Acupoint stimulation device and acupoint stimulation method using the same

An acupoint stimulation device for electrically stimulating an acupoint area of a subject including an acupoint and a portion around the acupoint, the acupoint stimulation device comprising:

• a power supply unit configured to supply power;
• a controller configured to generate an electrical stimulus signal applied to a skin of the subject;
• and
• an electrical stimulation unit comprising two or more electrodes configured to receive power from the power supply unit and to supply the stimulus signal to the acupoint area, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a state of being electrically insulated from each other and are adapted to be in contact with the skin of the subject,
• wherein the electrical stimulation unit comprises three or more electrodes, and
• the controller is configured to apply the stimulus signal to electrode pairs each comprising two electrodes selected from among the electrodes,
• wherein the controller is configured to alternately apply the stimulus signal to each of the electrode pairs,
• further comprising:
• a temperature sensor unit configured to measure a skin temperature of the acupoint area;
• and
• a heating unit configured to receive power from the power supply unit so as to increase a temperature of a deep portion of the acupoint area,
• a biosignal measurement unit configured to measure a biosignal of the subject,
• wherein the controller is configured to perform control such that supply of the stimulus signal is stopped when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor unit reaches a set temperature, or wherein the controller is configured to perform control such that power supplied to the heating unit is cut off when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor unit reaches a set temperature,
• wherein the controller is configured to calculate a biometric level from the biosignal measured by the biosignal measurement unit, and to generate the stimulus signal by comparing the calculated biometric level with a preset target biometric level,
• wherein the controller is configured to measure a biopotential of each of the electrodes, calculate a biopotential similarity of each of the electrodes based on the biopotential, then set an electrode pair having a relatively high biopotential similarity as a reference electrode pair, and apply the stimulus signal to the reference electrode pair, and
• wherein the biopotential similarity is calculated as being higher at a position closer to an acupoint than at a position farther from the acupoint.