Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/JP3578217B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-28 08:25:41
Document Index: 216854989

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 42', 'art 42', 'arts 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'arts 42', 'arts 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'arts\n43', 'art\n45']

JP3578217B2 - Treatment device for treating heart disease and blood vessels near the heart - Google Patents
Treatment device for treating heart disease and blood vessels near the heart Download PDF
JP3578217B2
JP3578217B2 JP52260194A JP52260194A JP3578217B2 JP 3578217 B2 JP3578217 B2 JP 3578217B2 JP 52260194 A JP52260194 A JP 52260194A JP 52260194 A JP52260194 A JP 52260194A JP 3578217 B2 JP3578217 B2 JP 3578217B2
JP52260194A
JPH08508432A (en
ライヒェンベルガー，ヘルムート
1993-04-15 Priority to DE4312264.7 priority Critical
1994-03-22 Application filed by シーメンス アクチエンゲゼルシヤフト filed Critical シーメンス アクチエンゲゼルシヤフト
1994-03-22 Priority to PCT/DE1994/000327 priority patent/WO1994023793A1/en
1996-09-10 Publication of JPH08508432A publication Critical patent/JPH08508432A/en
2004-10-20 Publication of JP3578217B2 publication Critical patent/JP3578217B2/en
The present invention relates to a therapeutic device for treating a heart disease and especially a blood vessel near the heart with therapeutic ultrasonic waves having an active area, the therapeutic device having a therapeutic ultrasonic source.
A device of the type mentioned at the outset is known, for example, from DE 3038445 A1. This device has a shockwave source that can be incorporated into a catheter introduced into the esophagus. The formed and focused shock wave is introduced into the heart and stimulates it.
Another device of the type mentioned at the outset is known from DE 39 00 433 A1. The device has one or more extracorporeally applicable ultrasound sources. The resulting therapeutic ultrasound is used, for example, for the treatment of sclerosis in the area of the coronary arteries of the heart. That is, re-emulsification of lipid deposited on the blood vessel wall in the hardened region by therapeutic ultrasound is performed.
Known treatment devices make it possible, for example, to eliminate the influence on the respective symptoms in the case of, for example, cardiac rhythm disorders or sclerosis. However, usually it is not possible to have a lasting effect on the focus area, for example the trigger zone for minor bundles or arrhythmias in the case of WPW syndrome.
The object of the present invention is to provide a treatment device of the type described at the outset in such a way that it can have a continuous effect on the lesion area.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by the fact that the ultrasound source forms a therapeutic ultrasound of the following intensity: heat is applied to the tissue present in the area of action, for example cardiovascular tissue or vascular tissue near the heart The problem is solved by forming therapeutic ultrasonic waves of such intensity as to cause tissue changes.
Thus, the lesion area can be excised by therapeutic ultrasound. In this connection, it is advantageous if the intensity of the therapeutic ultrasound is sufficient to cause gangrene formation of the heart tissue present in the area of action. This is because reliable excision of the focal lesion area can be guaranteed.
It is mentioned that EP 0404121 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,855 describe treatment devices which are capable of treating tumor tissue by the thermal action of ultrasound. However, in contrast, in the case of the device known from DE 39 00 433, during the treatment of the blood vessels and the heart, a constant tissue change due to the thermal action of the ultrasound pulsed the ultrasound. It is avoided by irradiating.
In a preferred embodiment, it is advantageous to configure the ultrasound to be able to be applied through the esophagus, as therapeutic ultrasound generated outside the body is not easily accessible to the heart within the ribs. In this connection, it is advantageous for the ultrasound source to have a plurality of ultrasound transducers and to orient the transducers such that the ultrasound waves emitted from these ultrasound transducers each overlap the area to be treated. In a configuration that cannot have at most one ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic source that can be applied through the esophagus for anatomical reasons, each case should be treated when only one ultrasonic transducer is used. It is not possible to deliver the ultrasound energy necessary to achieve a therapeutic effect in the area in a sufficiently short time. Therefore, if the treatment duration is to be short, it is advantageous to use a plurality of therapeutic ultrasound transducers and superimpose the ultrasound.
From the mutual anatomical location of the esophagus and the heart, the ultrasound source has a diagnostic ultrasound transducer, each of which is configured for positioning an area to be treated. Advantageously it is a component. This is because particularly good image quality of the ultrasonic image formed by using the ultrasonic positioning device is guaranteed.
In order to facilitate the introduction of a therapeutic ultrasound source into the esophagus, a variant of the invention provides a chain structure in which the therapeutic ultrasound transducer and optionally the diagnostic ultrasound transducer can be locked. Be a body component. In this case, the structure is flexible when unlocked and at least substantially rigid when locked. Thus, it is clear that the ultrasound source can be easily applied due to the flexibility in the unlocked state. On the other hand, for the treatment, the rigidity of the locked state results in a certain mutual correspondence between the elements of the ultrasound source and the heart or the blood vessel to be treated. A diagnostic ultrasound applicator configured in a chain can be applied to the heart sonograph through the esophagus. This diagnostic ultrasound applicator is further described in "Transoesophageal Echo Computer Tomographie", Wollschlaeger et al, Biomedizinische Technik, Band 34, Ergaenzungsband, page 10, 1989.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a heart activity detection means is provided, since the individual regions or blood vessels of the heart are displaced due to cardiac activity relative to the ultrasound source contained in the esophagus. This means triggers the delivery of the therapeutic ultrasound only during the cardiac activity phase where the heart and blood vessels are relatively mechanically stationary. This ensures that only those areas of the heart or blood vessels that really need treatment are treated.
In a particularly advantageous configuration of the invention, there is provided at least one therapeutic ultrasound source applicable outside the body, for example between the ribs or below the ribs, ie between the ribs or below the rib arch. The therapeutic ultrasound source can advantageously be oriented such that the therapeutic ultrasound coming therefrom overlaps the ultrasound coming from the ultrasound source at least in the area of action. Thereby, the intensity of the ultrasound is increased in the area of action in order to reduce the duration of the treatment. Therapeutic ultrasound emitted from at least one of the ultrasound sources or at least one of the therapeutic ultrasound sources is focused on a focal zone. The movement of the active area to the area to be treated can be performed by moving the focal zone within the area where the therapeutic ultrasound overlaps. In this connection, it is particularly advantageous to provide a relatively large focal zone and a relatively small focal zone, and to move the focal zone by moving the relatively small focal zone within the relatively large focal zone. .
According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the ultrasound sources, or at least one of the therapeutic ultrasound sources, emits the therapeutic ultrasound in a pulsed manner. This ensures that only during the pulsed irradiation is the intensity of the therapeutic ultrasound necessary to obtain a therapeutic effect.
In another embodiment of the invention, the ultrasound has the following energy density in the area of action, and if the therapeutic ultrasound is pulsed, it is selected to have the following pulse duration: . That is, the acoustic energy delivered to the area of action during cardiac activity is selected to cause the desired therapeutic effect.
In order to be able to determine the location of the respective focal lesion to be treated, it is advantageous to provide means for detecting the spatial position of the lesion region to be treated. The means advantageously comprises a device for generating a magnetic electrocardiogram or a device for ECG mapping. An apparatus for generating a magnetic electrocardiogram can be used to spatially localize the magnetic field source. Thus, when a symptom occurs, the lesion where the symptom starts can be determined, and only the lesion can be treated.
It is advantageous to provide means for detecting the temperature of the area of action so that the treatment process can be effectively controlled. The means advantageously comprises a device for qualitatively detecting the temperature from successive ultrasound images.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached screen.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram and a partial block diagram of a treatment apparatus of the present invention. The treatment device is applied to a human body shown in cross section.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device of FIG. 1 applied to a body illustrated in cross section.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ultrasound source of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 applicable to the esophagus.
4 to 6 are sectional views taken along lines IV to VI in FIG.
The treatment device shown in FIG. 1 has an ultrasound source 1 applicable through the patient's esophagus, indicated by O. The ultrasound source is filled with a fluid acoustic propagation medium, for example water, and has two therapeutic ultrasound transducers 2. The ultrasound source 1 is positioned in the esophagus as follows. That is, the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer 2 is positioned so as to be densely placed on the heart H to be treated.
The ultrasonic source 1 additionally has a diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3, which is a component of an ultrasonic positioning device. This diagnostic ultrasound transducer is used to locate the respective area to be treated, for example, a lesion F, which is the starting point of a cardiac rhythm disorder. The diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3 is pivotable about an axis lying in the plane of the drawing by means of a drive device 25, so that this diagnostic ultrasonic transducer cooperates with the control and imaging electronics 4 in the diagram. An ultrasonic B image on a plane perpendicular to the plane (see FIG. 2) can be created and displayed on the monitor 5. FIG. 1 plots the intersection angle S between the scanned plane and the drawing plane.
In order to carry out the treatment, the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer 2 emits therapeutic ultrasonic waves. The therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 is housed in the ultrasound source 1 so as to be pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 uses the conditioning device 6 and is oriented by the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3 and the control and imaging unit to perform the therapy using the ultrasound images illustrated on the monitor 5. be able to. In this case, the therapeutic ultrasound waves emitted by the two therapeutic ultrasound transducers 2 (their peripheral beams are indicated by dashed lines) are superimposed on the lesion F to be treated which is arranged in the plane E.
According to FIG. 4, the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 is a piezoelectric transducer, which has a piezoelectric transducer 8 provided on a back plate (support) 7. A sound collecting lens 9 is provided in front of the piezoelectric conversion element. The sound wave formed by the conversion element is focused on the focal zone FZ by the sound collecting lens 9.
In carrying out the treatment, the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 is oriented such that its focal zone FZ overlaps the lesion F to be treated. The conversion elements 8 can be distributed in a number of ring-shaped zones in a manner known per se. These zones can be controlled in time delay to output therapeutic ultrasound. Thereby, the position of each focal zone FZ can be electronically shifted along each acoustic axis A. The sound collecting lens 9 can be omitted in some cases.
A control adjustment unit 10 is assigned to the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2. This control unit uses the current required to drive the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2. If the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 has an electronically movable focal zone FZ, the necessary electronics for this are incorporated into the control and adjustment unit 10.
In addition to the ultrasound source 1, a therapeutic ultrasound applicator 11 can be provided. This ultrasonic applicator can be applied extracorporeally, for example, below the ribs, ie below the rib arch. The ultrasonic applicator 11 also has a piezoelectric conversion element 12, which is provided on a back plate 13 and provided with a sound collecting lens. The conversion element 12 is arranged on a casing 15 so as to be pivotable in a cardan manner together with a back plate 13 and a sound collecting lens 14 in a manner not shown in detail. The casing is filled with a hydroacoustic propagation medium, for example water, and a coupling membrane 6 is provided at its application end. With this bonding membrane, the ultrasonic applicator 11 can be pressed to acoustically couple to the body surface of the patient P.
An adjusting device 17 is assigned to the ultrasonic applicator 11. This adjusting device is used for orienting the conversion element 12 together with the back plate 13 and the sound collecting lens 14. This orientation is such that the lesion F is in the therapeutic ultrasound emitted from the transducer element 12, in particular in its focal zone FZ '. The focal zone FZ 'has the shape of a spheroid and is indicated by a dashed line.
A control device 18 is assigned to the ultrasonic applicator 11. The controller supplies the ultrasound applicator with the current necessary to form the therapeutic ultrasound.
The adjustment unit 6 and the control adjustment unit 10, and the adjustment devices 17 and the control device 18 are connected to the control unit 19, and the control unit 19 is connected to the keyboard 20. The keyboard is used for operating the treatment device. The adjusting unit 6 and the adjusting device 17 have a position sensor, for example, an inductive displacement sensor. This sensor transmits on the one hand the signals corresponding to the position of the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 and, on the other hand, the signals corresponding to the relative and spatial orientation of the transducer element 12 with respect to the ultrasound source 1 via lines 21 and 22. It is sent to the control unit 19. On the basis of these signals, the control unit 19 calculates, on the one hand, the center position of the region overlapping the focal zone FZ of the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 and, on the other hand, the acoustic axis A ′ of the ultrasound applicator 11 determines the diagnostic axis. A point that intersects a scanable plane E using the ultrasonic transducer 3 is calculated. The control unit 19 sends corresponding signals via line 23 to the control and imaging electronics 4. The electronic circuit imposes the corresponding mark M1 (overlap of the focal zone FZ) and M2 (intersection A 'with E) on the ultrasound image. This is shown in FIG.
To carry out the treatment, the adjusting unit 6 and the adjusting device 17 are operated via the keyboard 20 as follows. That is, the operation is performed so that the marks M1 and M2 are present in the image F ′ of the lesion F in the ultrasonic image. In this case, the treatment can be started. In this case, various operation modes selectable by the keyboard 20 are possible.
For different modes of operation, it is important that the therapeutic ultrasound emitted from the ultrasound applicator 11 is relatively weakly focused. If the ultrasonic applicator emits ultrasonic waves at a frequency of, for example, 875 kHz and has a diameter of 3 cm, a "natural" focus of about 10 mm in diameter at a distance of about 10 cm without any other means for focusing Zone FZ 'is obtained. The therapeutic ultrasound emitted from the ultrasound transducer 2 of the ultrasound source 1 is relatively strongly focused. Therefore, for example, if the diameter of the ultrasonic transducer 2 is 2 cm and the frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 2 is 2 MHz, each of the focal length of 4 cm and the “natural” focal zone FZ of 1.8 mm A diameter and a focal zone length of 20 mm are obtained. Thereby, the center of the overlapping area of the two focal zones FZ can approach the ultrasonic transducer 2 up to 3 cm, and can move up to 5 cm therefrom. It can be seen that relatively sharp focusing can be obtained by the sound collecting lenses 14 to 9 respectively, and that if the ultrasonic transducer 2 is used, other focal lengths are possible. What is important in any case is that the focal zones FZ and FZ 'are of different sizes. The above dimensions of the focal zones FZ and FZ 'relate to the so-called -6 dB isobar. That is, a region where the sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave is at least equal to half of the maximum sound pressure generated in the focus zone is regarded as the focus zone.
In the first mode of operation, the control unit 19 adjusts the intensity of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer 2 by a corresponding action on the control adjustment unit 10 as follows. That is, the intensity generated in the overlap region of the focal zone FZ is adjusted to an intensity that is not yet sufficient to cause the desired therapeutic effect, eg, gangrene. The intensity of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic applicator 11 is adjusted by the control unit 19 by the corresponding control of the control device 18 as follows. That is, in the focal zone of the therapeutic ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic applicator 11, an intensity sufficient to obtain a desired therapeutic effect is generated by superposition with the therapeutic ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 2. Adjust as follows. This area is the therapeutically active area W of the therapeutic device and can be moved within the focal zone FZ 'of the ultrasonic applicator 11 as follows. That is, the orientation of the ultrasonic transducer 2 is gradually changed relative to each other, and the action area W can be moved so as to cover the entire end portion of the lesion F by a scanning motion. This process can be performed based on the marks M1 and M2 imposed on the ultrasonic image. Here, the irradiation of the therapeutic ultrasound is preferably not continuous, but rather pulsed with respect to at least the ultrasound applicator 11 or with respect to one of the ultrasound transducers 2. This makes it possible to obtain a therapeutic effect only in the case of pulsed irradiation, possibly in addition to continuous irradiation of therapeutic ultrasound. In this case, the change of the relative mutual orientation of the therapeutic ultrasound transducers 2 is performed manually or with the aid of the control unit 19 between successive pulsed irradiations, respectively.
When the action area W is moved using the control unit 19, the light pen 24 can be used to mark the area to be treated in the ultrasonic image. Based on this, the control unit 19 moves the working area W within the marking by a corresponding operation of the adjusting device 6 and possibly the adjusting device 17.
There is another mode of operation for treatment when lesion F is densely located in esophagus O. In such a case, the ultrasound intensity achieved by (optionally) the ultrasound transducer 2 of the ultrasound source 1 has already reached a sufficient intensity to obtain the desired therapeutic effect. Therefore, in this mode of operation, the ultrasonic applicator 11 is not operated.
If the area to be treated is relatively far away from the esophagus O, the third mode of operation is selected. In this mode of operation, in addition to the ultrasound transducer 2 and the ultrasound applicator 3 of the ultrasound source 1, the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3 is also used for irradiation of therapeutic ultrasound. That is, it is used at intervals during the creation of an ultrasonic image. This provides sufficient ultrasound intensity to obtain a therapeutic effect even in areas relatively far from the esophagus. A corresponding control and regulation unit for the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3 connected to the control unit 10 is not shown in FIG.
Treatment of lesion F by therapeutic ultrasound cannot be performed at the same time due to mechanical movement of the heart H, ie, cardiac activity. Rather, it is necessary to trigger therapeutic ultrasound or provide pulsed irradiation in synchronization with cardiac activity. For this purpose, an electrode 29 is provided on a schematically illustrated electrocardiographic device 28. The electrocardiographic device 28 sends an electrical signal corresponding to cardiac activity to the control unit 19. The control unit 19 triggers a pulsed therapy with therapeutic ultrasound when the heart is relatively mechanically stationary. This advantageously takes place during diastole. That is, it is performed at a time between the end of the T wave and the start of the QRS complex wave. If the heart rate is 75, this time is about 0.5s.
The control unit 19 adjusts the intensity of the therapeutic ultrasound emitted from the ultrasound transducer 2 and possibly the ultrasound applicator 11 and possibly also the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3 as follows. That is, the energy density of the therapeutic ultrasound in the working area W is adjusted to be sufficient to cause the desired therapeutic effect in the tissue in each working area W even during cardiac activity.
Furthermore, when a symptom occurs, the spatial position of each lesion F can be detected using ECG mapping or a magnetic electrocardiograph. The corresponding data can be entered using the keyboard 20 before the treatment. The control unit 19 calculates the position of the ultrasonic source 1 based on the data. At this position, a lesion F exists on a plane scanned by using the diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3. In addition, the control unit 19 operates the adjusting unit 6, which brings the ultrasound source 1 into a corresponding position in the esophagus O and orients the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 accordingly. In addition, the control unit 19 sends signals to the control and image forming electronics 4. This signal is used to impose a mark F "on the ultrasound image. This mark represents the input position of the lesion F. This is especially true when the lesion F cannot be easily identified in the ultrasound image. Is advantageous.
An evaluation electronics 35 is assigned to the control and imaging electronics 4. The evaluation electronics 35 is used to compare the ultrasound images generated at the same point in successive cardiac activity. This is because, as is well known, a temperature rise is detected by this comparison. By comparing the determined temperature rise with a threshold value, it is possible to detect, between two successive ultrasound images, a region which has reached a temperature rise sufficient for the desired therapeutic effect. Said threshold value corresponds to the temperature required for the desired therapeutic effect. The evaluation electronics 35 sends the corresponding data to the control and imaging electronics 4. The control and imaging electronics mark the corresponding points in the instantaneous ultrasound image, for example, with different colors. In this way, the temperature process can be monitored well. In this case, the deflection of the ultrasound positioning device, due to diffraction and refraction phenomena in the patient's tissue, and the difference between the actual and theoretical position of the active area of the therapeutic ultrasound have no effect.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the ultrasonic source 1 applicable to the esophagus will be described in detail. According to FIGS. 1 to 6, the ultrasound source 1 has a flexible, hose-shaped sleeve 40. The hose is closed at its distal end and contains the acoustic propagation medium for the ultrasound emitted from the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 and the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3.
Within the sleeve 40 is a chain structure 41, generally designated 41, of which part 42 has a C-shaped cross section at least in the area of the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 and the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3. Have. In other areas of the chain structure, the part 42 can have an elliptical cross section. The parts 42 are provided with holes, which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the parts and face each other. These holes are used to accommodate two Bowden cable pulling mechanisms 43. The tensioning mechanism 43 is provided with a clamping member 56, whereby the tensioning mechanism bears against the end face of the corresponding part adjacent to the distal end of the sleeve 40. The sheath 44 of the Bowden cable is supported on the end face of the following part 42 on the side facing the proximal end of the sleeve 40. Said part 42 is the part arranged next to the proximal end of the sleeve 40.
A pulling means (not shown) is assigned to the Bowden cable. If the pulling means is in an open state, there is a space between the adjacent parts 42 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the chain structure 41 is flexible. In this case, the ultrasonic source 1 can be easily introduced into the esophagus of the patient P to be treated. When the pulling means is actuated, the parts 42 abut each other with their flat end faces, whereby the chain structure 41 assumes a linear configuration as shown in FIG.
Within the part 42 of the chain structure 42 is a carriage structure 45, which supports the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 and the diagnostic ultrasound transducer 3. In particular, two sliding shoes 46 are provided, which are connected to each other by two flexible wires 47. One of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducers 2 is connected to each sliding shoe 46. This will be described later. A support member 49 is disposed at the center between the sliding shoes 46. The sliding shoe 46 is guided on a sliding path 48 of the part 42, as can be seen in FIG. The diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3 is fixed to the support member 49. The carriage structure 45 slides vertically in the chain structure 41 using the wire on which the adjustment unit 6 acts. This is indicated by the corresponding double arrow.
The back plate 7 of the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 has a pin housed in a corresponding hole of the sliding shoe 46. This allows the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 to pivot as already described above. Each of the therapeutic ultrasound transducers is provided with a gear segment 50. Each of these segments cooperates with a corresponding pinion 51. The pinion 51 is provided on the flexible wire 52 so as not to rotate. The wire 52 is rotatably supported in a corresponding hole of the sliding shoe 46.
The gear segment 50 and the pinion 51 are configured as follows, and the gear segment 50 is provided on the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer 2 as follows. That is, when the wire 52 is rotated by the adjustment unit 6, the synchronous swing motion of the therapeutic ultrasonic transducer 2 is configured and provided so as to be mutually performed.
The diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3 is mounted on a support member 49 using a swivel joint 53 and can scan a predetermined body layer of the patient P. The pivoting movement is transmitted from the drive 25 to the diagnostic ultrasonic transducer 3 by a flexible wire.
The electrical lines leading to the ultrasonic transducers 2 and 3 are not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 for simplicity. FIG. 4 also shows, by hatched circles, that the therapeutic ultrasound transducer 2 can be an electronically focussable ring structure.
In many treatments, it is advantageous to provide an additional extracorporeally applicable ultrasound applicator 55 in addition to the ultrasound source 1 and the ultrasound applicator 11. This ultrasonic applicator 55 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. This applicator is applied between the ribs. That is, the applicator irradiates through two adjacent ribs of the patient. The therapeutic ultrasound emitted by the ultrasound applicator 55 is advantageously weakly focused. The control and orientation of the ultrasonic applicator 55 are not shown, but are performed in the same manner as the ultrasonic applicator 11.
In an embodiment, both an ultrasound source applicable through the esophagus and at least one ultrasound applicator applicable outside the body are provided. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the treatment device has only an ultrasound source applicable through the esophagus, or only an ultrasound applicator that is selectively extracorporeally applicable, and only one such ultrasound applicator. Is within.
In the case of the above embodiment, the lesion F in the heart H itself is treated. It is also clear that blood vessels, for example blood vessels near the heart, can be treated using the treatment device of the present invention.
Reference code list
1 = Ultrasonic source
2 = therapeutic ultrasonic transducer
3 = diagnostic ultrasound transducer
4 = Control and image forming electronics
6 = adjustment unit
7 = back plate
8 = Conversion element
9 = sound collecting lens
10 = Control adjustment unit
11 = Ultrasonic applicator
12 = Conversion element
13 = back plate
14 = Sound collecting lens
15 = Casing
16 = binding membrane
17 = Adjustment device
18 = Control device
19 = Control unit
20 = Keyboard
21, 22, 23 = railway
24 = Light pen
25 = drive
28 = electrocardiograph
32 = Track
35 = Evaluation electronics
40 = sleeve
41 = Chain structure
42 = Parts
43 = Tension mechanism
44 = Coated part
45 = sliding structure
46 = Slip shoe
47 = wire
48 = Runway
49 = Support
50 = Gear segment
51 = Pinion
52 = wire
53 = Swivel joint
54 = wire
55 = Ultrasonic applicator
56 = Fastening member
A, A '= Acoustic axis
F = lesion
FZ, FZ '= focal zone
H = focus
O = esophagus
W = action area
A therapeutic device for treating a heart (H) disease and a blood vessel including a blood vessel near the heart with therapeutic ultrasound having an action area (W),
The treatment device has a therapeutic ultrasound source (1, 11, 55);
The ultrasound source produces a therapeutic ultrasound of the following intensity, ie, an ultrasound of such intensity that causes a tissue change by thermal action on the tissue present in the working area (W), and The ultrasound source is configured to be applicable through the esophagus;
The ultrasound source (1) has a plurality of therapeutic ultrasound transducers (2);
The plurality of therapeutic ultrasonic transducers, said plurality are distinct spatially another and mechanically integrated with each other are arranged in structure of linear, the adjustment device (6) Wherein the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic transducers are oriented relative to each other so as to overlap each other in the region to be treated.
2. The treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the therapeutic ultrasound is sufficient to cause gangrene of the tissue in the area of action (W).
The therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasound source (1) forms therapeutic ultrasound waves of such intensity as to cause a permanent tissue change by thermal action in the tissue present in the working area (W).
The ultrasound source (1) has a diagnostic ultrasound transducer (3),
4. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic ultrasonic transducer is a component of an ultrasonic positioning device for positioning a region to be treated.
The therapeutic ultrasound transducer (2) and possibly the diagnostic ultrasound transducer (3) are components of a chain-like structure (41),
The treatment device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the structure (41) is flexible when unlocked and at least substantially rigid when locked.
The therapeutic ultrasound transducer (2), and optionally the diagnostic ultrasound transducer, are components of a structure (41) having a plurality of successive parts;
7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for triggering the delivery of therapeutic ultrasound only during a cardiac activity phase in which the heart is relatively mechanically stationary. The treatment device according to any one of the preceding claims.
8. The treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a therapeutic ultrasound source (11, 55) is provided that is applied at least extracorporeally, for example, between the ribs or below the ribs. .
The extracorporeally applicable ultrasound source (11, 55) is such that the therapeutic ultrasound coming from it overlaps at least the working area (W) with the ultrasound coming from the other ultrasound source (1, 55 or 1, 11). 9. The treatment device according to claim 8, wherein the treatment device is orientable.
Claims: The ultrasound emitted from the ultrasound source (1, 11, 55) or the ultrasound emitted from the at least one therapeutic ultrasound transducer (2) is focused in at least the focal zone (FZ, FZ '). 10. The treatment device according to any one of items 1 to 9.
There is a relatively large focal zone and a relatively small focal zone (FZ ', FZ)
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the movement of the active area (W) in each of the areas to be treated is performed by moving a relatively small focal zone (FZ) within a relatively large focal zone (FZ '). Treatment device.
At least one of the therapeutic ultrasound sources (1, 11, 55) or at least one of the therapeutic ultrasound transducers (2) irradiates the therapeutic ultrasound in pulses. The treatment device according to any one of items 11 to 11.
The ultrasound in the working area (W) has the following energy density, and the pulse duration during pulsed irradiation of therapeutic ultrasound is selected as follows:
13. The treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic energy supplied during the cardiac activity is selected to have an energy density and a duration that causes a therapeutic effect.
Means are provided for detecting the temperature in the working area,
14. The treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the means advantageously comprises a device (35) for qualitatively detecting temperature from successive ultrasound images.
JP52260194A 1993-04-15 1994-03-22 Treatment device for treating heart disease and blood vessels near the heart Expired - Fee Related JP3578217B2 (en)
DE4312264.7 1993-04-15
DE19934312264 DE4312264B4 (en) 1993-04-15 1993-04-15 Therapy device for the treatment of diseases of the heart and vessels close to the heart
JPH08508432A JPH08508432A (en) 1996-09-10
JP3578217B2 true JP3578217B2 (en) 2004-10-20
JP52260194A Expired - Fee Related JP3578217B2 (en) 1993-04-15 1994-03-22 Treatment device for treating heart disease and blood vessels near the heart
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