts with desired frequencies and pulse numbers under the control of said time sequence circuit and said envelope signal; and a composite circuit which combines said parallel bursts generated by said secondary signal generators into a serial pulse train.

3. The apparatus for generating signals defined in claim 1, wherein said pulse generator means is characterized by;
a pulse generating circuit a control circuit; and main frequency generators;
wherein said pulse generating circuit generates said pulse train under the control of said control circuit, which comprises a controlling circuit and a time sequence circuit, said controlling circuit and a time sequence circuit, said controlling circuit counts the output pulses provided by said pulse generating circuit and resets said circuit according to the counted number and a preset number therein, whereby the structure of the output signals is controlled.

4. The apparatus for generating signals defined in claim 1, wherein said pulse generator means is characterized by:
a central processing unit, which provides control signals for real time control of the generation of pulses according to initialized parameters and an inputted routine;
a memory, which stores said routine and parameters for controlling the generation of the pulse train;
an input interface circuit, through which the parameters and routine are inputted into said memory and CPU; and a pulse generator which generates said pulse train under the control of the CPU.

5. The apparatus for generating signals defined in claim 1, wherein said pulse generator means is characterized by:
a light source;
a photosensitive device;
a light modulating device; and a driving device;
a modulating pattern being formed on said light-modulating device corresponding to the waveform of the signals, whereby when said light-modulating device is driven to move at a certain speed relatively towards said light source and said photosensitive device, the light emitted from said light source is modulated into a light pulse train with a specific waveform which makes said photosensitive device generate a corresponding electric pulse train.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the parameter n of said pulse train indicating a sequence number of the main signals, d indicating a duty cycle of the secondary signals, Ni indicating a number of pulses within the main signal number, i,i:1-n, a table of said parameters being as follows:

n=6

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the n of said pulse train indicating a sequence number of the main signals, d indicating a duty cycle of the secondary signals;
Ni indicating a number of pulses within the main signal number i, i: 1-n, a table of said parameters being as follows:

n=4

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the n of said pulse train indicating a sequence number of the main signals, d indicating a duty cycle of the secondary signals, Ni indicating a number of the pulses within the main signal number i, i: 1-n, a table of said parameters being as follows:

n=2 d: 0.8-1.2

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the n of said pulse train indicating a sequence number of the main signals, d indicating a duty cycle of the secondary signals, Ni indicating a number of pulses within main signal number i, i:
1-n, a table of said parameters being as follows:
N=2 d: 0.8-1.2 Nl N2

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by said signal output circuit comprising a level adjusting circuit and a signal attenuating device which is connected between said level adjusting circuit and said electrodes with its resistance being more than 107 ohm and its frequency response range being between 0-10MHz.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, characterized by said signal attenuating device being a piece of biological tissue after preservative treatment.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a counter and a display, said counter counting the number of output pulses of said signals within a fixed time period to check if there is any error in the signals and to display its checking results on said display.

13. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claims 1-5 is recorded on said information recording medium;
the pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit; and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

14. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium, a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 6 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

15. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:

the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 7 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

16. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 8 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

17. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 9 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

18. A system for generating signals for application to A
living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus, an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 10 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

19. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 11 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

20. A system for generating signals for application to a living body comprising:
an information recording medium;
a signal reproducing apparatus;
an interface circuit;
an output circuit; and a pair of electrodes;
characterized in that:
the pulse train generated by the apparatus defined by any one of Claim 12 is recorded on said information recording medium;
The pulse train recorded on said medium is reproduceable by said signal reproducing apparatus which provides the reproduced pulse train to said output circuit via said interface circuit: and said output circuit comprises an attenuating device which attenuates said reproduced pulse train in a frequency response range of 0-10MHz, then provides the attenuated pulse train via said electrodes to specific positions on a living body.

21. The system as claimed in Claim 13, further characterized in that:

said information recording medium is a video signal recording medium; and said signal reproducing apparatus is a video signal reproducing apparatus.

22. The system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, further characterized in that:
said information recording medium is a video signal recording medium; and said signal reproducing apparatus is a video signal reproducing apparatus.

23. The system as claimed in Claim 13, further characterized in that:
said information recording medium is means for storing computer routines and data, and said signal reproducing apparatus is a computer and its output equipment.

24. The system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20 further characterized in that:
said information recording medium is means for storing computer routines and data, and said signal reproducing apparatus is a computer and its output equipment.

25. An apparatus for generating vital information signals and applying them to the body of a patient, comprising;

means for generating an electrical signal comprising a pulse train consisting of a series of bursts of pulses, wherein the bursts are regularly spaced in time, and wherein each burst is made up of a plurality of pulses, the number of pulses in each burst varying from one burst to the next in a predetermined manner, and the frequency of the pulses in each burst varying from one burst to the next in a manner corresponding to the variation in the number of pulses in each burst such that all of the bursts are of equal time duration, the range of frequencies of the bursts being between about 230 and about 280 KHz, and the duty cycle of said bursts in said pulse train being in the range of 0.33 - 5.0;
and at least one pair of electrodes connected to said means for generating an electrical signal for applying said pulse train to the body of the patient.