WO2014081050A1

WO2014081050A1 - Membrane guard used in ultrasound medical equipment, guide ring, and treatment head including same

Info

Publication number: WO2014081050A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/009855
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김대승; 박현수
Original assignee: 알피니언메디칼시스템 주식회사
Priority date: 2012-11-21
Filing date: 2012-11-21
Publication date: 2014-05-30
Also published as: WO2014081108A1

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a membrane guard comprising: a first opening portion covering a part of a treatment head including a transducer and a membrane covering the transducer; a second opening portion having a cross-sectional area that is less than that of the first opening portion; and a sloped surface surrounding the membrane and connecting the first opening portion and the second opening portion.

Description

Membrane guards, guide rings, and treatment heads for use in ultrasonic medical devices

The present invention relates to a membrane guard, a guide ring and a treatment head comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a membrane guard and guide ring included in an ultrasonic medical device for use in treating a patient and a treatment head including the same.

The contents described in this section merely provide background information on the embodiments of the present invention and do not constitute a prior art.

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) device is a device that treats patients by using high heat generated from focus when burning high intensity ultrasound energy to burn tissues.

Focusing ultrasound waves about 100,000 times stronger than the ultrasound intensity used for diagnosis generates heat at the focal spot, which is similar to the heat generated at the focal spot when sun light is collected by the convex lens. Ultrasound itself is harmless to the human body and heat is generated only at the focal point where the ultrasound is concentrated, so it is possible to treat lesions in the body without the need for general anesthesia without using a knife or needle.

HIFU device configuration is largely divided into a base, a treatment head (Treatmemt Head) and the base, and can be divided into a support structure for supporting the treatment head.

Among them, the treatment head includes a transducer for converting electrical energy into ultrasonic energy and collecting it at a desired tumor site (focus), and a membrane for containing a liquid for cooling the high temperature generated when the transducer irradiates the ultrasonic wave. do.

The membrane is a fluid membrane that attaches to the treatment head while wrapping the transducer, and the high heat generated when the transducer irradiates ultrasound can damage the membrane membrane.

In addition, directing the treatment head directly to the patient's skin may cause burns due to the high temperature of the transducer. Treatment with the HIFU device should be performed continuously for a certain time, but in order to avoid such burns, it is difficult to treat the treatment by removing the device from the skin and contacting it again.

In addition, the focus of the ultrasound that is irradiated from the transducer to a point has a focal depth, and the treatment becomes difficult when the target treatment area is out of the focal depth.

In this case, the prior art is to replace the support member to maintain the gap between the transducer and the patient's skin, such that the treatment site is located inside the focal depth, but this method is very cumbersome.

The present invention requires an apparatus having a novel structure that forms a space between the membrane and the transducer attached to the treatment head to solve the above problems.

In addition, when treating a patient using the HIFU device, if the treatment area is out of the focal depth of the transducer, a device that can be easily located inside the focal depth is required.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a first opening surrounding a portion of the treatment head including a transducer and a membrane surrounding the transducer; A second opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first opening; And a membrane guard surrounding the membrane and including an inclined surface connecting the first opening and the second opening.

One embodiment of the invention the main body; A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves; A membrane surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body; And a guide ring provided at an outside of the transducer to form a space between the membrane for generating the ultrasonic wave of the transducer and the membrane.

One embodiment of the invention the main body; A transducer mounted to the main body; A treatment head surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer, a membrane attached to the body, and a membrane guard surrounding the membrane and movably connected to the body in a first direction are provided. do.

One embodiment of the invention the main body; A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves; A membrane surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body; A membrane guard surrounding the membrane and movably connected to the body in a first direction, and to form a space between the ultrasonic wave generating portion of the transducer and the membrane; It provides a treatment head including a guide ring provided on the outside.

One embodiment of the invention the base; An articulation device having one end mounted to the base and having a plurality of articulating arms; And a treatment head connected to the other end of the articular tooth,

The treatment head includes a main body; A transducer mounted to the main body; Ultrasonic waves surrounding the part of the main body and the transducer, the membrane is attached to the main body and the membrane, the membrane guard (Membrane Guard) is movably connected to the body in a first direction Provide medical devices.

One embodiment of the invention the base; One end mounted to the base, the articulating device having a plurality of articulating arms and a treatment head connected to the other end of the articular tooth,

The treatment head includes a main body; A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves; A guide ring is formed on the outer side of the transducer to surround a portion of the main body and the transducer and form a predetermined space between the membrane attached to the main body, the ultrasonic wave generating part, and the membrane. It provides an ultrasonic medical device comprising a.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the burn by minimizing the temperature rise of the transducer.

In addition, it is possible to use the device efficiently by allowing to increase the treatment time of the HIFU medical device.

In addition, even if the treatment area of the patient is out of the focal depth of the transducer can be treated.

In addition, even the minute movements of the patient can minimize the shift of focus to be treated.

1 shows a membrane guard according to this embodiment.

2 shows a treatment head (Treatmemt Head) provided with a membrane guard according to the present embodiment.

3 illustrates a state in which the membrane guard is inserted into the treatment head and a state in which the membrane guard is drawn out from the treatment head.

4 illustrates a portion in which a diffuse reflection pattern is formed on the surface of the membrane according to the present embodiment.

5 illustrates a state in which a guide ring is attached to the transducer of the treatment head according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail through exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the component of this invention, terms, such as 1st, 2nd, A, B, (a), (b), can be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the components from other components, and the nature, order or order of the components are not limited by the terms. If a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, that component may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but there may be another configuration between each component. It is to be understood that the elements may be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

1 shows a membrane guard according to this embodiment.

2 shows a treatment head (Treatmemt Head) provided with a membrane guard according to the present embodiment. 3 illustrates a state in which the membrane guard is inserted into the treatment head and a state in which the membrane guard is drawn out from the treatment head.

4 illustrates a portion in which a diffuse reflection pattern is formed on the surface of the membrane according to the present embodiment. 5 shows a state in which the guide ring is attached to the transducer of the treatment head according to the present embodiment.

First, the treatment head 10 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 11, a transducer 12, and a membrane 13. The transducer 12 is attached to one side of the main body 11 and generates ultrasonic waves. The membrane 13 is a fluid membrane and is attached to the main body 11 to enclose a portion of the main body 11 in which the transducer 12 and the transducer 12 are installed, and contain a liquid for cooling the transducer 12. Can be. One role of this liquid is to lower this temperature as the temperature of the transducer 12 itself rises when the transducer 12 generates ultrasonic waves. In some embodiments, the liquid may be water.

The membrane guard 20 according to the present embodiment includes a first opening 21, a second opening 22, and an inclined surface 23.

The first opening 21 surrounds the transducer 12 and the membrane 13 surrounding the transducer 12 and is connected to one side of the treatment head 10.

The second opening 22 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first opening 21. In some embodiments, the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 may have a circular shape. In this case, the diameter of the second opening 22 is smaller than the diameter of the first opening 21. The second opening 22 is a portion in contact with the skin when the treatment head 10 touches a human body or an animal that is the treatment target 30.

The inclined surface 23 surrounds the membrane 13 and is a circumferential surface connecting the first opening 21 and the second opening 22.

The membrane 13 naturally forms along the shape of the cross-sectional area of the inclined surface 23 and the second opening 22 when the membrane guard 20 touches a human body or an animal that is the treatment object 30.

In the related art, the diameters of the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are similar, and the circumferential surface connecting the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 is not the inclined surface 23. Therefore, since the membrane 13 does not form a balanced shape in the membrane guard 20, the liquid contained in the membrane 13 does not uniformly exchange heat with the transducer 12. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the membrane guard 20 has the inclined surface 23, the membrane 13 has a balanced shape inside the membrane guard 20, and the liquid contained in the membrane 13 is treated. It is possible to cool the transducer 12 for a time sufficient for the treatment head 10 to perform a therapeutic action.

The membrane guard 20 of this embodiment is demonstrated in more detail.

The membrane guard 20 of this embodiment is movably connected to the treatment head 10 in the first direction (X direction). The upper end located on the side of the first opening 21 of the inclined surface 23 for this movement forms a cylindrical shape in which the inclined surface 23 is bent. This cylindrical portion 23a is connected to the treatment head 10 while wrapping a portion of the treatment head 10. In addition, a connection portion (not shown) is formed inside the cylindrical portion 23a so as to be slidable on the treatment head 10. In some embodiments, the connection part may be a groove part and a protrusion part extending in the first direction (X direction). Grooves may be formed in portions in contact with the membrane guard 20 on the treatment head 10. In this case, the protrusion may be formed at a portion in contact with the treatment head 10 on the membrane guard 20 of the present embodiment. In some embodiments, the grooves may be formed on the membrane 13, in which case the protrusions may be formed on the treatment head 10.

Ultrasound irradiated from the transducer 12 has a focal depth (F). Ultrasound irradiated from the transducer 12 has a focus that converges to one point, and the distance from the transducer 12 to the focus is variable. The length between the shortest focal length and the longest focal length of the ultrasonic wave is the focal depth F. According to the exemplary embodiment, the shortest focal length A of the ultrasonic wave generated by the transducer 12 may be 60 mm, and the longest focal length B may be 110 mm. In this case, the focal depth F is 50 mm. In this embodiment, if the membrane guard 20 touches the skin of the human or animal subject to treatment 30, the targeted treatment site 31 located within the skin is located within 60 mm of the transducer 12. Treatment is difficult because it is out of the focal depth (F). In this case, if the membrane guard 20 is moved in the first direction (X direction) from the front of the transducer 12 by sliding, the target treatment site 31 enters into the focal depth F and can be treated. Done.

The prior art has the hassle of having to replace the membrane guard 20 in order to position the treatment area 31 into the focal depth (F). However, since the membrane guard 20 of the present embodiment is slidable in the treatment head 10, the treatment area 31 can be easily positioned into the focal depth F.

The second opening 22 protrudes more than the transducer 12. This protrusion forms a first space 24 between the transducer 12 and the membrane 13 in contact with the skin when the membrane guard 20 comes into contact with the human body or animal, which is the treatment object 30. Liquid, which serves to cool the transducer 12, may remain in the first space 24.

Since the first space 24 can keep the liquid that performs the cooling function in front of the transducer 12, the temperature rise of the transducer 12 can be slowed down when the treatment head 10 is operated. Thus, the treatment head 10 may increase the time for treating the treatment target 30.

In addition, a second space 25 is formed between a portion of the treatment head 10 wrapped by the first opening 21 and a membrane 13 surrounding the portion of the treatment head 10. Liquid, which also serves to cool the transducer 12, may remain in the second space 25.

The first space 24 and the second space 25 are not separate spaces but are connected to each other. Therefore, the liquid can move between the first space 24 and the second space 25. The liquid heated in the first space 24 by this movement can move to the second space 25, the low-temperature liquid in the second space 25 can move to the first space 24, so the transducer It becomes possible to increase the time for cooling (12).

The central portion of the membrane 13 protrudes more than the second opening 22. As described above, the membrane 13 naturally follows the shape of the cross-sectional area of the inclined surface 23 and the second opening 22 when the membrane guard 20 comes into contact with a human body or an animal that is the treatment object 30. Form.

Treatment head 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention wraps the main body 11, the transducer 12 mounted on the main body 11, a part of the main body 11 and the transducer 12, the main body 11 ) And the membrane guard 20 described above. Since the membrane guard 20 has been described above, the description is omitted here.

The inner surface of the membrane 13 attached to the treatment head 10 of the present embodiment may have a diffuse reflection pattern for diffuse reflection of a part of the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer 12. According to the exemplary embodiment, the diffuse reflection pattern may be formed of a plurality of alphabet “J-shaped protrusions, or may be in the form of shark skin or other sandpaper.

Ultrasonic waves irradiated from the transducer 12 are mostly irradiated to the target site, but some of them are ultrasonic waves going in the wrong direction without being irradiated to the target site.

Ultrasound irradiated from the transducer 12 is most accurately irradiated to the target treatment site of the patient, but some of them are irradiated in the wrong direction without being irradiated to the target site. This is also true for ultrasonic waves emitted from an imaging probe to obtain an image. In the present specification, the ultrasonic wave irradiated to the target site is defined as normal ultrasonic wave, and the ultrasonic wave irradiated in the wrong direction is defined as abnormal ultrasonic wave.

The position where the diffuse reflection pattern is formed is preferably formed in the remaining portion 40 except for the portion of the inner surface of the membrane 13 to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated by the transducer 12 and the portion to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated to obtain an image image. Do. More specifically, when the focal point of the ultrasonic wave generated by the transducer 12 is located at the longest focal length B in the focal depth F, it is preferable that the ultrasonic wave is formed at a portion except for the portion passing through the membrane 13. . In addition, it is preferable to be formed at a position outside the angle (Angle) of the ultrasonic wave irradiated from the imaging probe to obtain an image image. That is, it is preferable that the diffuse reflection pattern is formed in the remaining portion 40 except for the region to which the normal ultrasound for treatment and the normal ultrasound for image image are irradiated.

Abnormal ultrasonic waves that do not go to the target portion of the ultrasonic waves irradiated from the transducer 12 may pass through the membrane 13 and be partially reflected by the membrane 13 to return to the transducer 12. The reflected ultrasonic waves are returned to increase the temperature of the transducer 12, and shorten the treatment time of the treatment head 10. In the diffuse reflection pattern formed inside the membrane guard 20 according to the present embodiment, when the abnormal ultrasonic waves pass through the membrane 13, the diffuse reflection causes the ultrasonic waves that do not pass through the membrane 13 to return to the transducer 12. By preventing direct irradiation, the temperature of the transducer 12 can be suppressed from rising, and the treatment time of the treatment head 10 can be extended. In addition, the diffuse reflection pattern improves the imaging effect of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus which is installed together on the treatment head 10.

Treatment head 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the main body 11, the main body 11, the transducer 12 for generating an ultrasonic wave, a part of the main body 11 and the transducer 12 It wraps around, and includes a membrane 13 and a guide ring 50 attached to the main body 11.

The guide ring 50 is provided on the outside of the transducer 12. According to the exemplary embodiment, the transducer 12 may be in the shape of a disc, and in this case, the guide ring 50 may be attached to the edge of the transducer 12 in the form of a ring, and the shape of the cross section may be a circle. In some embodiments, the guide ring 50 may be integrally formed with the main body 11 provided with the transducer 12.

The guide ring 50 performs a function similar to the membrane guard 20. That is, by forming a space 51 between the membrane 13 and the ultrasonic wave generating portion of the transducer 12, the membrane 13 when the treatment head 10 comes into contact with a human body or an animal that is a treatment object 30. It prevents direct contact with the transducer 12 and serves to protect the membrane 13. In addition, since the liquid can stay in the space 51, there is an effect of lowering the temperature of the transducer 12. According to an embodiment, a movement passage (not shown) may be formed in the guide ring 50 so that the liquid may move. The passage can be, for example, a hole or a groove.

In addition, in the treatment head 10 of the present embodiment, a diffuse reflection pattern may be formed inside the membrane 13. Since the diffuse reflection pattern has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Treatment head 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include both the membrane guard 20 and the guide ring (50) according to the present embodiment described above. In this case, the guide ring 50 may maximize the effect of the membrane guard 20.

Ultrasound medical device 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a base 61, one end is installed in the base 61, the joint device 62 having a plurality of articulating arms and the other end of the joint tooth It includes a treatment head 10 to be connected.

Here, the treatment head 10 surrounds the main body 11, the transducer 12 mounted to the main body 11, a part of the main body 11 and the transducer 12, and is attached to the main body 11. A membrane guard 20 surrounding the membrane 13 and the membrane 13 and movably connected to the main body 11 in a first direction (X direction) is included. Since the membrane guard 20 has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Ultrasound medical device 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the base 61, one end is installed on the base 61, the other end of the joint device 62 and the joint device 62 having a plurality of articulating arms Treatment head 10 is connected to.

The treatment head 10 is attached to the main body 11, the main body 11, and surrounds the transducer 12, a part of the main body 11 and the transducer 12 that generate ultrasonic waves, and the main body 11. In order to form a predetermined space (51) between the membrane 13 and the ultrasonic wave generating portion and the membrane 13 attached to the), it comprises a guide ring 50 provided on the outside of the transducer (12).

In the aforementioned ultrasonic medical device 60, the above-mentioned diffuse reflection pattern may be formed on an inner surface of the membrane 13 attached to the treatment head 10.

The device according to the embodiment according to the invention can be applied to any HIFU device having a transducer, water or the like and a membrane surrounding it.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

One embodiment of the present invention can be used in a medical device that obtains an image by irradiating ultrasound or treats a patient.

Claims

A first opening surrounding a portion of the treatment head including a transducer and a membrane surrounding the transducer;

A second opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first opening; And

An inclined surface surrounding the membrane and connecting the first opening and the second opening

Membrane Guard comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

And the first opening includes a connection for movably connecting the membrane guard to the treatment head.
The method of claim 2,

And the connection part includes a groove part or a protrusion extending in the first direction to allow the membrane guard to slide in the first direction.
The method of claim 1,

And the second opening protrudes from the transducer.
The method of claim 4, wherein

Membrane guard including a liquid that can cool the transducer, characterized in that the first space for the liquid stay between the transducer and the membrane is formed.
The method of claim 4, wherein

A second space containing liquid capable of cooling the transducer, wherein the liquid can remain between a portion of the treatment head wrapped by the first opening and the membrane surrounding the portion of the treatment head Membrane guard, characterized in that is formed.
The method of claim 6,

The first space and the second space is connected, the membrane guard, characterized in that the liquid can move between the first space and the second space.
The method of claim 4, wherein

Membrane guard, characterized in that the central portion of the membrane protrudes than the second opening.
The method of claim 8,

Wherein the membrane is flexible, the membrane guard, characterized in that formed along the shape of the cross-sectional area of the inclined surface and the second opening.
main body;

A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves;

A membrane surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body; And

A guide ring provided at an outside of the transducer to form a space between the membrane for generating the ultrasonic wave of the transducer and the membrane;

Treatment head comprising a.
The method of claim 10,

The ultrasonic wave includes a normal ultrasonic wave and an abnormal ultrasonic wave, and an inner surface of the membrane includes a diffuse reflection pattern for diffusely reflecting the abnormal ultrasonic wave among the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer, wherein the diffuse reflection pattern is the normal surface among the inner surfaces of the membrane. Treatment head, characterized in that formed in the portion except the portion to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated.
The method of claim 10,

The membrane may contain a liquid, the treatment head is characterized in that the guide passage is provided with a movement path for the liquid to move.
main body;

A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves;

A membrane surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body; And

A membrane guard surrounds the membrane and is movably connected to the body in a first direction.

Treatment head comprising a.
The method of claim 13,

The treatment head is characterized in that the membrane guard is provided with a protrusion or groove to enable the movement.
The method of claim 14,

Ultrasound irradiated from the transducer has a focal depth (Focal depth), the focal depth is a treatment head, characterized in that the distance between the distance 60mm and 110mm from the transducer.
The method of claim 13,

The ultrasound includes a normal ultrasonic wave and an abnormal ultrasonic wave, wherein the inner surface of the membrane includes a diffuse reflection pattern formed to diffuse the abnormal ultrasonic wave among the ultrasonic waves irradiated from the transducer.
The method of claim 16,

The diffuse reflection pattern is a treatment head, characterized in that formed on the portion of the inner surface of the membrane except the portion irradiated with the normal ultrasonic waves.
main body;

A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves;

A membrane surrounding a portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body;

A membrane guard surrounding the membrane and movably connected to the body in a first direction;

A guide ring provided at an outside of the transducer to form a space between the membrane for generating the ultrasonic wave of the transducer and the membrane;

Treatment head comprising a.
Base;

An articulation device having one end mounted to the base and having a plurality of articulating arms; And

A treatment head connected to the other end of the articular tooth;

The treatment head,

main body;

A transducer mounted to the main body;

A membrane surrounding the portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body;

And a membrane guard surrounding the membrane and movably connected to the body in a first direction.
Base;

An articulation device having one end mounted to the base and having a plurality of articulating arms, and

A treatment head connected to the other end of the articular tooth;

The treatment head,

main body;

A transducer mounted to the main body to generate ultrasonic waves;

A membrane surrounding the portion of the body and the transducer and attached to the body;

Ultrasound medical device, characterized in that it comprises a guide ring provided on the outer periphery of the transducer to form a predetermined space between the portion for generating the ultrasonic wave and the membrane.