Handpiece and shock wave device

Abstract

The present invention provides a handpiece that is less prone to shaking and can be held stably when outputting shock waves, and a shock wave device equipped with such a handpiece. [Solution] The device comprises a grip portion 2 held by the therapist, a main body portion 3 positioned facing forward near the upper end portion 2a of the grip portion 2 and having an applicator 5 that delivers shock waves to the patient positioned at its front end, and a trigger switch 4 provided on the grip portion 2 and operated by the hand holding the grip portion 2, wherein a curved portion 2b that curves forward is formed on the rear surface of the grip portion 2 at a position that includes the axis line C of the main body portion 3. The X-axis is a coordinate axis along the front-rear direction, with the direction indicated by the arrow being forward and the opposite direction being backward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a handpiece and a shock wave device for applying shock waves to a subject to be treated.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a fascia gun including a main body and a massage head. The main body has an external shape similar to a pistol, which is formed by connecting two hollow cylindrical parts with one end open to each other near the open ends. One of the hollow cylindrical parts constitutes a grip portion suitable for the user to hold the fascia gun during treatment or the like. A dial switch is disposed on the rear side of the main body in a manner that can be pressed and rotated, and the dial switch protrudes rearward from the main body.

[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 describes a handpiece used for stimulating and massaging the muscle structure of the body. The handpiece includes a handle for holding the handpiece, a shaft provided forward near the upper end of the handle, and a transmitter attached to the tip of the shaft. The shaft is provided with a guide tube having a projectile movable in the front-rear direction inside. By pressing a trigger button provided on the upper surface of the handle, the projectile in the guide tube pushed out by compressed air collides with the transmitter, and the patient's muscle structure is stimulated and massaged by the radial acoustic energy generated at that time. In this handpiece, a recessed portion recessed forward is formed on the rear surface of the handle near the axial center line of the shaft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Package insert "MasterPulse MP100", Approval number: 22900BZX00230000, [Manufacturer and distributor] Karl Storz Endoscopy Japan Co., Ltd., [online], April 2024 (7th edition), Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Medical Device Information Search Website, [Searched June 3, 2024], Internet <URL:https: / / www.pmda.go.jp / PmdaSearch / kikiDetail / ResultDataSetPDF / 200484_22900BZX00230000_A_01_07> [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, according to the fascia gun described in Patent Document 1, the recess formed by the posterior protruding portion and the gripping portion is positioned at a location offset downward from the axis of the massage head. Therefore, when gripping the gripping portion of the fascia gun and vibrating the massage head to press it against the affected area, the gun vibrates, making it difficult to apply force to the gripping portion.

[0007] According to the handpiece described in Non-Patent Document 1, the trigger button is located on the top surface of the handle, making it difficult to operate even if the trigger button can be operated with the same fingers as the hand gripping the handle. To easily operate the trigger button, one must either release the handle or operate the trigger button with the hand opposite to the one gripping the handle.

[0008] This invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to provide a handpiece and shock wave device that are less prone to shaking when outputting shock waves, can be held stably, and have excellent operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (1) The handpiece of the present invention comprises a grip portion held by the therapist, a main body portion provided facing forward near the upper end of the grip portion and having an applicator for delivering shock waves to the patient positioned at its front end, and a trigger switch provided on the grip portion and operated by the hand while holding the grip portion, wherein a curved portion is formed on the rear surface of the grip portion at a position including the axis of the main body portion, and is curved toward the front. With this, by pressing the area between the thumb and index finger of the hand against the curved portion and gripping the grip portion, the handpiece can be held stably with less shaking when outputting shock waves. The trigger switch can be operated without taking the hand off the handpiece, resulting in excellent operability and enabling efficient shock wave therapy.

[0010] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the handpiece of the present invention, the grip portion has a plurality of cases, and the joints between the plurality of cases are configured to extend to a position away from the center of the palm when the grip portion is held. This makes it possible to suppress discomfort or irritation caused by the joints between the cases of the handpiece coming into contact with the palm when gripping the grip portion and applying force.

[0011] (3) In a preferred embodiment of the handpiece of the present invention, a plurality of cases are provided, including a left case, a right case, and a cover case that covers the joint between the left case and the right case from the rear, the left case and the right case are detachably connected, and the cover case is detachably attached to the left case and the right case. With this, the left case, the right case and the cover case can be separated, making it easy to repair the parts inside the case.

[0012] (4) In a preferred embodiment of the handpiece of the present invention, the upper end of the grip portion is inclined such that the front side is higher than the rear side, and the shock wave output adjustment unit, or the output adjustment unit and a display unit are provided on the upper surface of the upper end portion. This makes it easy to operate the output adjustment unit with the fingers of the hand holding the grip portion. If a display unit is provided, information related to treatment can be checked at hand while using the handpiece.

[0013] (5) In a preferred embodiment of the handpiece of the present invention, the grip portion has a portion whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is non-circular. This makes it difficult for the handpiece to rotate when the grip portion is held, so the handpiece can be held stably.

[0014] (6) In a preferred embodiment of the handpiece of the present invention, the upper end of the grip portion is a convex portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the connection portion between the grip portion and the main body portion. This allows the grip portion to be held with the index finger placed on the convex portion, and the gripping method can be changed according to the therapist's preference.

[0015] (7) The shock wave device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a handpiece described in any of (1) to (6), and a device body having a control unit and / or drive unit for the handpiece. This makes it possible to provide a shock wave device equipped with a handpiece that is less prone to shaking when outputting shock waves, can be held stably, and has excellent operability. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a handpiece and shock wave device that are less prone to shaking when outputting shock waves, can be held stably, and have excellent operability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a handpiece according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view showing a partial internal component of the same handpiece omitted. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the state of holding the same handpiece. [Figure 5] It is a sectional view of the same handpiece. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of a shock wave device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a block diagram of the same shock wave device. [Figure 8] It is a partial sectional view of the handpiece and the pedestal of the same shock wave device. [Figure 9] It is an exploded perspective view showing the case of the grip portion of a handpiece according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of a handpiece according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] (Embodiment 1) Figure 1 is a side view of a handpiece used to treat a patient by applying shock waves. Figure 1 shows arrows representing three mutually orthogonal coordinate axes: the X, Y, and Z axes. The X-axis is a coordinate axis along the front-back direction, with the arrow pointing forward and the opposite direction pointing backward. The Y-axis is a coordinate axis along the left-right direction, with the arrow pointing left and the opposite direction pointing right. The Z-axis is a coordinate axis along the up-down direction, with the arrow pointing upward and the opposite direction pointing downward. As shown in Figure 1, the handpiece 1 comprises a grip portion 2 held by the therapist, a main body portion 3 positioned forward near the upper end of the grip portion 2, and a trigger switch 4 located on the grip portion 2. The trigger switch 4 is rotatable around axis 4a (see Figure 5 below), and the switch can be operated by rotating it inward from the state shown in Figure 1. The trigger switch 4, when rotated inward from the grip portion 2, is returned to the state shown in Figure 1 by a torsion coil spring (not shown) attached to axis 4a. An applicator 5 for delivering shock waves to the patient is positioned at the front end of the main body 3, and the applicator 5 can be attached to and detached from the main body 3 by screwing it in. An output adjustment switch 6 (output adjustment unit) for adjusting the output of the shock waves (stimulation intensity by the shock waves) is provided at the upper end 2a of the grip part 2. A cord connection part 7 is provided below the grip part 2, and a cord connecting the handpiece 1 to the device body, which will be described later, is connected to the cord connection part 7.

[0019] The main body 3 has a cylindrical shape except for the front end, and the front end has a larger diameter portion 3a that is wider than the cylindrical shape. The upper end portion 2a of the grip portion 2 is a convex portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the connection portion 8 between the grip portion 2 and the main body 3, and the upper surface of the upper end portion 2a is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side. On the rear surface of the grip portion 2, a curved portion 2b is formed that curves forward near the upper end of the grip portion 2, and the curved portion 2b is formed in a position that includes the axis line C of the main body 3. In the handpiece 1 shown in Figure 1, the part of the curved portion 2b that is located furthest forward is located approximately on the axis line C. As shown in Figure 2, a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1, the grip portion 2 has an elliptical (non-circular) shape. That is, the grip portion 2 has a portion in which the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to its longitudinal direction (the direction indicated by arrow D in Figure 1) is non-circular.

[0020] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the handpiece 1, omitting internal components (parts not visible from the outside of the handpiece 1) except for the first component 9. The grip section 2 has multiple cases, and in Figure 3, it has three cases consisting of the left case 10, the right case 11, and the cover case 12. The left case 10 and the right case 11 are detachably connected with the output adjustment switch 6, trigger switch 4, cord connection section 7, and internal components (not shown) in between. They are connected by fastening members (bolts and nuts) (not shown) via holes 10a formed in the left case 10 and corresponding holes 11a in the right case 11 (parts of the holes 11a are not shown in Figure 3).

[0021] The cover case 12 has multiple holes (cover holes) 12a on both the left and right sides (three in Figure 3) (the left side holes are not shown in Figure 3), and the left case 10 and right case 11 have multiple protrusions 10b and 11b corresponding to the cover holes 12a. By fitting the cover holes 12a into the protrusions 10b and 11b of the joined left case 10 and right case 11, the cover case 12 can be detachably attached to the left case 10 and right case 11. In this way, the cover case 12 covers the joint 13 between the left case 10 and the right case 11 (see also Figure 2) from the rear. By providing the cover case 12, the aforementioned fastening members that join the left case 10 and the right case 11 can be hidden from view, thus preventing damage to the appearance. In addition, a front protrusion 11c is formed on the side of the front end of the right case 11, and although not shown in Figure 3, a front protrusion is also formed on the side of the front end of the left case 10.

[0022] The main body 3 of the handpiece 1 includes a main body case 14, a large-diameter case 15, a first member 9 provided inside the main body case 14, and internal components (not shown). On the inner surface of the rear end of the main body case 14, recesses 14a are formed on both the left and right sides. The main body case 14 is attached to the front ends of the left case 10 and the right case 11 such that the front protrusions 11c of the left case 10 and the right case 11 fit into these recesses 14a. The fitting of the front protrusions 11c and the recesses 14a prevents the main body case 14 from rotating. A male screw 9a is formed on the outer surface of the front end of the first member 9, and a female screw (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the large-diameter case 15. By screwing the large-diameter case 15 into the front end of the first member 9 located inside the main body case 14, the main body case 14 can be detachably attached to the left case 10 and the right case 11.

[0023] Figure 4 shows the therapist holding the grip portion 2 of the handpiece 1, with the therapist's right hand indicated by a dashed line. The index finger is placed on the trigger switch 4, and in this position, the applicator 5 is pressed against the affected area of ​​the patient, and the trigger switch 4 is pressed with the index finger to perform shock wave therapy. As shown in Figure 4, most of the palm of the hand holding the grip portion 2 is located on the cover case 12. If the cover case 12 were not provided, the seam 13 between the left case 10 and the right case 11 (see Figures 2 and 3), which is hidden by the cover case 12 in Figure 4, would come into contact with the palm, causing discomfort and irritation to the palm, especially when gripping the grip portion 2 and applying force. However, in this embodiment 1, a cover case 12 as shown in Figure 4 is provided, and the seam between the cases extends to a position away from the center of the palm holding the grip portion 2, so that when gripping the grip portion 2, the discomfort and irritation caused by the seam between the cases coming into contact with the palm can be suppressed. Here, the joints between the cases refer to the joint 16a between the cover case 12 and the right case 11, the joint 16b between the cover case 12 and the left case 10 (see Figure 2), and the joint 16c between the left case 10 and the right case 11 (the joint formed on the underside of the trigger switch 4, see Figure 2), which are the joints that are visible on the surface of the handpiece 1.

[0024] In the handpiece 1 according to Embodiment 1, as described above, the cross-sectional shape of the grip portion 2 (the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 2) is non-circular, so the handpiece 1 is less likely to rotate when the grip portion 2 is held. Therefore, the handpiece 1 can be held stably. In addition, the upper end portion 2a of the grip portion 2 is a convex portion that protrudes upward, with a height H (see Figure 1) of the convex portion 2a being about 16 mm and a diameter L (see Figure 1) of the convex portion 2a being about 38 mm. Thus, the convex portion 2a is of a suitable size for placing the index finger, so the grip portion 2 can be held with the index finger placed on the convex portion 2a, and the gripping method can be changed according to the therapist's preference.

[0025] As mentioned above, an output adjustment switch 6 is provided at the upper end 2a of the grip section 2. A seesaw switch is used as the output adjustment switch 6, and as shown in Figure 4, pressing "+" increases the shock wave output, and pressing "-" decreases the output. For example, each press of "+" or "-" increases or decreases the output by a predetermined value. The upper end 2a of the grip section 2 on which the output adjustment switch 6 is provided is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side, making it easier to operate the output adjustment switch 6 with the fingers of the hand holding the grip section 2 compared to, for example, when the upper end 2a of the grip section 2 is nearly horizontal.

[0026] Next, the internal structure of the handpiece 1 will be described using Figure 5. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting along the XZ plane containing the axis line C of the main body 3 shown in Figure 1. Inside the first member 9 in the main body 3 of the handpiece 1, there is a cylindrical second member 17 that extends in the front-rear direction, and inside the second member 17 there is a collision body 18 that is movable in the front-rear direction. Holes 17a (front side) and 17b (rear side) are formed on the front and rear sides of the second member 17, respectively. Outside the second member 17, there is a third member 19 with a space between it and the second member 17. Holes 19a are formed on the front side of the third member 19, and holes 19b are formed on the rear side of the third member 19, opposite the holes 17b of the second member 17. A fourth member 20 is provided so as to surround the rear portion of the third member 19, and a fifth member 21 is provided at the front end of the third member 19. A male thread is formed on the outer surface of the front end 21a of the fifth member 21, and the applicator 5 is screwed into and connected to this male thread. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the rear end 21b of the fifth member 21, and is screwed into and connected to the male thread formed on the outer surface of the front end of the third member 19. The sixth member 22 is provided behind the fifth member 21 and outside the front portion of the third member 19, with a space between it and the third member 19. A step 22a (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 22, and this step 22a is in contact with a step provided on the inner surface of the first member 9. The rear end of the sixth member 22 is in contact with a step 19c provided on the outer surface of the third member 19. A spring 23 is provided between the rear end of the sixth member 22 and the front end of the fourth member 20. If an impact is applied to the front end of the handpiece 1 (for example, if the therapist accidentally hits the applicator 5 against the treatment table, etc.), the spring 23 can mitigate the impact.

[0027] The space 24 between the third member 19 and the fourth member 20, and the internal spaces 17c and 17d of the second member 17 are spaces (collision generation spaces) for the impacting body 18 to move forward and collide with the applicator 5 when compressed air is supplied. The shock wave generation unit consists of the impacting body 18, the second member 17, the third member 19, the fourth member 20, and the applicator 5. The compressed air supplied to space 24 is supplied to the internal space 17c of the second member 17 (the space behind the impacting body 18) through the hole 19b formed in the third member 19 and the hole 17b formed in the second member 17. This compressed air accelerates the impacting body 18 forward as it moves. At this time, the air in the internal space 17d of the second member 17 (the space in front of the collision body 18) flows through the hole 17a formed in the second member 17, the space 25 between the second member 17 and the third member 19, and the hole 19a formed in the third member 19 into the space 26 between the third member 19 and the sixth member 22. A relief valve (not shown) is provided at the rear end of the sixth member 22, between space 26 and space 48 (the space between the first member 9 and the third member 19). When the pressure in space 26 increases due to the air flowing into space 26 and exceeds a predetermined value, the relief valve opens and air flows from space 26 to space 48. When the pressure in space 26 decreases to below the predetermined value, the relief valve closes. Furthermore, when the impacting body 18 collides with the piston 5b (described later) of the applicator 5, it moves backward due to the recoil of the collision. At this time, the air in the internal space 17c of the second member 17 is discharged through the hole 17b formed in the second member 17 and the hole 19b formed in the third member 19.

[0028] The applicator 5, located at the front end of the handpiece 1, comprises a case 5a, a piston 5b positioned inside the case 5a, a front O-ring 5c ​​positioned between the piston 5b and the case 5a, and a rear O-ring 5d positioned on the rear surface of the piston 5b, with the rear O-ring 5d in contact with the fifth member 21. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the rear portion of the case 5a for screwing into the fifth member 21. When the impactor 18, accelerated forward by compressed air, collides with the piston 5b, the piston 5b moves forward, causing the front O-ring 5c ​​to elastically deform, and the elasticity of the front O-ring 5c ​​causes the piston 5b to return to the rearward direction. The position to which it returns to the rearward direction is determined by the rear O-ring 5d, which is in contact with the fifth member 21. In this way, the piston 5b can move in the forward and backward directions as indicated by arrow F, and a shock wave is generated when the impactor 18 collides with the piston 5b. Note that multiple types of applicators 5 with different piston 5b diameters can be used for attachment to the handpiece 1.

[0029] The grip section 2 of the handpiece 1 is equipped with a solenoid valve 27, a pipe 28a connecting the port P1 of the solenoid valve 27 to the cord connection section 7, a pipe 28b connecting the port P2 of the solenoid valve 27 to the exhaust hole 29 provided on the lower surface of the grip section 2, and a pipe (not shown in Figure 5) connecting the port P3 of the solenoid valve 27 to the collision generation space. Compressed air is supplied to the port P1 of the solenoid valve 27 via pipe 28a. Although the ports P1, P2, and P3 of the solenoid valve 27 are not shown in Figure 5, they will be described in Figure 7 below.

[0030] Figure 6 shows a shock wave device using the handpiece 1 according to Embodiment 1. The shock wave device 30 comprises a device body 31 and a handpiece 1, with the handpiece 1 resting on a support 32 provided on the device body 31. The device body 31 is equipped with a touch panel 33 and a dial 34. The touch panel 33 allows input of settings such as treatment conditions, and can also display treatment history and treatment conditions. The dial 34 allows the user to increase or decrease the set value of treatment conditions (e.g., stimulation intensity). Although not shown in Figure 6, the device body 31 contains a compressor (drive unit) 35 that supplies compressed air to the handpiece 1, a control unit 36 ​​that controls the shock wave device 30, a storage unit 37 that stores treatment history, etc., and a pressure sensor 38 that detects the pressure of the air output from the compressor 35 (see Figure 7, described later). The handpiece 1 and the main unit 31 are connected by a cord 47. Through the cord 47, the main unit 31 supplies power and compressed air to the handpiece 1, and electrical signals are exchanged between the main unit 31 and the handpiece 1.

[0031] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the main components of the shock wave device 30, with white arrows indicating airflow. The handpiece 1 has a trigger switch 4, an output adjustment switch 6, a solenoid valve 27, a shock wave generator 39, and an exhaust port 29. The device body 31 has a control unit 36, a compressor 35, a touch panel 33, a dial 34, a memory unit 37, and a pressure sensor 38. The control unit 36 ​​controls the solenoid valve 27, the compressor 35, the touch panel 33, and the memory unit 37. The control unit 36 ​​receives signals from the touch panel 33 and the dial 34 to set treatment conditions, etc. The control unit 36 ​​receives a signal from the trigger switch 4 and controls the compressor 35 and the solenoid valve 27 to generate shock waves based on the set treatment conditions. The control unit 36 ​​receives a signal from the output adjustment switch 6 during treatment and controls the compressor 35. The control unit 36 ​​receives a signal from the pressure sensor 38 to determine if the pressure is as set and controls the compressor 35 according to the determination result.

[0032] The control of the solenoid valve 27 when generating a shock wave will be explained. Compressed air is supplied from the compressor 35 to port P1 of the solenoid valve 27. By controlling the solenoid valve 27 so that compressed air flows from port P1 to port P3 and port P2 is closed, compressed air is supplied to the collision generation space of the shock wave generation unit 39, causing the impacting body 18 to accelerate forward and collide with the piston 5b, generating a shock wave. When the impacting body 18 that has collided with the piston 5b returns in the backward direction, port P1 of the solenoid valve 27 is closed and the solenoid valve 27 is controlled so that air flows from port P3 to port P2, so that as the impacting body 18 returns in the backward direction, the air in the collision generation space is released to the outside of the handpiece 1 through the exhaust hole 29.

[0033] Next, an example of a therapist treating a patient using the shock wave device 30 will be described. The therapist sets the treatment conditions by operating the touch panel 33 and dial 34 on the device body 31. The treatment conditions that can be set include the type of applicator 5, stimulation mode, stimulation intensity (pressure of compressed air from the compressor 35), number of stimulations (number of shock waves generated from the start to the end of treatment), and frequency (frequency at which shock waves are generated). On the touch panel 33, setting buttons for applicator setting, stimulation mode setting, stimulation intensity setting, number of stimulations setting, and frequency setting are displayed on the treatment condition setting screen. By touching each setting button, the user can transition to the screen for setting each treatment condition and set each treatment condition.

[0034] On the applicator type setting screen, multiple available applicators are displayed, from which you select the applicator to be used for treatment. On the stimulation mode setting screen, trigger mode, continuous mode, and single-shot mode are displayed, from which you select the stimulation mode to be used for treatment. In trigger mode, the shock wave is output only while the trigger switch 4 is pressed, and the output of the shock wave stops when the trigger switch 4 is released. In continuous mode, the output of the shock wave starts when the trigger switch 4 is pressed and released, and the output of the shock wave stops when the trigger switch 4 is pressed and released again. In single-shot mode, the shock wave is output only once each time the trigger switch 4 is pressed. On the setting screens for stimulation intensity, number of stimulations, and frequency, the initial settings for each treatment condition are displayed, and you can change the setting value by turning the dial 34. Turning the dial 34 to the right increases the setting value by a predetermined amount, and turning the dial 34 to the left decreases the setting value by a predetermined amount. In addition, treatment conditions stored in the memory unit 37 can be read out, and the treatment conditions can be set based on those conditions.

[0035] After finishing setting the treatment conditions and returning to the treatment conditions setting screen, the set treatment conditions are displayed on each setting button. Then, by touching the start button displayed at the bottom of the treatment conditions setting screen, the display of the start button changes to a stop button, and the device becomes ready to start treatment. After that, the therapist grasps the handpiece 1, presses the applicator 5 against the patient's affected area, and presses the trigger switch 4 on the handpiece 1, thereby applying shock waves to the patient's affected area and performing treatment according to the set treatment conditions. When pressing the applicator 5 against the patient's affected area, by pressing the area between the thumb and index finger of the hand against the curved part 2b on the rear surface of the grip part 2 of the handpiece 1 and gripping the grip part 2, the handpiece 1 can be held stably with less shaking when outputting shock waves. The grip part 2 is equipped with a trigger switch 4 that is operated by the hand holding the grip part 2, so the trigger switch 4 can be operated without taking the hand off the handpiece 1, resulting in excellent operability and efficient shock wave therapy. In the handpiece 1, the trigger switch 4 is located where the index finger rests when the grip portion 2 is held in a normal grip as shown in Figure 4. In particular, when using the trigger mode or single-shot mode as the stimulation mode, it is necessary to operate the trigger switch 4 continuously or intermittently during treatment. However, since the trigger switch 4 can be operated naturally by the index finger of the hand holding the grip portion 2, it is easy to operate the trigger switch 4, and it is easy to continue operating the trigger switch 4 even if the treatment time is long. In addition, during treatment, the therapist can change the stimulation intensity by operating the output adjustment switch 6 of the handpiece 1. When the shock wave output has been output for the set number of stimulations and the shock wave output has stopped, the treatment ends when the therapist removes the applicator 5 from the patient's affected area. The therapist can also stop the shock wave output by touching the aforementioned stop button, and the treatment can be stopped midway.

[0036] Figure 8 shows a side view of the handpiece 1 and the support stand 32 in Figure 6. The support stand 32 is shown in a cross-sectional view, and the cross-section is the same as the XZ plane (see Figure 1) that includes the axis line C of the main body portion 3 of the handpiece 1 placed on the support stand 32. As shown in Figure 8, the support stand 32 has a main body support 32a that receives the main body portion 3 of the handpiece 1, and a fall prevention member 32b formed on the main body support 32a that prevents the handpiece 1 from falling off the main body support 32a. The bottom surface of the main body support 32a is provided with a recess 32c corresponding to the larger diameter portion 3a of the handpiece 1, and the tip of the main body support 32a is provided with a tip projection 32d that protrudes inward from the inner surface of the main body support 32a. The rear end of the support stand 32 is provided with a rear support portion 32e that supports the grip portion 2 of the handpiece 1, and the trigger switch 4 of the handpiece 1 placed on the support stand 32 as shown in Figure 8 is configured not to come into contact with the support stand 32. The recessed portion 32c in the support base 32 allows the handpiece 1 to be placed stably on the support base 32. When placing the handpiece 1 on the support base 32, the tip of the main body portion 3 of the handpiece 1 contacts the tip protrusion 32d, which restricts the position in which the handpiece 1 can be placed, making it easier to place the handpiece 1 on the support base 32. In addition, when the handpiece 1 is placed on the support base 32 so that the larger diameter portion 3a of the handpiece 1 is positioned in the recessed portion 32c of the main body support 32a, it is possible to prevent the trigger switch 4 from hitting the support base 32 and being unintentionally pressed. Furthermore, the rear support portion 32e allows the handpiece 1 to be held more stably on the support base 32.

[0037] (Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, a handpiece 1 was described in which the grip portion 2 is composed of a left case 10, a right case 11, and a cover case 12. However, as shown in Figure 9, the grip portion 40 may be composed of a front case 41 and a rear case 42. The configuration of the grip portion 40 other than the cases (front case 41 and rear case 42) is the same as in Embodiment 1. In this case, the joint 43 between the front case 41 and the rear case 42 is located on both the left and right sides of the grip portion 40, and most of the palm of the therapist holding the grip portion 40 will be on the rear case 42. That is, since the joint 43 between the front case 41 and the rear case 42 extends to a position away from the center of the palm holding the grip portion 40, it is possible to suppress discomfort and irritation caused by the joint between the cases touching the palm when the therapist holds the handpiece according to Embodiment 2.

[0038] (Embodiment 3) In Embodiment 1, a handpiece 1 was described in which an output adjustment switch 6 is provided on the upper surface of the upper end portion 2a of the grip portion 2. However, as shown in Figure 10, an output adjustment switch 44 and a display unit 45 may also be provided on the upper surface of the grip portion 2. The upper end portion 2a of the grip portion 2 is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side, making it easy to operate the output adjustment switch 44 with the fingers of the hand holding the grip portion 2. Since a display unit 45 is provided, information related to treatment (e.g., shock wave output intensity, frequency) can be checked at hand while using the handpiece 46 according to Embodiment 3. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] This invention can be applied to a handpiece and shock wave device used for therapeutic treatment using shock waves. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1 Handpiece 2. Grip section 2a Upper end (protruding part) 2b Curved section 3. Main body 4. Trigger Switch 5 Applicators 6. Output adjustment switch (output adjustment section) 8. Connection between the grip and the main body 10 Left case 11 Right case 12 Cover Cases 13. The seam between the left and right cases 16a Seam between the cover case and the right case 16b Seam between the cover case and the left case 16c The seam between the left and right cases 30 Shock wave device 31 Main unit of the device 33 Touch panel 34 Dial 35 Compressors 36 Control Unit 37 Memory section 38 Pressure Sensor 39 Shock wave generating section 40 Grip section 41 Previous Case 42 Rear case 43 joints 44 Output adjustment switch 45 Display section 46 Handpieces

Claims

1. The grip portion held by the therapist, The main body is provided facing forward near the upper end of the grip portion, and an applicator for delivering shock waves to the patient is positioned at its front end. The grip portion is provided with a trigger switch that is operated by the hand holding the grip portion, A handpiece characterized in that a curved portion is formed on the rear surface of the grip portion, at a position that includes the axis of the main body portion, and that curves forward.

2. The handpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip portion has a plurality of cases, and the joints between the plurality of cases are configured to extend to a position away from the center of the palm when the grip portion is held.

3. The handpiece according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of cases are provided, including a left case, a right case, and a cover case that covers the joint between the left case and the right case from the rear, the left case and the right case are detachably connected, and the cover case is detachably attached to the left case and the right case.

4. The handpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper end of the grip portion is inclined such that the front side is higher than the rear side, and the upper surface of the upper end portion is provided with the shock wave output adjustment unit, or the output adjustment unit and a display unit.

5. The handpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip portion has a portion whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is non-circular.

6. The handpiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper end of the grip portion is a convex portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the connection portion between the grip portion and the main body portion.

7. A shock wave device comprising a handpiece according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a device body having a control unit and / or drive unit for the handpiece.

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