Extracorporeal shock wave generating device

Abstract

An extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing, the internal space of which is filled with a shock wave generating medium; a window which is provided in the housing and which transmits the laser light from the outside of the housing to the inside of the housing; and a shock wave transmission unit coupled to the housing and configured to transmit to the outside a shock wave generated as the laser light reacts with the shock wave generating medium inside the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an extracorporeal shock wave generating device, and more particularly, to an extracorporeal shock wave generating device having a structure capable of effectively transmitting shock waves to an object through a shock wave transmitting unit, wherein the shock waves are generated by reacting laser light to a shock wave generating medium filled in a shell. Background Art

[0002] Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a treatment method that relieves pain by applying shock waves directly to the painful area in the body. It can be used to treat various diseases, such as: shoulder pain (calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, frozen shoulder), elbow pain, knee pain (degenerative arthritis, anserine tendinitis), Achilles tendonitis, pain in the sole of the foot (plantar fasciitis), hip pain (greater trochanteric pain syndrome, greater trochanteric bursitis), muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome), etc.

[0003] Although extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a non-surgical treatment method, it has the advantages of being effective, allowing patients to return to their daily lives immediately after treatment, and requiring a short treatment time, so it is a convenient treatment option. Summary of the invention

[0004] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an extracorporeal shock wave generating device having a structure capable of effectively transmitting shock waves to a subject through a shock wave transmitting unit, wherein the shock waves are generated by reacting laser light to a shock wave generating medium filled in a shell.

[0006] Solutions for solving problems

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an extracorporeal shock wave generating device may include: a shell, an internal space of which is filled with a shock wave generating medium; a window, which is arranged in the above-mentioned shell and is used to transmit laser light from the outside of the above-mentioned shell to the inside of the above-mentioned shell; and a shock wave transmission unit, which is combined with the above-mentioned shell and is used to transmit the shock wave generated by the reaction of the laser to the above-mentioned shock wave generating medium inside the above-mentioned shell to the outside.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned extracorporeal shock wave generating device may further include a combining unit for combining the above-mentioned shell with the above-mentioned shock wave transmitting unit.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned extracorporeal shock wave generating device may further include a buffer unit, which is used to reduce the size of the generated shock wave.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the buffer unit has elasticity and may be formed in a plate shape.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the buffer unit may be provided to be in close contact with a cover covering the opening of the housing or a surface of the shock wave transmission unit.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit may be an acoustic lens having one flat surface and another concave surface.

[0013] According to an embodiment, when the extracorporeal shock wave generating device transmits shock waves to an object having a transmission medium in a gel state coated on its surface, as the transmission medium flows into the concave portion of the shock wave transmission unit, the shock wave transmission unit comes into close contact with the object.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit may be an acoustic lens having one flat surface and another convex surface.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned extracorporeal shock wave generating device also includes: a buffer unit, which is used to seal the first space in the above-mentioned shell filled with the above-mentioned shock wave generating medium, so that the second space sealed by the above-mentioned buffer unit and the above-mentioned shock wave transmitting unit can be filled with the shock wave transmitting medium.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit may be formed in a cap shape protruding in a direction in which the shock wave is transmitted.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit may be formed in a cap shape protruding in the direction of shock wave transmission, and the distal end may be formed in a flat plane shape.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the window may be formed as a lens capable of focusing the laser light, and may be moved in height according to a set target transmission depth of the shock wave.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the extracorporeal shock wave generating device may further include: a shock wave generating medium adjusting unit, which adjusts the amount of the shock wave generating medium installed in the first space according to the height movement of the window.

[0020] According to an embodiment, an upper portion of the inner space of the housing may have a dome-shaped cross-section.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit may be formed of a low-density plastic material.

[0022] Effects of the Invention

[0023] The device according to the embodiment of the present invention can effectively transmit the shock wave generated by the reaction of the laser to the shock wave generating medium filled in the housing to the object through the shock wave transmission unit.

[0024] The device according to the embodiment of the present invention has the effect of adjusting the shock wave generated by the buffer unit provided in the device to an intensity suitable for extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

[0025] The device according to the embodiment of the present invention can effectively adjust the shock wave transmission depth transmitted to the object by configuring the shock wave transmission unit provided in the device as a concave-shaped or convex-shaped acoustic lens.

[0026] The device according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a lens capable of focusing the laser within the device, and has the effect of being able to adjust the set target transmission depth of the shock wave by moving the height of the lens.

[0027] The device according to the embodiment of the present invention can effectively transmit the shock wave generated by the reaction between the shock wave generating medium inside the shell and the laser to the target side by setting the upper part of the internal space of the shell to have a dome-shaped cross section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more fully understand the drawings referenced in the detailed description of the present invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

[0029] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded view of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device shown in FIG.

[0031] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 A diagram of another embodiment of a shock wave delivery unit is shown in FIG.

[0032] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded view of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device shown in FIG.

[0034] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 4 A diagram of another embodiment of a shock wave delivery unit is shown in FIG.

[0035] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The technical idea of ​​the present invention can be modified in many ways and has many embodiments. Specific embodiments will be shown in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the technical idea of ​​the present invention to the specific implementation of the technical idea. It should be understood that all changes, equivalents or substitutes within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0037] When describing the technical idea of ​​the present invention, if the detailed description of the related known technology is judged to be likely to confuse the main idea of ​​the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the numbers (e.g., first, second, etc.) used in the description of this specification are merely identification symbols used to distinguish one component from another component.

[0038] In addition, in this specification, when it comes to a situation where one component is "connected" or "linked" with another component, the above-mentioned component can also be directly connected or directly linked to the above-mentioned other component. Unless there is a specific record to the contrary, it should be understood that the connection or linking can also be achieved by interposing another component in the middle.

[0039] In addition, the terms "part", "device", "sub-device", "module" and the like described in this specification refer to units for processing at least one function or operation, and these units can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, such as a processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processor (APU), a drive signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and can also be implemented in the form of a combination with a memory for storing data required to process at least one function or operation.

[0040] In addition, it should be made clear that the division of components in this specification is only based on the main functions that each component is responsible for. That is, two or more components to be described below can be configured to be combined into one component, or one component can be configured as two or more components according to the subdivided functions. Moreover, each component to be described below, in addition to performing the main functions that it is responsible for, can also perform part or all of the functions that other components are responsible for. Of course, part of the main functions that each component is responsible for can also be responsible for and performed by other components.

[0041] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded view of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device shown in FIG. Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 A diagram of another embodiment of a shock wave delivery unit is shown in FIG.

[0042] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention, an extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A may include: a shell 100A, a window 110A, a buffer unit 120A, a cover 130A, a combining unit 140A and a shock wave transmitting unit 150A.

[0043] The housing 100A is a portion forming the main body of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A, and the user can use the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A by grasping the outer surface of the housing 100A.

[0044] The internal space SP of the housing 100A may be filled with a shock wave generating medium.

[0045] According to the embodiment, the shock wave generating medium may correspond to various substances that can react with the laser light LB and generate shock waves.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the shock wave generating medium may be formed of solid, liquid, gas, an intermediate state thereof, or a combination thereof.

[0047] According to an embodiment, the shock wave generating medium may be water or water to which an additive for adjusting the degree of reaction with the laser light LB is added.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the upper portion TP of the internal space SP of the housing 100A may be formed to have a dome-shaped cross section. In this case, the shock wave generation efficiency may be improved by reflecting the shock wave having a transmission direction opposite to the object OBJECT in the shock wave SW generated by the reaction RCT of the laser LB and the shock wave generating medium toward the object OBJECT.

[0049] According to an embodiment, when the upper portion TP of the internal space SP of the housing 100A is formed to have a dome-shaped cross-section, the inclination of the dome-shaped shape can be determined according to the position (or height) set to focus the laser LB. For example, the inclination of the dome-shaped shape is determined to be steeper when the position set to focus the laser LB is relatively close to the object OBJECT side, and the inclination of the dome-shaped shape is determined to be more gentle when the position set to focus the laser LB is relatively far from the object OBJECT side.

[0050] A through hole HL having a through hole shape for passing the laser light LB may be formed in the upper portion of the housing 100A.

[0051] The window 110A is provided in the housing 100A, and may transmit the laser light LB from the outside of the housing 100A to the inside of the housing 100A.

[0052] According to an embodiment, the window 110A may be mounted in a groove formed on the through hole HL of the housing 100A.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the window 110A may be formed of a material capable of transmitting the laser light LB.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the window 110A may be formed in a plate-like structure that simply transmits the laser light LB.

[0055] According to another embodiment, the window 110A may be formed as a lens capable of focusing the laser light LB, for example, a convex lens.

[0056] The buffer unit 120A can reduce the size of the shock wave SW generated by the reaction between the shock wave generating medium and the laser light LB.

[0057] According to an embodiment, the buffer unit 120A has elasticity and may be formed in a plate shape.

[0058] According to an embodiment, the buffer unit 120A may be formed of a silicon material.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the buffer unit 120A may be disposed to be in close contact with a cover 130A covering the opening portion of the housing 100A or a surface of the shock wave transmission unit 150A.

[0060] According to an embodiment, an open area in the housing 100A may be sealed by the buffer unit 120A or the cover 130A, and the sealed inner space SP may be filled with a shock wave generating medium.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A may not include the buffer unit 120A or the cover 130A. In this case, the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A may further include a sealing member (not shown) for sealing the internal space SP of the housing 100A.

[0062] The shock wave transmission unit 150A may be coupled to the housing 100A via the coupling unit 140A.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit 150A may also be directly coupled to the housing 100A without the coupling unit 140A.

[0064] The shock wave transmission unit 150A can transmit the shock wave SW generated as the laser light LB reacts to the shock wave generating medium filling the internal space SP of the housing 100A to the outside of the housing 100A.

[0065] The shock wave transmitted by the shock wave transmission unit 150A may be transmitted to the object OBJECT side.

[0066] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit 150A may be formed of low-density plastic, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

[0067] The depth DT of the shock wave transmitted to the inside of the object OBJECT may differ according to the shape of the shock wave transmission unit 150A.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit 150A may be a lens having a flat surface and a concave shape on the other surface. In this case, the shock wave transmission unit 150A may focus the shock wave transmitted to the side of the object OBJECT, thereby narrowing the range of the shock wave transmitted to the object OBJECT and making the depth DT of the shock wave transmitted to the inside of the object OBJECT relatively deep.

[0069] For example, when the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10A transmits shock waves to an object OBJECT having a transmission medium TMD in a gel state coated on its surface, the shock wave transmission unit 150A can be in close contact with the object OBJECT as the transmission medium TMD flows into the recessed portion of the shock wave transmission unit 150A.

[0070] refer to Figure 3According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit 150A' may be an acoustic lens having a flat surface and a convex shape on the other surface. In this case, the shock wave transmission unit 150A may expand the range of the shock wave transmitted to the object OBJECT by dispersing the shock wave transmitted to the side of the object OBJECT, and make the depth DT of the shock wave transmitted to the inside of the object OBJECT relatively shallow.

[0071] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded view of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device shown in FIG. Figure 6 It is shown Figure 4 A diagram of another embodiment of a shock wave delivery unit is shown in FIG.

[0072] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , compared to Figure 1 According to another embodiment of the present invention, the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10B does not include the cover 130A and the coupling unit 140A, but includes a shock wave transmission unit 150B of another form. Figure 5 The structure and function of the housing 100B and the window 110B can be Figure 1 The structures and functions of the housing 100A and the window 110A are substantially the same.

[0073] Figure 5 The middle shock wave transmission unit 150B may be formed in a cap shape that protrudes toward a direction (eg, a lower side) in which the shock wave SW is transmitted.

[0074] The housing 100B may be directly combined with the shock wave transmission unit 150B, and a buffer unit 120B may be provided between the housing 100B and the shock wave transmission unit 150B.

[0075] The open area of ​​the housing 100B may be sealed by the buffer unit 120B, and the first space SP1 sealed by the housing 100B and the buffer unit 120B may be filled with a shock wave generating medium.

[0076] The open area of ​​the shock wave transmission unit 150B may be sealed by the buffer unit 120B, and the second space SP2 sealed by the buffer unit 120B and the shock wave transmission unit 150B may be filled with a shock wave transmission medium.

[0077] Through the buffer unit 120B, the first space SP1 and the second space SP2 may be completely separated.

[0078] The intensity of the shock wave SW generated by the reaction RCT of the laser LB and the shock wave generating medium can be adjusted by the buffer unit 120B, and the shock wave SW transmitted through the buffer unit 120B can be transmitted to the object OBJECT through the shock wave transmission medium filled in the second space SP2 and by the shock wave transmission unit 150B.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission medium may be formed of water, but is not limited thereto.

[0080] Since the shock wave transmission medium does not need to react with the laser light LB, it can be composed of a material different from the shock wave generation medium.

[0081] refer to Figure 6 According to an embodiment, the shock wave transmission unit 150B' may be formed in a cap shape protruding in the direction of shock wave transmission, and the distal end may be formed in a flat plane shape.

[0082] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 7 , compared to Figure 4 The extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10B according to another embodiment of the present invention has a structural difference in that it has a window 110C with a different shape, and also includes a close-fitting component 111C and a medium adjustment portion 112C for shock wave generation.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the window 110C may be formed of a lens capable of focusing the laser light LB, such as a convex lens, and may be capable of being moved in height according to a set target transmission depth of the shock wave.

[0085] According to an embodiment, a close contact member 111C for close contact between the housing 100C and the window 110C may be provided on the outer periphery of the window 110C.

[0086] According to an embodiment, the user may apply physical force through a switch (not shown) formed on the outside of the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10C, thereby moving the height of the window 110C.

[0087] According to another embodiment, in order to electrically move the height of the window 110C, the extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10C may further include a driving system, such as a motor.

[0088] The extracorporeal shock wave generating device 10C may include a shock wave generating medium adjustment portion 112C that can adjust the amount of the shock wave generating medium in the first space SP1 of the housing 100C according to the height movement of the window 110C.

[0089] A substance similar to the shock wave generating medium may be filled in at least a part of the space of the shock wave generating medium adjustment section 112C.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the uppermost height of the shock wave generating medium filled in the shock wave generating medium adjusting portion 112C is higher than the uppermost height of the first space SP1 of the housing 100C, and an empty space may be provided above the shock wave generating medium adjusting portion 112C.

[0091] According to the embodiment, as the height of the window 110C rises, the shock wave generating medium accommodated in the shock wave generating medium adjusting portion 112C may move to the first space SP1 of the housing 100C to fill up the first space SP1.

[0092] According to the embodiment, as the height of the window 110C is lowered, the shock wave generating medium accommodated in the first space SP1 of the housing 100C may move to the shock wave generating medium adjusting portion 112C.

[0093] The present invention has been described in detail above through preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes within the technical concept and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An extracorporeal shock wave generating device, comprising: A shell, the interior space of which is filled with a shock wave generating medium; a window disposed in the housing and configured to transmit laser light from outside the housing to inside the housing; and A shock wave transmission unit is combined with the housing and is used to transmit the shock wave generated as the laser reacts to the shock wave generating medium inside the housing to the outside.

2. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The extracorporeal shock wave generating device further comprises: A combining unit is used to combine the shell and the shock wave transmission unit.

3. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The extracorporeal shock wave generating device further comprises: A buffer unit is used to reduce the size of the generated shock wave.

4. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 3, wherein: The buffer unit has elasticity and is formed in a plate shape.

5. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 4, wherein: The buffer unit is provided to be in close contact with a cover covering the opening of the housing or a surface of the shock wave transmission unit.

6. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The shock wave transmission unit is an acoustic lens with one surface being flat and the other surface being concave.

7. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 6, wherein: When the extracorporeal shock wave generating device transmits shock waves to an object having a transmission medium in a gel state coated on its surface, the shock wave transmission unit comes into close contact with the object as the transmission medium flows into the concave portion of the shock wave transmission unit.

8. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The shock wave transmission unit is an acoustic lens with one surface being flat and the other surface being convex.

9. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 1, wherein: The extracorporeal shock wave generating device further comprises: a buffer unit for sealing a first space in the housing filled with the shock wave generating medium, Furthermore, the second space sealed by the buffer unit and the shock wave transmitting unit is filled with a shock wave transmitting medium.

10. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 9, wherein: The shock wave transmission unit is formed in a cap shape protruding in the direction of shock wave transmission.

11. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 10, wherein: The shock wave transmission unit is formed in a cap shape protruding in the direction of shock wave transmission, and the distal end is formed in a flat plane shape.

12. The extracorporeal shock wave generator according to claim 9, wherein: The window is formed as a lens capable of focusing the laser light. Furthermore, it is possible to move in height according to the set target transmission depth of the shock wave.

13. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 12, wherein: The extracorporeal shock wave generating device further comprises: A shock wave generating medium adjustment unit adjusts the amount of the shock wave generating medium contained in the first space according to the height movement of the window.

14. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 1, wherein: An upper portion of the inner space of the housing has a dome-shaped cross-section.

15. The extracorporeal shock wave generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The shock wave transmission unit is formed of a low-density plastic material.

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