POSITION TRACKING-TYPE ULTRASONIC BLOOD FLOW MONITORING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a position tracking-type ultrasonic blood flow monitoring apparatus that can continuously track the position of a blood vessel by adjusting the rotation angle of an ultrasonic probe module according to the position change of the blood vessel. The present invention may provide a blood flow monitoring apparatus comprising a housing having an opening formed at a bottom surface thereof; a first rotation member rotating around a first axis in the housing; a second rotation member mounted to the first rotation member and rotating around a second shaft; and a probe module mounted to the second rotation member, wherein the probe module rotates together with the first rotation member and the second rotation member according to the rotation of the first rotation member and the second rotation member, and can transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic blood flow monitoring apparatus that is able to continuously track the position of a blood vessel by adjusting the rotation angle of an ultrasonic probe module according to the position change of the blood vessel.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, soft tissue reconstruction includes skin grafting, local flaps, regional flaps, and free flaps. Among these, free flaps are applied to large defects, complex soft tissue defects, or cases in which the local flaps have failed, wherein the skin is cut from the body to a required size and is reconstructed in a skin defect area. A flap refers to skin or composite tissue that is transferred from a donor area to a recipient area while maintaining blood supply to the transferred tissue so that the transferred tissue is viable. Unlike simple skin grafting, removing the flesh along with a blood vessel and nerves and transplanting them to a required area is called a free flap. When treating bone, soft tissue, and skin defects caused by actual external injury or cancer surgery, autologous tissue grafting using the free flap is used. Recently, the number of surgical procedures has been increasing rapidly due to the development of surgical techniques and increased demand (approximately 2,000 cases in 2015 and approximately 2,600 cases in 2016 in Korea). Recently, more surgical procedures are being performed due to an increase in breast cancer diagnoses and prophylactic mastectomies, skin layer defects due to burns, increased demand for reconstruction after excision of skin layer patients due to breast reconstruction, and insurance coverage for breast cancer. This is common not only domestically but also globally. Even in cases of skin tissue that is not healed naturally, such as defects, skin tissue defects due to diabetic complications, or skin tissue defects due to bedsores, skin layer grafting is performed by using a flap technique. For the viability of skin, blood is required to be supplied through the blood vessel of the tissue by creating anastomoses, and monitoring of a surgical progress must continue for at least 3 days after the surgery.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

However, a conventional blood monitoring technology has a problem in that it cannot maintain optimal Doppler signal sensitivity when the movement of a blood vessel occurs since an ultrasonic probe is fixed.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to provide a position tracking-type ultrasonic blood flow monitoring apparatus that is capable of rotating a probe module in three axes so that the direction of blood flow and the direction of an ultrasonic signal maintain a specific angle therebetween after acquiring accurate position information of a blood vessel by tracking the position of the blood vessel in real time even if the movement of the blood vessel occurs.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above objectives, the present disclosure provides a blood flow monitoring apparatus including a housing having an opening formed in a lower surface thereof; a first rotation member configured to rotate about a first axis inside the housing; a second rotation member mounted to the first rotation member and configured to rotate about a second axis; and a probe module mounted to the second rotation member, wherein the probe module rotates together with the first rotation member and the second rotation member according to the rotations of the first rotation member and the second rotation member and is capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals.

In addition, the blood flow monitoring apparatus may further include a patch part, wherein the patch part may be attachable to skin, and the housing may be coupled to the patch part and be rotatable about a third axis.

In addition, the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis may be perpendicular to each other, and the housing, the first rotation member, and the second rotation member may be capable of rotating independently of each other.

In addition, the blood flow monitoring apparatus may further include a control part, wherein the control part may be capable of controlling rotation angles of the housing, the first rotation member, and the second rotation member.

In addition, the first rotation member may include a first rotating ring and a first rotation axis member, and the housing may have a first axial hole formed therein, wherein a first end of the first rotation axis member may be connected to one side of the first rotating ring, and a second end thereof may be coupled to the first axial hole.

In addition, the second rotation member may include a rotating plate and a second rotation axis member, wherein the second rotating ring may be arranged inside the first rotating ring, the first rotating ring may have a second axial hole formed therein, and the second rotation axis member may be formed on one side of the rotating plate and be coupled to the second axial hole.

In addition, a direction in which the second rotation axis member is arranged may be orthogonal to a direction in which the first rotation axis member is arranged.

In addition, the housing may have a first long hole formed in a vertical direction of the housing, and the second rotation axis member may protrude through the first long hole, wherein the second rotation axis member may be capable of sliding in the first long hole.

In addition, a second manipulation member may be formed on an end part of the second rotation axis member.

In addition, the blood flow monitoring apparatus may further include an operation part, wherein the operation part may include a control part and a communication part, wherein the control part may control rotation angles of the housing, the first rotation member, and the second rotation member, and the communication part may be capable of transmitting, by wire or wirelessly, data on the ultrasonic signals received by the probe module.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a blood flow monitoring system including the blood flow monitoring apparatus and a display on which an application is installed, wherein the blood flow monitoring apparatus further includes an operation part, wherein the operation part comprises a control part and a communication part, wherein the control part controls rotation angles of the housing, the first rotation member, and the second rotation member, and the communication part is capable of transmitting, by wire or wirelessly, data on ultrasonic signals received by the probe module, wherein the application receives the data on the ultrasound signals transmitted by the communication part and outputs ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images on the display.

In addition, the application may store deep learning-based object recognition learning results for a blood vessel and may be capable of performing an object recognition function for the blood vessel in the ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images.

In addition, the application may transmit position information about the blood vessel recognized from the ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images to the communication part, and the control part may control a rotation angle of the probe module through the transmitted position information about the blood vessel.

Advantageous Effects

The position tracking-type ultrasonic blood flow monitoring apparatus according to the present disclosure can detect the position of a blood vessel, which is movable, in real time and adjust the rotation angle of an ultrasonic probe module to obtain an optimal Doppler signal and an ultrasound cross-sectional image.

In addition, data on a bloodstream and a blood vessel observed through the ultrasonic probe module are output wirelessly through a display, so the blood flow monitoring apparatus can be easily carried and used, and can obtain information on the bloodstream and blood vessel of a test subject without constraint of time and space.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The present disclosure described below may be subject to various changes and may have various embodiments, and specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present disclosure described below to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the present disclosure includes all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the technology to be described below.

FIGS.1to11illustrate the configuration of a blood flow monitoring apparatus10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings to aid understanding of the present disclosure. However, the following embodiments are provided only to make understanding the present disclosure easier, and the content of the present disclosure is not limited by the following embodiments.

FIGS.1and2are schematic illustrations of the blood flow monitoring apparatus10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIGS.1and2, the blood flow monitoring apparatus10may include a housing100, a first rotation member200, a second rotation member300, a probe module400, a patch part500, and a control part600.

Referring toFIGS.1to10, the housing100may include the first rotation member200, the second rotation member300, and the probe module400. The first rotation member200, the second rotation member300, and the probe module400may be accommodated inside the housing100.

The housing100may have, for example, the shape of a cylinder or a polygonal pillar, and may preferably be formed in a cylindrical shape.

The housing100may have space defined therein. The housing100may have an opening120formed in a lower surface thereof, with the opening communicating with the internal space of the housing100.

The first rotation member200, the second rotation member300, and the probe module400may be arranged in the space defined inside the housing100.

A first axial hole130and a first long hole140may be formed on the side surface of the housing100.

The first axial hole130may be coupled to a first rotation axis member220of the first rotation member200, and support the first rotation member200. The first rotation axis member220may be arranged to penetrate the first axial hole130.

The first axial hole130may include a plurality of first axial holes formed in the side surface of the housing100, wherein the plurality of first axial hole130may be symmetrically arranged on a first side surface and a second side surface of the housing100.

The first long hole140may be a hole formed long on the side surface of the housing100in the vertical direction of the housing100.

A second rotation axis member310of the second rotation member300may be inserted into the first long hole140and protrude out of the housing100, wherein the second rotation axis member310may slide along the longitudinal direction of the first long hole140. The first long hole140may allow the second rotation member300to rotate in the same direction as the rotation direction of the first rotation member200as the first rotation member200rotates about the first rotation axis member210.

A second axial hole140may be formed in the side surface of the housing100in a direction perpendicular to a position at which the first axial hole130is formed. Accordingly, an imaginary extension line perpendicular to the first axial hole130may be orthogonal to an imaginary extension line perpendicular to the second axial hole140.

The housing100may rotate about a third axis, which is the vertical central axis of the housing100. The lower end part of the housing100is coupled to the patch part500, and the housing100may rotate about the third axis with respect to the patch part500.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the housing100may include housing teeth160formed on the lower end of the housing100. The housing teeth160may adjust the rotation angle of the housing100rotating about the third axis.

The blood flow monitoring apparatus10may include the patch part500. An adhesive material may be applied to the patch part500. A patch-part coupling hole510may be formed in the center of the patch part500. Patch-part teeth511may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the patch-part coupling hole510.

The patch-part teeth511are coupled to the housing teeth160, and as the housing100rotates about the third axis with respect to the patch part500, the patch-part teeth511and the housing teeth160may rub. The housing100may rotate or stop rotating depending on the friction between the patch-part teeth511and the housing teeth160.

Referring toFIG.9, the patch part500may include a patch-part adapter520. The patch-part adapter520may be coupled to the patch part500. An adapter coupling hole521may be formed in the patch-part adapter520. Adapter teeth522may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the adapter coupling hole521. The adapter teeth522may be combined with the housing teeth160of the housing100.

The adapter teeth522are coupled to the housing teeth160, and as the housing100rotates about the third axis with respect to the patch part500, the adapter teeth522and the housing teeth160may rub. The housing100may rotate or stop rotating depending on the friction between the adapter teeth522and the housing teeth160.

Referring toFIG.10, a motor170may be placed on the patch part500or the patch-part adapter520. The motor170may be fixed to the patch part500or the patch-part adapter520and coupled to the housing teeth160. The motor170may operate by receiving a signal from the control part610. The motor170may rotate the housing100with respect to the patch part500or the patch-part adapter520.

The first rotation member200may be a member disposed inside the housing100and coupled to the first axial hole130to rotate about a first axis.

The first rotation member200may include a first rotating ring210with a ring shape and the first rotation axis member220.

The first rotating ring210may be formed in a circular or polygonal ring shape to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the housing100, and may have the first rotation axis member220formed on each of opposite end parts thereof by protruding therefrom.

The first axis rotation member220may be formed to protrude perpendicularly from each of a first side surface and a second side surface of the first rotating ring210in a direction perpendicular to each side, and may be inserted and coupled to the first axial hole130formed in the housing100.

A first manipulation member221may be coupled to an end part of the first rotation axis member220. Since the first manipulation member221protrudes out of the housing100, a user may hold the first manipulation member221by hand to rotate the first manipulation member221, or the first manipulation member221may be rotated by combining with a rotary drive device (not shown). As the first manipulation member221rotates, the first rotating ring210may also rotate in the same direction as the first manipulation member221.

The first manipulation member221is not limited to the shape of a polygonal column or a cylinder, but may be, for example, a gear with teeth formed along an outer peripheral surface thereof.

The first end of the first rotation axis member220may be connected to one side surface of the first rotating ring210, and the second end thereof may be coupled to the first axial hole130.

The extension lines of the central axes of the first rotation axis members220formed on the first side surface and second side surface of the first rotating ring210may be arranged on the same line, wherein the extension lines may pass through the center of the first rotating ring210.

A plurality of second axial holes211may be formed in the first rotating ring210. The second axial hole211may be formed in each of the first side surface and second side surface of the first rotating ring210, and may be formed in a direction perpendicular to a position at which the first rotation axis member220is formed. Accordingly, a line perpendicular to the second axial hole211and the extension line of the central axis of the first rotation axis member220may intersect and be perpendicular to each other. An imaginary line connecting the plurality of second axial holes to each other may coincide with a second axis.

The second rotation member300may be coupled to the first rotation member200, and may rotate about the second axis. The second axis may be an axis perpendicular to the first axis.

The second rotation member300may include a rotating plate310, the second rotation axis member320, and a probe coupling part330.

The rotating plate310may be arranged inside the first rotating ring210, and rotate about the second axis with respect to the first rotating ring210.

A plurality of second rotation axis members320may be coupled to the rotating plate310. The second rotation axis member320may be formed on each of first and second sides of the rotating plate310, and may be inserted and coupled to the second axial hole211.

The second rotation axis member320is disposed on the same line as the second axis, and may function as a rotation shaft so that the rotating plate310is able to rotate about the second axis.

At least a portion of the second rotation axis member320may protrude out of the housing100through the first long hole140of the housing100. As the first rotation member200rotates while the second rotation axis member320slides in the first long hole140, the second rotation member300also rotates about the first axis.

A second manipulation member321may be coupled to an end part of the second rotation axis member320. Since the second manipulation member321protrudes out of the housing100, a user may hold the second manipulation member321by hand to rotate the second manipulation member321, or the second manipulation member321may be rotated by combining with the rotary drive device (not shown). As the second manipulation member321rotates, the rotating plate310may also rotate in the same direction as the second manipulation member321.

The second manipulation member321is not limited to the shape of a polygonal column or a cylinder, but may be, for example, a gear with teeth formed along an outer peripheral surface thereof.

The first rotation member200may rotate about the first axis, the second rotation member300may rotate about the second axis, and the housing100may rotate about the third axis. The first rotation member200, the second rotation member300, and the housing100may rotate independently of each other. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis may intersect and be orthogonal to each other.

The probe coupling part330may be formed on the rotating plate310. The probe module400may be coupled to the probe coupling part330.

The probe module400as a Doppler ultrasound sensor generates an ultrasound wave, transmits the ultrasound wave into the human body, and obtains a reflected signal to obtain information about the status of a continuous blood flow and a blood vessel.

When ultrasonic waves of a predetermined frequency are generated by the probe module400, the ultrasonic waves of the frequency are incident on a target such as a blood vessel inside the human body, and a signal reflected from the target may be acquired through the probe module400and converted into an electrical signal.

Meanwhile, a Doppler ultrasound sensor may acquire data used for hemodynamic evaluation. That is, the Doppler ultrasound sensor may acquire various data on the status of a blood flow by using a spectral Doppler ultrasound examination method. Spectral Doppler examination may be performed using a continuous wave or a pulsed wave that sends ultrasonic waves at regular intervals. In particular, the continuous wave method may be useful in an area in which only one blood vessel exists in one cross-section.

Through this spectral Doppler examination, it is possible to know not only whether blood flow exists and the amount of blood flow, but also whether a blood vessel wall exists, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, acceleration time, and deceleration time of blood flow, and it is possible to obtain a lot of information about hemodynamics by measuring resistive index, pulsatility index, acceleration time index, and heart rate, etc. on the basis of on this information.

The probe module400may transmit an ultrasonic wave to the human body located under the housing100through the opening120and may receive an ultrasonic signal reflected from the human body. In the internal space of the housing100, ultrasound gel may be coated between the probe module400and the human body.

A connection terminal410is connected to the probe module400, provides power to the probe module400, and may transmit an electrical signal generated by the probe module400from a reflected signal to the control part600.

When the housing100, the first rotation member200, and the second rotation member300rotate the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis, respectively, the housing100, the first rotation member200, and the second rotation member300may rotate in the same direction, so the probe module400may probe the position of a blood vessel whose position is changeable within the human body, and may take an optimal angle for the discovered blood vessel to obtain a best ultrasound cross-sectional image.

The patch part500may be attached to a human skin and may stably fix the position of the housing100on the skin to which the patch part500is attached. The patch part500may be coupled to the lower end part of the housing100. Referring toFIG.9, the combination of the patch part500with the housing100may be performed through the patch-part adapter520. The patch-part adapter520may be attached to the patch part500, and may have the adapter teeth522inside. The housing teeth160may be formed on the lower end of the housing100. The housing teeth160are in contact with the adapter teeth522, and as the housing100rotates about the third axis, the housing teeth160and the adapter teeth522may rub against each other. The housing100may stop rotating whenever the housing teeth160are located in valleys between the adapter teeth522.

Since one surface of the patch part500is coated with an adhesive that is harmless to the human body, the one surface of the patch part500may be easily attached to the skin of the human body.

The patch part500may be detachably combined with the housing100, so the used patch part500can be easily separated from the housing100and disposed of.

The housing coupling hole510that is able to be coupled to the housing100may be formed in the patch part500.

Referring toFIGS.11to13, the operation part600may be arranged on the upper part of the housing100and may control the overall operation of the blood flow monitoring apparatus. The operation part600may include the control part610, a communication part620, a calculation part630, and a power supply part640.

The operation part600may transmit an electrical signal generated by the probe module400through the connection terminal410. The electrical signal may include ultrasonic signal data and ultrasonic 2D matrix data received by the probe module400.

The control part610may control the rotation direction and rotation angle of the probe module400through the rotation direction and angle of the probe module400, which is calculated by the calculation part630, with respect to the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis.

The communication part620may transmit, by wire or wirelessly, an electric signal stored in the operation part600to an application installed on an external device or an external display700, wherein the application may display ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images. Additionally, the communication part620may transmit a control signal for controlling the control part610from the application to the control part610. Therefore, a user may freely control the rotation angle of the probe module400through an external application.

In addition, the application may display ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images on the display700through electrical signals transmitted through the communication part620and may continuously probe the image of a blood vessel through the displayed ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images to transmit the position of the blood vessel to the calculation part630through the communication part620.

The calculation part630may determine the position of the blood vessel transmitted through the application and thus may calculate the rotation direction and rotation angle of the probe module400with respect to the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis so that the probe module400may transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal for the position of the blood vessel at an optimal angle and maintain the sensitivity of a Doppler signal. The rotation direction and rotation angle calculated by the calculation part630are transmitted to the control part610, so that the control part610may control the rotation direction and rotation angle of the probe module400.

The power supply part640is equipped with a battery and may provide power to the probe module400, the operation part600, and other rotary drive devices.

An alarm part650may include an LED lamp, and may notify a user that a problem has occurred by emitting light in a specific color or by flashing at regular time intervals when the application does not find the image of a blood vessel for a predetermined period of time and the probe module400transmits and receives ultrasonic signals in a wrong direction.

The display700may be wirelessly connected to the communication part620of the blood flow monitoring apparatus10, which is not limiting, but may be, for example, a smartphone, a laptop, a PC, a tablet, etc. The application70may be run on the display700and output on a screen.

The application may output ultrasound cross-sectional images and Doppler images, etc., through data such as ultrasound 2D matrix data, which the probe module400receives ultrasound signals to be converted to. In addition, the application may probe the position of a blood vessel through the output pictures and images, and may analyze and output the status of the probed blood vessel (blood flow abnormality, a blood flow rate, thickness of a blood vessel wall, a pulsation index, circulatory resistance, heart rate, thrombosis, and stenosis, etc.).

The application stores object recognition learning results based on deep learning for a blood vessel, so the application may perform an object recognition function for the blood vessel recognized in acquired pictures and images. An object recognition method may be performed by a YOLO (you only look once) neural network architecture.

The application may transmit position information about the recognized blood vessel to the communication part620, and the control part610may control the rotation angle of the probe module400with respect to the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis through the position information about the blood vessel transmitted to the communication part620.

Although the present technology has been described through the above embodiments, the present technology is not limited thereto. The above embodiments may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology, and those skilled in the art will recognize that such modifications and changes also belong to the present technology.