Patent Publication Number: US-2016243382-A1

Title: Apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0025731 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 24, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present relates to an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound which is used as medical devices or the like. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A focused ultrasound therapy technology for treating the deceased part or for skin care has been introduced. Such a focused ultrasound therapy is performed using an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound using focused ultrasound transducer which focuses ultrasound to generate high intensity focused ultrasound. 
     In particular, an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound includes a pulse power generator which generates pulse current and an ultrasound focusing member which receives the pulse current and focuses high intensity ultrasound. The ultrasound focusing member may be electrically connected to the pulse power generator via a cable such that an operator can freely move the ultrasound focusing member. 
     The ultrasound focusing member includes a housing and an ultrasound transducer which is installed inside the housing. Here, the ultrasound transducer may be formed as a piezoelectric vibrator which is formed by forming a first electrode and a second electrode on both sides of a piezoelectric member, and converts electric signal applied to the first and the second electrodes to ultrasound. 
     In generating ultrasound using a concave piezoelectric member, ultrasound may be focused on a certain area. At this time, the position of the focused ultrasound is called a focal point. The ultrasound energy which is focuses on the focal point has an intensity distribution of an elliptical shape. The ultrasound focused in this way is used in medical devices for cancer treatment, skin wrinkle care or the like. 
     However, in the conventional apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound, the ultrasound transducer is fixed to an inside of the housing, so an operator must move the whole of the ultrasound focusing member in order to treat plural deceased parts or a long deceased part. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound in which an ultrasound transducer can automatically move inside a housing. 
     The present invention has been also made in an effort to provide an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound in which a moving position of the ultrasound transducer can be detected. 
     Technical Solution 
     An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound includes: a housing which is filled with ultrasound transmitting medium; an ultrasound transducer which is movably disposed inside the housing; and a driving unit which linearly moves the ultrasound transducer. 
     The driving unit may include: a driving motor which is provided at the outside the housing through a fixing bracket; and a direction converting part which converts a rotation movement of a shaft of the driving motor to a linear movement and provides a linear movement force to the ultrasound transducer. 
     The direction converting part may include: a crank arm which is shaft-connected to the driving motor; a crank pin which is provided at an edge portion of the crank arm; a linear slider which has a long slot into which the crank pin is inserted and linearly moves while the crank pin circularly moves; a linear guide rail which guides a linear movement of the linear slider; and a linear movement bar one end of which is connected to the linear slider and the other end of which is connected to the ultrasound transducer. 
     An opening may be formed to the housing and the linear movement bar may move through the opening. 
     A sealing cap may be provided to the opening in order to prevent the ultrasound transmitting medium from being leaked through the opening from the housing. 
     A portion of an outer surface of the housing may be enclosed by a cover and the driving motor, the crank arm, the crank pin, the linear slider and the linear guide rail may be disposed inside the cover. 
     The driving unit may further include a linear guider which guides a linear movement of the ultrasound transducer. 
     The linear guider may include: a supporter which connects the ultrasound transducer and the liner movement bar and is provided with a guide hole; and a guide rod of a linear shape which is elongated along a longitudinal direction of the housing inside the housing and is inserted into the guide hole. 
     The driving unit may further include a vibration preventing part which prevents a vertical vibration of the linear movement bar. 
     The vibration prevention part may include: an upper supporting member which is fixed to the fixing bracket and supports an upper portion of the linear movement bar; and a lower supporting member which is fixed to the fixing bracket and supports a lower portion of the linear movement bar. 
     The apparatus may further include a position control unit which controls a position of the ultrasound transducer. 
     The position control unit may include a position detector which detects a position of the ultrasound transducer. 
     The position detector may include: a magnetic body which is provided to a supporter which supports the ultrasound transducer; and a magnetic sensor which is provided to the housing or a portion fixed to the housing to cooperatively work with the magnetic body and detects a position of the magnetic body. 
     The ultrasound transducer may be located at an initial position, initial positions of the magnetic body and the magnetic sensor may be determined with reference to a focus of an ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transducer. 
     The position control unit may further include a memory stores a number of movement of the ultrasound transducer by the position detector. 
     The position control unit may further include a controller which controls a moving distance and a number of movement of the ultrasound transducer based on information of the position detector and the memory. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the ultrasound transducer automatically moves inside the housing by the driving unit, the ultrasound transducer can automatically moves to plural target area or along a long target without the user&#39;s manual movement of the housing, so convenience can be enhanced. 
     Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the position of the focus of the ultrasound transducer can be precisely detected by the position detector, the focus of the ultrasound transducer can be precisely positioned at a target point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view schematically showing an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a position control unit and a driving motor of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view schematically showing the state in which a ultrasound transducer of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention is moved. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing which is seen in a different angle showing the state in which an ultrasound transducer of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention is moved. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view schematically showing an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
     An apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , includes a housing  100 , an ultrasound transducer  200  and a driving unit  300 . 
     First, referring to  FIG. 1 , the housing  100  will be explained. 
     An inside space of the housing  100  is filled with an ultrasound transmitting medium (not shown) and may have a sealed structure for preventing the ultrasound transmitting medium from being leaked. 
     Further, the housing  100  has an opening  102  at a frontal end thereof, and a treatment window  110  may be provided at the opening  102 . Accordingly, the ultrasound which is generated by the ultrasound transducer  200  passes through the treatment window  110  and may be then focused at an external one point. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the ultrasound transducer  200  will be explained. 
     The ultrasound transducer  200  converts electrical signal to ultrasound and may be movably disposed inside the housing  100 . Further, not shown in the drawings, the ultrasound transducer  200  may be electrically connected to the pulse power generator (not shown) via a cable (not shown). In more detail, the ultrasound transducer  200 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may include a piezoelectric member  210 , a first electrode  220  and a second electrode  230 . The ultrasound transducer  200  is a vibrator and may have a concave shape as a whole. 
     The piezoelectric member  210  may have a concave shape as a whole. The piezoelectric member  210  may be formed various materials such as ceramic, complex piezoelectric material, single-crystal quartz which can convert electrical signal to mechanical vibration. Further, the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric member  210  is generally determined according to the thickness thereof, and in the embodiment of the present invention, the range of this frequency is not limited and all vibration frequency which can be realized by the piezoelectric member  210  can be available. The vibration frequency of all ranges which can be used for ultrasound treatment can be included. 
     Further, the size of the ultrasound member  210  is not limited such that it can be suitable realized in accordance to the magnitude of the energy of the apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound and the treatment purpose. 
     The first electrode  220  and the second electrode  230  may be formed to contact an inner surface (an inner surface of the concave shape and a surface which faces the focus) and an outer surface (an outer surface of the concave shape and a surface which is opposite to the surface facing the focus), respectively. For example, the first electrode  220  and the second electrode  230  may be formed of metal such as silver which has a good electrical conductivity. 
     The first electrode  220  and the second electrode  230  may electrically connected to the pulse power generator (not shown) to be applied with the pulse electricity generated by the pulse power generator (not shown). That is, the first electrode  220  may be electrically connected to one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal (or a ground terminal) of the output of the pulse power generator (not shown) via a first electrically conductive line (not shown), and the second electrode  230  may be electrically connected to the other one of a positive terminal and a negative terminal (or a ground terminal) of the output of the pulse power generator (not shown) via a second electrically conductive line (not shown). Accordingly, the pulse current generated by the pulse power generator (not shown) is applied to the first electrode  220  and the second electrode  230 , and the applied pulse current flows through the piezoelectric member  210 . If the current flows through the piezoelectric member  210 , the piezoelectric member  210  vibrates by the piezoelectric effect of the same. 
     As described above, if the pulse current is applied to the first electrode  220  and the second electrode  230  so that the pulse current flows through the piezoelectric member  210 , the piezoelectric member  210  vibrates, and this vibration has ultrasound characteristics and generates ultrasound in the ultrasound transmitting medium (not shown) enclosing the piezoelectric member  210 , and this ultrasound propagates via the ultrasound transmitting medium (not shown) and is focused on one point. 
     Hereinafter, referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the driving unit  300  will be explained. 
     The driving unit  300  moves the ultrasound transducer  200  linearly, and may be realized as a direct linear moving type which directly moves the ultrasound transducer  200  using an actuator (not shown) such as a pneumatic cylinder or as an indirect linear moving type which indirectly moves the ultrasound transducer  200  by converting rotation motion of an output shaft of a driving motor  310 . The indirect moving type suing the driving motor  310  (e.g., a step motor) may precisely control the movement. Hereinafter, the driving unit  300  of the indirect moving type will be explained in detail. 
     The driving unit  300 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , may include a driving motor  310  and a direction converting part DS. The driving motor  310  may be fixed to the outside of the housing  100  by a fixing bracket  400 . The direction converting part DS converts the rotation movement of the shaft of the driving motor  310  to the linear movement and provides linear movement force to the ultrasound transducer  200 . 
     As an example, the direction converting part DS, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , may include a crank arm  320  which is shaft-coupled to the driving motor  310 , a crank pin  330  which is provided at an edge portion of the crank arm  320 , a linear movement slider  340  which has a long slot  341  into which the crank pin  330  is inserted and undergoes linear movement during the circular movement of the crank pin  330 , a linear guide rail  380  (in  FIG. 2 ) which guides the linear movement of the linear movement slider  340 , and a linear movement bar  350  one end of which is connected to the linear movement slider  340  and the other end of which is connected to the ultrasound transducer  200 . As another example, not shown in the drawings, the direction converting part may have a rack-pinion structure. 
     In addition, an opening  101  may be formed in the housing  100 , and in this case, the linear movement bar  350  may move toward the inside of the housing  100  or toward the outside of the housing  100  through the opening  101 . 
     In addition, in order to prevent the ultrasound transmitting medium (not shown) from being leaked through the opening  101  from the housing  100 , a sealing cap  500  may be provided to the opening  101 . The sealing cap  500  may be formed of a flexible material such as rubber, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , may maintain sealing without hindering the movement of the linear movement bar  350 . 
     In addition, in case that a portion of the outer surface of the housing  100  is enclosed by a cover  600 , the driving motor  310 , the crank arm  320 , the crank pin  330 , the linear movement slider  340  and the linear guide rail  380  may be disposed inside the cover  600 , in order to improve the external appearance. 
     In addition, the driving unit  300  may further include an auxiliary linear guider  360  which guide the linear movement of the ultrasound transducer  200 . As an example, the auxiliary linear guider  360  may include a supporter  361  which connects the ultrasound converter  200  and the linear movement bar  350  together and has a guide hole  361   a , and a guide rod  362  of a linear shape which is elongated along a longitudinal direction of the housing  100  inside the housing  100  and is inserted into the guide hole  361 . Accordingly, the ultrasound transducer  200  may maintain linear movement without shaking laterally or vertically by the auxiliary linear guider  360  while moving by the driving unit  300 , so the apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound can be precisely controlled. 
     In addition, the driving unit  300  may further include a vibration preventing part  370  which prevents vertical vibration of the linear movement bar  350 . As an example, the vibration preventing part  370  may include an upper supporting member  371  which is fixed to the fixing bracket  400  and supports an upper portion of the linear movement bar  350  and a lower supporting member  372  which is fixed to the fixing bracket  400  and supports a lower portion of the linear movement bar  350 . Accordingly, the linear movement bar  350  can be prevented from vibrating vertically while moving, so the apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound can be precisely controlled. 
     In addition, the apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound may further include a position control unit  700 . Hereinafter, referring to  FIG. 3 , the position control unit  700  will be explained in detail. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a position control unit and a driving motor of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The position control unit  700  controls the position of the ultrasound transducer  200  and may include a position detector  710  which detects the position of the ultrasound transducer  200 . 
     The position detector  710  may include a magnetic body  711  which is provided to the supporter  361  which supports the ultrasound transducer  200  and a magnetic sensor  712  which is provided to the housing  100  or a portion (e.g., a printed circuit board (not shown) which is fixed to the housing  100  to work cooperatively with the magnetic body  711  and detects the position of the magnetic body  711 . In particular, when the ultrasound transducer  200  is located at an initial position, initial positions of the magnetic body  711  and the magnetic sensor  712  may be able to be determined with reference to the focus of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transducer  200 . By using the magnetic sensor, precise sensing is possible without being interfered by the ultrasound transmitting medium filled in the housing, compared to an infrared light sensor or the like. 
     Since the initial position is determined, the precise position of the ultrasound transducer  200  can be detected based on the number of the rotation of the driving motor  310 , the distance between the center of the crank arm and the crank pin  330 , and the like. 
     In addition, the position control unit  700  may further include a memory  720  which stores the number of the movement of the ultrasound transducer  200 . Accordingly, the number of the movement of the ultrasound transducer  200  can be stored and it can be notified to a user. 
     In addition, the position control unit  700  may further include a controller  730  which controls the movement distance and the movement number of the ultrasound transducer  200  based on the information of the position detector  710  and the memory  720 . Accordingly, if the suitable movement number is set depending on the size and the degree of the deceased part, the controller  730  sends a control signal to the driving motor  310  such that driving motor  310  operates the target number of the movement with reference to the precise initial position through the position detector  710 . 
     Hereinafter, referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , the movement of the ultrasound transducer  200  of the apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view schematically showing the state in which a ultrasound transducer of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention is moved, and  FIG. 5  is a drawing which is seen in a different angle showing the state in which an ultrasound transducer of an apparatus for generating a high intensity focused ultrasound according to an embodiment of the present invention is moved. 
     First, if a control signal is transmitted to the driving motor  310  in a state of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the shaft of the driving motor  310  rotates in a counter clockwise to urge the crank arm  320  to rotate in a counter clockwise. 
     While the crank pin  330 , which is fixed to the edge portion of the crank arm  320 , rotates together while the crank arm  320  rotates, and the linear movement slider  340  into which the crank pin  330  is inserted and the linear movement bar  350 , which is provided to the linear movement slider  340 , move to the left in the drawing as shown in the dotted lines in  FIG. 2 . 
     While the linear movement bar  350  moves to the left, the linear movement bar  350  undergoes a linear movement along the auxiliary linear guide  360  to the left as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . During this process, the supporter  361  which is fixed to the linear movement bar  350  and the ultrasound transducer  200  which is fixed to the supporter  361  also move to the left in the drawing to treat the deceased portion. In particular, even when the deceased portion is long or when the deceased portions are plural, the deceased portion(s) can be treated while the ultrasound transducer  200  move linearly, and the treatment can be performed by adding the number of the movement of the ultrasound transducer  200 . 
     The apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound may have the following effects. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the ultrasound transducer  200  automatically moves inside the housing  100  by the driving unit  300 , the ultrasound transducer  200  can automatically moves to plural target area or along a long target without the user&#39;s manual movement of the housing  100 , so convenience can be enhanced. 
     Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the position of the focus of the ultrasound transducer  200  can be precisely detected by the position detector  710 , the focus of the ultrasound transducer  200  can be precisely positioned at a target point. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.