Applicators, therapeutic instruments, and therapeutic devices

Abstract

The present invention provides an applicator that can simplify the assembly and manufacturing process of instruments, as well as a therapeutic device and therapeutic apparatus that utilize the applicator. [Solution] The first applicator 14 includes a piston 36 that is movable in the front-rear direction and moves forward from a predetermined stationary position when an external force is applied, and a bellows 37 that at least partially surrounds the piston 36 and works to return the piston 36, which has moved forward from the predetermined stationary position, back to the predetermined stationary position. The bellows 37 has a main body 39 having a plurality of folds 38a, 38b, 38c, and protrusions 40a, 40b, 40c provided on the valley side surface of the folds 38a, 38b, 38c in the portion of at least one of the folds 38a, 38b, 38c. The protrusions 40a, 40b, 40c extend in the vertical direction, and there are spaces 41a, 41b, 41c between the protrusions 40a, 40b, 40c and the main body 39 in the front-rear direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator for applying shock waves or vibrations to a subject to be treated, a treatment device using the applicator, and a treatment apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an instrument for applying vibrations to the human body. The instrument includes a housing having a distal end, a piston, and a drive device for reciprocating the piston. The piston is disposed in the housing at the distal end so as to be movable in the axial direction and can execute a stroke of at least 1 mm. The drive device includes a projectile disposed proximally to the piston and movable in the axial direction, and an acceleration device for accelerating the projectile in the direction of the piston. By a bellows that at least partially surrounds the piston, the piston is biased to its rest position within the housing, and the impact of the projectile can cause the piston to move distally from the rest position. The bellows has a plurality of round folds, and the folds are reinforced by O-rings inserted into the folds.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, according to the instrument described in Patent Document 1, since an O-ring is inserted into the fold of the bellows, a step of fitting the O-ring to the fold portion of the bellows is required in the process of assembling and manufacturing the instrument, and simplification of the process has been desired. The present invention has been made to meet such a demand, and an object thereof is to provide an applicator capable of simplifying the assembly and manufacturing process, a treatment device using the applicator, and a treatment apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (1) The applicator of the present invention comprises a piston that is movable in the front-rear direction and moves forward from a predetermined stationary position when an external force is applied to it, and a bellows that at least partially surrounds the piston and works to return the piston that has moved forward from the predetermined stationary position back to the predetermined stationary position, wherein the bellows has a main body having a plurality of folds and a protrusion provided on the valley side surface of at least one of the folds, the protrusion extending in the vertical direction, and having a space between the protrusion and the main body in the front-rear direction.

[0006] According to this design, by providing a protrusion at the fold of the bellows, the bellows can be partially thickened, thereby reinforcing it. Since O-rings are not used to reinforce the bellows, the labor required to fit O-rings during manufacturing is eliminated, resulting in reduced manufacturing costs. Because there is space between the protrusion and the main body in the front-to-back direction, the expansion and contraction of the bellows is not hindered, allowing the piston to move smoothly in the front-to-back direction.

[0007] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the applicator of the present invention, the bellows is characterized in that the protrusions are provided at all of the folded portions. This allows the bellows to be more reinforced by providing the protrusions at all of the folded portions compared to the case where the protrusions are provided at only some of the folded portions.

[0008] (3) The present invention is a therapeutic device comprising a housing in which the applicator described in (1) is disposed at the front end, wherein a projectile that can move in the front-rear direction is provided inside the housing, and the external force is due to the projectile being accelerated in the forward direction and colliding with the piston. This makes it possible to provide a therapeutic device that has an applicator that can reinforce the bellows without using an O-ring and can reduce manufacturing man-hours, and in which a so-called shock wave is generated when the accelerated projectile collides with the piston of the applicator.

[0009] (4) The therapeutic device of the present invention is a therapeutic device comprising a housing on which the applicator described in (1) is arranged, wherein an air nozzle is provided inside the housing, and the external force is due to air sprayed from the air nozzle toward the piston. This makes it possible to provide a therapeutic device that has an applicator that can reinforce the bellows without using an O-ring and reduces manufacturing man-hours, and which generates vibration by air sprayed toward the piston of the applicator.

[0010] (5) The present invention is characterized by comprising a therapeutic tool described in (3) and / or (4), and a device body having a control unit and / or drive unit for the therapeutic tool. This makes it possible to provide a therapeutic device that uses a therapeutic tool that can reinforce bellows without using an O-ring and reduces manufacturing man-hours. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an applicator that simplifies the assembly and manufacturing process, a therapeutic tool using the applicator, and a therapeutic device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a therapeutic device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the first handpiece taken along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3]Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the applicator portion of the first handpiece. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the second handpiece cut along the BB line in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the second handpiece cut along the CC line in Figure 1. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the applicator portion of the second handpiece. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the second handpiece. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram of a treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Figure 1 shows a therapeutic device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The therapeutic device 1 comprises a device body 2 and therapeutic tools, a first handpiece 3 and a second handpiece 4. The first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4 are placed on a first support base 5 and a second support base 6, respectively, which are provided on the side of the device body 2. The first handpiece 3 generates shock waves, and the second handpiece 4 generates vibrations. Treatment is performed by pressing the applicators (described later) attached to the first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4 against the affected area of ​​the patient. The first handpiece 3 can relieve muscle tension and pain, and the second handpiece 4 can stimulate metabolic activity and provide relaxation. The device body 2 is equipped with a touch panel 7 and a dial 8. The touch panel 7 allows input of settings such as treatment conditions, and can also display treatment history and treatment conditions. The dial 8 allows the value of the treatment condition (e.g., stimulation intensity) to be increased or decreased. The first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4 are connected to the main unit 2 by the first code 9 and the second code 10, respectively. Power and compressed air are supplied from the main unit 2 to the first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4 via the first code 9 and the second code 10, and electrical signals are exchanged between the main unit 2 and the first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4.

[0014] The structure of the first handpiece 3 will be explained using Figure 2, which is a cross-sectional view of the first handpiece 3 taken along line AA in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the vertical direction and the front-back direction are defined. The first handpiece 3 comprises a grip portion 11 that is held by the therapist and a main body portion 12 that is provided facing forward near the upper end of the grip portion 11. The grip portion 11 and the main body portion 12 constitute the housing. The main body portion 12 has a cylindrical shape in all parts except the front end, and the front end has a larger diameter portion 12a that is thicker than the cylindrical shape. The first trigger switch 13 provided on the grip portion 11 is rotatable around the shaft 13a, and the switch can be operated by rotating it inward from the state shown in Figure 2. The first trigger switch 13 that has been rotated inward from the grip portion 11 is returned to the state shown in Figure 2 by a torsion coil spring (not shown) attached to the shaft 13a. A first applicator 14 for delivering shock waves to the patient is positioned at the front end of the main body 12, and the first applicator 14 can be attached to and detached from the main body 12 by screwing it in. An output adjustment switch 15 for adjusting the output of the shock waves (the intensity of stimulation by the shock waves) is provided at the upper end 11a of the grip portion 11. A first cord connection portion 16 to which the first cord 9 is connected is provided below the grip portion 11.

[0015] A first member 17 is provided inside the main body 12 of the first handpiece 3. Inside the first member 17, a cylindrical second member 18 extending in the front-rear direction is provided, and a projectile 19 movable in the front-rear direction is provided inside the second member 18. Holes 18a (front side) and 18b (rear side) are formed on the front and rear sides of the second member 18, respectively. Inside the first member 17, and outside the second member 18, a third member 20 is provided with a space between it and the second member 18. Holes 20a are formed on the front side of the third member 20 at a position rearward of the hole 18a of the second member 18, and holes 20b are formed on the rear side of the third member 20 at a position facing the hole 18b of the second member 18. A fourth member 21 is provided so as to surround the rear portion of the third member 20, and a fifth member 22 is provided at the front end of the third member 20. A male thread is formed on the outer surface of the front end 22a of the fifth member 22, and the first applicator 14 is screwed into and connected to this male thread. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the rear end 22b of the fifth member 22, and is screwed into and connected to the male thread formed on the outer surface of the front end of the third member 20. The sixth member 23 is provided inside the first member 17, behind the fifth member 22 and outside the front portion of the third member 20, with a space between it and the third member 20. A step 23a (a step formed by having a larger outer diameter than the front end) is provided on the outer surface of the front portion of the sixth member 23, and this step 23a is in contact with a step provided on the inner surface of the first member 17. The rear end of the sixth member 23 is in contact with a step 20c provided on the outer surface of the third member 20. A spring 24 is provided between the rear end of the sixth member 23 and the front end of the fourth member 21. If an impact is applied to the front end of the first handpiece 3 (for example, if the therapist accidentally hits the first applicator 14 against a treatment table, etc.), the spring 24 can mitigate the impact. The projectile 19 is made of stainless steel (SUS630), for example.

[0016] The space 25 between the third member 20 and the fourth member 21, and the internal spaces 18c and 18d of the second member 18 are spaces (collision generation spaces) for the projectile 19 to move forward and collide with the first applicator 14 when compressed air is supplied. The configuration consisting of the projectile 19, the second member 18, the third member 20 and the fourth member 21, and the first applicator 14 is defined as the shock wave generation unit (see Figure 8, described later). The compressed air supplied to space 25 is supplied to the internal space 18c of the second member 18 (the space behind the projectile 19) through the hole 20b formed in the third member 20 and the hole 18b formed in the second member 18. This compressed air accelerates the projectile 19 forward as it moves. At this time, the air in the internal space 18d of the second member 18 (the space in front of the projectile 19) flows through the hole 18a formed in the second member 18, the space 26 between the second member 18 and the third member 20, and the hole 20a formed in the third member 20 into the space 27 between the third member 20 and the sixth member 23. A relief valve (not shown) is provided at the rear end of the sixth member 23, between space 27 and space 28 (the space between the first member 17 and the third member 20). When the pressure in space 27 increases due to the air flowing into space 27 and exceeds a predetermined value, the relief valve opens and air flows from space 27 to space 28. When the pressure in space 27 decreases to below the predetermined value, the relief valve closes. Furthermore, when the projectile 19 collides with the piston 36 of the first applicator 14, it moves backward due to the recoil of the collision. At this time, the air in the internal space 18c of the second member 18 is discharged through the hole 18b formed in the second member 18 and the hole 20b formed in the third member 20.

[0017] The grip portion 11 of the first handpiece 3 is provided with a first solenoid valve 29, a pipe 30a connecting the port P11 of the first solenoid valve 29 to the first cord connection portion 16, a pipe 30b connecting the port P12 of the first solenoid valve 29 to the first exhaust hole 31 provided on the lower surface of the grip portion 11, and a conduit (not shown in Figure 2) connecting the port P13 of the first solenoid valve 29 to the collision generation space. Compressed air is supplied to the port P11 of the first solenoid valve 29 via pipe 30a. Note that the ports P11, P12, and P13 of the first solenoid valve 29 are not shown in Figure 2, but will be described in Figure 8 below.

[0018] Regarding the first applicator 14 provided at the front end of the first handpiece 3, an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 3, will be referred to for explanation. The first applicator 14 has a configuration including a rear case 32, a front case 33, a peripheral case 34, an O-ring 35a, a rear O-ring 35b, a piston 36, and a bellows 37. An internal thread for screwing into the male thread of the front end portion 22a of the fifth member 22 of the first handpiece 3 is formed on the inner surface 32a of the rear case 32, and an external thread is formed on the outer surface 32b of the front end portion of the rear case 32. A groove portion 33a into which the O-ring 35a is fitted is formed on the rear surface of the front case 33, and a hook-shaped portion 33b bent like a hook inward is formed on the front end portion of the front case 33. An internal thread is formed on the inner surface 34a of the peripheral case 34, and a step (a step due to the inner diameter being smaller on the front side than on the rear side) 34b is formed on the inner surface located forward of the inner surface 34a.

[0019] The front surface 36a of the piston 36 is a portion that presses against the patient and is curved. The rear surface 36b of the piston 36 is the portion where the aforementioned projectile 19 collides. A rear O-ring 35b is fitted into a groove portion 36c provided on the rear surface of the piston 36, and a step (a step due to the outer diameter being smaller on the front side than on the rear side) 36d is formed at a position forward of the groove portion 36c. A bellows 37 is fitted between the step 36d of the piston 36 and the rear surface of the hook-shaped portion 33b of the front case 33, and the bellows 37 surrounds the piston 36 at least partially. When the first applicator 14 is attached to the main body portion 12 of the first handpiece 3, the rear O-ring 35b abuts against the front end portion 22a of the fifth member 22, and the piston 36 is in a stationary state at this position (a predetermined stationary position) (see FIG. 2). When the projectile 19 accelerated forward by compressed air collides with the rear surface 36b of the piston 36, the piston 36 moves forward from the predetermined stationary position, and the bellows 37 elastically deform. Due to the elasticity of the bellows 37, the piston 36 moves backward and returns to the predetermined stationary position. Thus, the bellows 37 functions to return the piston 36 that has moved forward from the predetermined stationary position to the predetermined stationary position. Further, the piston 36 is movable in the front-rear direction, and when the projectile 19 collides with the piston 36, a shock wave is generated. Note that as the first applicator 14 attached to the first handpiece 3, a plurality of types having different diameters etc. of the piston 36 can be used.

[0020] The structure of the bellows 37 will be explained using Figure 3. The bellows 37 has a main body 39 having multiple (three in the example shown in Figure 3) folds 38a, 38b, and 38c, and protrusions 40a, 40b, and 40c provided on each of the folds 38a, 38b, and 38c. The protrusions 40a are provided on the valley side of the fold 38a and extend in the vertical direction, the protrusions 40b are provided on the valley side of the fold 38b and extend in the vertical direction, and the protrusions 40c are provided on the valley side of the fold 38c and extend in the vertical direction. There is a space 41a between the protrusion 40a and the main body 39 in the front-rear direction, a space 41b between the protrusion 40b and the main body 39 in the front-rear direction, and a space 41c between the protrusion 40c and the main body 39 in the front-rear direction. In the bellows 37 according to this embodiment, since protrusions 40a, 40b, and 40c are provided in each of the folds 38a, 38b, and 38c, the bellows 37 becomes partially thicker, and the bellows 37 can be reinforced. Although the bellows 37 can be reinforced by providing the protrusions 40b in some of the folds among the multiple folds 38a, 38b, and 38c, for example in the fold 38b, providing the protrusions 40a, 40b, and 40c in each of the folds 38a, 38b, and 38c provides greater reinforcement to the bellows 37 compared to providing the protrusions in only some of the folds. Furthermore, since the protrusions 40a, 40b, and 40c have spaces 41a, 41b, and 41c between them and the main body 39 in the front-rear direction, when the bellows 37 expands and contracts in the front-rear direction, the expansion and contraction of the bellows is not hindered by the change in the width (length in the front-rear direction) of the spaces 41a, 41b, and 41c, allowing the piston 36 to move smoothly in the front-rear direction. The bellows 37 is made of, for example, urethane rubber.

[0021] The assembly and manufacturing process of the first applicator 14 will now be described. Before assembling the first applicator 14, the rear case 32, front case 33, perimeter case 34, O-ring 35a, rear O-ring 35b, piston 36, and bellows 37 are prepared separately. First, the rear O-ring 35b is fitted into the groove 36c of the piston 36, and the O-ring 35a is fitted into the groove 33a of the front case 33. Then, the front case 33 is placed on the rear surface of the front end of the piston 36, and the bellows 37 is fitted between the step 36d of the piston 36 and the rear surface of the hook-shaped portion 33b of the front case 33. After that, the rear case 32 is brought into contact with the front case 33. Finally, the perimeter case 34 is screwed onto the rear case 32 to assemble the first applicator 14. Incidentally, in the conventional device described in Patent Document 1, an O-ring is inserted into the folded portion of the bellows to reinforce it, so a step of fitting the O-ring into the folded portion of the bellows was required in the assembly and manufacturing process of the device. However, according to the first applicator 14 of this embodiment, an O-ring is not used to reinforce the bellows 37. Therefore, in the assembly and manufacturing process, it is only necessary to fit the bellows 37 into the predetermined position, and the step of fitting the O-ring into the folded portion of the bellows is unnecessary, thus simplifying the process compared to the conventional device described in Patent Document 1.

[0022] Next, the structure of the second handpiece 4 will be explained using Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of the second handpiece 4 taken along line BB in Figure 1, and Figure 5, a cross-sectional view of the second handpiece 4 taken along line CC in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the vertical direction and the front-back direction are defined. The second handpiece 4 comprises a first grip case 42a and a second grip case 42b that are held by the therapist, a second trigger switch 43 that fits into an opening 42c formed on the upper surface of the first grip case 42a, and a mounting part 44 that fits into an opening formed on the upper front part of the second grip case 42b. The first grip case 42a, the second grip case 42b, and the mounting part 44 constitute the housing. A second applicator 45 is detachably attached to the mounting part 44 by screwing it in. Below the first grip case 42a and the second grip case 42b, a second cord connection part 46 is provided to which the second cord 10 is connected, and a second solenoid valve 47 and an internal member 48 are provided inside.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, a cylindrical central hole 49 is formed near the center of the internal member 48, penetrating in the front-to-back direction. The rear surface of the piston 60 of the second applicator 45 abuts against the front surface of the internal member 48, and the central hole 49 is located approximately in the center of the rear surface of the piston 60. As shown in Figure 5, the internal member 48 is provided with a roughly cylindrical hole 50, the central part of which bulges upward at the upper end. A cylindrical member 51 is placed with a gap between it and the inner surface of the hole 50, forming a cylindrical space 52, which communicates with the internal space 53 of the second handpiece 4. The lower part of the second grip case 42b is provided with a recessed portion 54 that is recessed to the rear, and a screw hole 54a for inserting a screw 55 for fixing the first grip case 42a and the second grip case 42b is provided at the rear end of the recessed portion 54, and a second exhaust hole 54b is provided near the screw hole 54a. The internal space 53 of the second handpiece 4 is in communication with the external space through the second exhaust hole 54b.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the second solenoid valve 47 has three ports P21, P22, and P23. Port P21 is connected to the piping connection part 57 via a conduit 56 formed in the internal member 48, port P23 is connected to the central hole 49, and port P22 is connected to the hole 50, space 52 (see Figure 5) via a conduit 58 formed in the internal member 48. A pipe (not shown) connected to the second cord connection part 46 is connected to the piping connection part 57 of the internal member 48, and compressed air supplied to the piping connection part 57 via the pipe is injected from port P21 through port P23 to the central hole 49 (air injection port).

[0025] The second applicator 45, provided on the second handpiece 4, will be described with reference to Figure 6, which shows an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof. The second applicator 45 consists of a case 59, a piston 60, and a bellows 61. The inner surface 59a at the rear end of the case 59 has a female thread formed for screwing into a male thread formed on the outer surface of the front end 44a of the mounting portion 44 of the second handpiece 4. A step 59b (a step resulting from the inner diameter on the front side being smaller than the rear side) is formed on the inner surface near the front end of the case 59.

[0026] The front surface 60a of the piston 60 is the part that is pressed against the patient and is curved. The central part of the rear surface 60b of the piston 60 is the part to which compressed air is blown. The middle part of the outer circumference of the piston 60 in the front-to-back direction has an inwardly recessed portion 60c, and a step (a step due to the outer diameter on the rear side being larger than that on the front side) 60d is formed at the rear side of the recess 60c. A bellows 61 is fitted between the step 60d on the piston 60 and the step 59b on the case 59, and the bellows 61 surrounds the piston 60 at least partially. When the second applicator 45 is attached to the mounting portion 44 of the second handpiece 4, the rear surface 60b of the piston 60 comes into contact with the front surface 48a of the internal member 48, and the piston 60 is stationary in this position (a predetermined resting position) (see Figure 4). When compressed air is blown onto the rear surface 60b of the piston 60 through the central hole 49, the piston 60 moves forward from a predetermined resting position, and the bellows 61 undergoes elastic deformation. Due to the elasticity of the bellows 61, the piston 60 moves backward and returns to the predetermined resting position. In this way, the bellows 61 works to return the piston 60, which has moved forward from a predetermined resting position, back to the predetermined resting position. Thus, the piston 60 is movable in the forward and backward directions, and by repeatedly supplying and stopping compressed air, the piston 60 vibrates in the forward and backward directions, allowing the second handpiece 4 to deliver vibrations to the patient. The configuration consisting of the internal components 48 of the second handpiece 4 and the second applicator 45 is defined as the vibration generating unit (see Figure 8 described later). Note that multiple types of second applicators 45 with different piston diameters, etc., can be used as the second applicator 45 attached to the second handpiece 4.

[0027] The structure of the bellows 61 will be explained with reference to Figure 6. The bellows 61 has a main body 63 having multiple (three in the example shown in Figure 6) folds 62a, 62b, and 62c, and a protrusion 64 provided on the valley side surface of the fold 62b. The protrusion 64 extends in the vertical direction, and there is a space 65 between the protrusion 64 and the main body 63 in the front-rear direction. In the bellows 61 according to this embodiment, since the protrusion 64 is provided in the fold 62b, the bellows 61 becomes partially thicker, and the bellows 61 can be reinforced. Note that the protrusion 64 may be provided in each of the folds 62a, 62b, and 62c. Furthermore, since there is a space 65 between the protrusion 64 and the main body 63 in the front-rear direction, when the bellows 61 expands and contracts in the front-rear direction, the expansion and contraction of the bellows 61 is not hindered by a change in the width of the space 65 (length in the front-rear direction), and the piston 60 can be moved smoothly in the front-rear direction. The bellows 61 is made of, for example, urethane rubber.

[0028] The assembly and manufacturing process for the second applicator 45 will now be described. Before assembling the second applicator 45, the case 59, piston 60, and bellows 61 are prepared separately. First, the rear end of the bellows 61 is placed against the step 60d of the piston 60, and the bellows 61 is positioned so that the fold 62a of the bellows 61 fits into the recess 60c of the piston 60. Then, the piston 60 and bellows 61 are inserted into the case 59 to assemble the second applicator 45. The second applicator 45 does not use an O-ring to reinforce the bellows 61. Therefore, in the assembly and manufacturing process, it is only necessary to fit the bellows 61 into the predetermined position, and the process of fitting an O-ring to the fold of the bellows is unnecessary. This simplifies the process compared to cases where an O-ring is used to reinforce the bellows 61, as in the bellows of the conventional device described in Patent Document 1.

[0029] As shown in Figure 7, a perspective view of the second handpiece 4, the side of the second grip case 42b is provided with an inwardly recessed concave shape 66. Although not shown in Figure 7, the same concave shape 66 is also provided on the side opposite to the side with the concave shape 66. This concave shape 66 serves as a finger grip when the therapist grasps the second handpiece 4, making it easier to hold the second handpiece 4.

[0030] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the main components of the treatment device 1, with the white arrows indicating airflow. The device body 2 includes a touch panel 7, a dial 8, a control unit 67 for controlling the treatment device 1, a compressor (drive unit) 68 for supplying compressed air to the first handpiece 3 and the second handpiece 4, a third solenoid valve 69 for switching the destination of the compressed air from the compressor 68 to either the first handpiece 3 or the second handpiece 4, a storage unit 70 for storing treatment history, etc., and a pressure sensor 71 for detecting the pressure of the air output from the compressor 68. The first handpiece 3 includes a first trigger switch 13, an output adjustment switch 15, a first solenoid valve 29, a shock wave generating unit 72, and a first exhaust hole 31. As described above, the shock wave generating unit 72 consists of a projectile 19, a second member 18, a third member 20, and a fourth member 21 provided on the main body 12 of the first handpiece 3, and a first applicator 14. The second handpiece 4 has a second trigger switch 43, a second solenoid valve 47, a vibration generating unit 73, and a second exhaust hole 54b. As described above, the vibration generating unit 73 consists of an internal component 48 of the second handpiece 4 and a second applicator 45. The control unit 67 controls the first solenoid valve 29, the second solenoid valve 47, the third solenoid valve 69, the compressor 68, the touch panel 7, and the memory unit 70. The control unit 67 receives signals from the touch panel 7 and the dial 8 to set treatment conditions, etc. The control unit 67 receives a signal from the first trigger switch 13 and controls the compressor 68 and the first solenoid valve 29 to generate shock waves based on the set treatment conditions. The control unit 67 receives a signal from the output adjustment switch 15 during treatment and controls the compressor 68. The control unit 67 receives a signal from the second trigger switch 43 and controls the compressor 68 and the second solenoid valve 47 to generate vibrations based on the set treatment conditions. The control unit 67 receives a signal from the pressure sensor 71, determines whether the pressure is as set, and controls the compressor 68 according to the determination result.

[0031] The control of the first solenoid valve 29 when generating a shock wave using the first handpiece 3 will now be explained. Compressed air is supplied from the compressor 68 to port P11 of the first solenoid valve 29 via the third solenoid valve 69. By controlling the first solenoid valve 29 so that compressed air flows from port P11 to port P13 and port P12 is closed, compressed air is supplied to the collision generation space of the shock wave generation unit 72, causing the projectile 19 to accelerate forward and collide with the piston 36, generating a shock wave. When the projectile 19 that has collided with the piston 36 returns in the backward direction, port P11 of the first solenoid valve 29 is closed and the first solenoid valve 29 is controlled so that air flows from port P13 to port P12. As the projectile 19 returns in the backward direction, the air in the collision generation space is released to the outside of the first handpiece 3 from the first exhaust hole 31.

[0032] The control of the second solenoid valve 47 when generating vibration using the second handpiece 4 will now be explained. Compressed air is supplied from the compressor 68 to port P21 of the second solenoid valve 47 via the third solenoid valve 69. By controlling the second solenoid valve 47 so that compressed air flows from port P21 to port P23 and port P22 is closed, compressed air is supplied to the central hole 49 of the internal member 48, which is a component of the vibration generating unit 73. As a result, compressed air is blown onto the rear surface 60b of the piston 60, causing the piston 60 to move forward. Subsequently, by controlling the second solenoid valve 47 so that port P21 is closed and air flows from port P23 to port P22, the piston 60 moves backward due to the elasticity of the bellows 61, and the air in the central hole 49 is released to the outside of the second handpiece 4 through the second exhaust hole 54b. By repeatedly supplying compressed air to the central hole 49 and discharging air from the central hole 49 in this manner, vibrations are generated by the second handpiece 4.

[0033] Next, an example of a therapist treating a patient using the treatment device 1 will be described. The therapist sets the treatment conditions by operating the touch panel 7 and dial 8 on the device body 2. The treatment conditions can include the type of handpiece (first handpiece 3 or second handpiece 4), the type of applicator (first applicator 14 or second applicator 45), the stimulation intensity (pressure of compressed air from the compressor 68), the number of stimulations (the number of shock waves or vibrations generated from the start to the end of treatment), and the frequency (the frequency at which shock waves or vibrations are generated). Here, there are multiple types of first applicators 14 with different piston diameters 36, and multiple types of second applicators 45 with different piston diameters 60, so the applicator type is set to indicate which diameter applicator to use. First, the therapist operates the touch panel 7 to set the type of handpiece to be used (first handpiece 3 or second handpiece 4), and then sets the type of applicator attached to the handpiece (first applicator 14 or second applicator 45). After that, the therapist increases or decreases the set values ​​for stimulation intensity, number of stimulations, and frequency by turning the dial 8 to the right or left. After setting the treatment conditions, touching the start button (not shown) displayed at the bottom of the touch panel 7 changes the display of the start button to a stop button, and the device becomes ready to start treatment. Then, the therapist grasps the handpiece (first handpiece 3 or second handpiece 4) set in the treatment conditions, presses the applicator (first applicator 14 or second applicator 45) against the patient's affected area, and presses the trigger switch on the handpiece (first trigger switch 13 or second trigger switch 43), thereby applying stimulation (shock waves or vibrations) to the patient's affected area and performing treatment according to the set treatment conditions. When the set number of stimulations is reached, the output of stimulation stops and the treatment ends. Furthermore, the therapist can stop the stimulation output by touching the aforementioned stop button, allowing the treatment to be interrupted midway. If the applicator attached to the handpiece is replaced with a different type of applicator, the treatment can be performed by changing the applicator type setting on the touch panel 7 after the replacement.

[0034] Furthermore, in the first handpiece 3 shown in Figure 2, a magnet may be provided, for example, behind the second member 18 and at the rear end of the third member 20. When the projectile 19, which has been accelerated forward by compressed air and has collided with the piston 36 of the first applicator 14, moves backward due to the recoil of the collision, the magnet can attract the projectile 19, making it easier for the projectile 19 to move backward.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the treatment device 1 had a first handpiece 3 and a second handpiece 4, which are treatment tools, but it may have either the first handpiece 3 or the second handpiece 4. Also, the device body 2 had a control unit 67 and a compressor 68, but it may have either the control unit 67 or the compressor 68. [Industrial applicability]

[0036] The present invention can be applied to an applicator for applying shock waves or vibrations to a patient, a therapeutic device using the applicator, and a therapeutic apparatus. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1 Treatment device 2. Main unit of the device 3. First handpiece (treatment instrument) 4. Second handpiece (treatment instrument) 11. Grip section 12 Main body 14. First Applicator 19 Projectiles 36 pistons 37 Bellows 38a, 38b, 38c Folds 39 Main body 40a, 40b, 40c protrusions 41a, 41b, 41c space 42a First Grip Case 42b Second Grip Case 44 Mounting part 45. Second Applicator 49. Central hole (air nozzle) 60 pistons 61 Bellows 62a, 62b, 62c Folds 63 Main body 64 Convex part 65 Space 67 Control Unit 68 Compressor (drive unit)

Claims

1. A piston that is movable in the forward and backward directions and moves forward from a predetermined stationary position when an external force is applied, The piston comprises a bellows that at least partially surrounds the piston and works to return the piston, which has moved forward from a predetermined resting position, back to the predetermined resting position, The bellows comprises a main body having a plurality of folds, and a protrusion provided on the valley side of at least one of the folds, wherein the protrusion extends in the vertical direction, and there is a space between the protrusion and the main body in the front-rear direction. An applicator characterized by the following features.

2. The applicator according to claim 1, characterized in that the bellows is provided with the protrusions at all of the folded portions.

3. A therapeutic device comprising a housing in which the applicator described in claim 1 is positioned at the front end, wherein a projectile that is movable in the front-rear direction is provided inside the housing, A therapeutic device characterized in that the external force is caused by the projectile being accelerated forward and colliding with the piston.

4. A therapeutic device comprising a housing on which the applicator described in claim 1 is arranged, wherein an air nozzle is provided inside the housing, and the external force is due to air sprayed from the air nozzle toward the piston.

5. A therapeutic device comprising a therapeutic device according to claim 3 and / or claim 4, and a device body having a control unit and / or drive unit for the therapeutic device.

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