Patent Description:
As of today, ultrasound is widely used in medicine, cosmetics, body shaping, wound treatment, pain relief, blood flow stimulation, skin treatments and spa therapy. Ultrasound waves are applied to a human body via a hand-held device or a stationary, fixed positioned device, directly touching the treated area of the human body. What is needed is a convenient, easy to use, and comfortable means for applying the ultrasound waves efficiently.

<CIT> describes a solely stationary diagnostic ultrasound system, where the positioning accuracy is a primary requirement. The movement is performed in near zero friction environment achieved within a liquid filled enclosure where the ultrasound head flows with no direct contact towards any surface. The whole system is adapted to perform a diagnosis on a specific body part. The publication further discloses a "Full azimuthal angular rotation of +<NUM> degrees", but not a continues rotation, since the electric wiring of the system dictates the limit of rotation. Therefore, the described system is limited mechanically, and too bulky and weighty to make a portable implementation possible.

<CIT> discloses a mechanically rotating intravascular ultrasound probe. The publication discloses a forward-looking mechanically rotating intravascular ultrasound probe having a small volume, a high image resolution and good imaging stability. The intravascular ultrasound probe includes a catheter, an ultrasonic transducer disposed at a front end of a cavity of the catheter and a driving apparatus that drives the ultrasonic transducer to rotate mechanically. The driving apparatus is a micro motor disposed in the cavity of the catheter, including a rotor and a stator. The ultrasonic transducer is installed on top of the rotor and electrically connected to the rotor, and the rotor is also electrically connected to the stator. The catheter is a magnetic metal tube, and a front end thereof is enclosed by an acoustic window which has a spherical tip and allows ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic transducer to pass through. The acoustic window is filled with an ionic liquid having a function of an ultrasonic coupling agent. The ultrasound probe solves a problem of rotation torsion of an image when the catheter passes through a lesion with high-grade stenosis or a curved blood vessel section, and achieves forward scanning imaging and side scanning imaging for a blood vessel wall. However, the described probe is limited to the rotation around its own axle. As well the ionic liquid playing a role of the second conductor is limiting the power specs and type of application of the above described transducer.

As a therapeutic ultrasound requires power specs up to <NUM> times higher of a diagnostic ultrasound, it would therefore be desired to propose a system void of these deficiencies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasound apparatus for applying the ultrasound waves efficiently.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-surgical ultrasound apparatus, that applies the ultrasound waves easily, automatically, and safely to the patient.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic ultrasound apparatus, for cosmetic treatment.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound apparatus for efficiently applying ultrasound waves over a treated area by mechanically moving the ultrasound transducer comprising: (a) an ultrasound transducer, connected by wiring, for dispersing ultrasound waves; (b) a shaft for holding said transducer; (c) an electric actuator for spinning a crank, wherein said shaft is eccentrically attached to said crank for rotatably whirling said transducer in circles; (d) a stabilizer for leading said wiring of said ultrasound transducer, and for holding said shaft; (e) a first linear bearing for guiding a part of said stabilizer while said part of the stabilizer slides in said linear bearing wherein said stabilizer holds said shaft in a position normal to said first linear bearing for reducing the twisting of said wiring, of said ultrasound transducer, when said actuator whirls said transducer; and (f) a control unit, logically connected to said electric actuator, capable of receiving instructions, from the user, and capable of controlling the whirling of said ultrasound transducer, by controlling said electric actuator, for performing said instructions.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a friction reducer and a second linear bearing for protecting the wiring and guiding it through a rectifying mechanism, when the actuator whirls said transducer.

Preferably, a single cable provides a continuous electrical connection from the input connector of the apparatus to the moving ultrasound transducer for making a number of turns without causing damage to said cable.

Preferably, the electric actuator, is driven by an electronic circuitry or by directly applied power, for whirling the ultrasound transducer in at least one motion type such as circular motion, linear motion, angular motion, spin motion, vibration, in at least one direction or combination of said directions and motion type patterns.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a connector having at least one BNC connectors for connecting to said ultrasound apparatus, where the whole connector assembly, including non-BNC type of contacts are held in place by utilizing the BNC locking mechanism.

Preferably, the apparatus may be embodied in a standalone device or may be incorporated into a larger more comprehensive machinery.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprising a coupler implemented for changing speed, pattern, torque or amplitude of the motion of the ultrasound transducer
In one embodiment, the ultrasound transducer is directly attached to said electric actuator.

In one non-claimed example, the apparatus is used to avoid burns caused by the high-power ultrasound applied for a longer than necessary time to the same spot of the treated area.

In one non claimed example, the electrically driven ultrasound transducer is used to increase the blood flow in the treated area due to ability to perform motions at the speed amplitude and pattern impossible to perform manually.

In one embodiment, the electrically driven ultrasound transducer moves in certain types of motions, that generate its own low frequency waves, which in coherence with the main ultrasound carrier frequency produces more effective and more penetrative pulses not producible by a single frequency source.

In one embodiment, the electrically driven ultrasound transducer reduces the hardship of the manual motion during the treatment process.

The accompanying drawings, and specific references to their details, are herein used, by way of example only, to illustratively describe some of the embodiments of the invention.

The terms of "front", "rear", "down", "up", "bottom", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "right", "left" or any reference to sides or directions are used throughout the description for the sake of brevity alone and are relative terms only and not intended to require a particular component orientation.

As known in the art, ultrasound waves may be used in wound treatment, ulcer treatment, pain relief, blood flow stimulation, body shaping, fat reduction, cellulite reduction, skin treatment and other applications for cosmetic or medical treatment. Ultrasound waves may be applied to the patient via a hand-held device or a stationary, fixed positioned device, by directly touching the skin of the treated area of the body. However, the Effective Radiating Area (ERA) of the ultrasound transducer is very slim. Thus, in order to apply an equal amount of energy to an area larger than the ERA of the ultrasound transducer the transducer needs to be moved within a constant speed throughout the treated area. Furthermore, due to the conical shape of the ultrasound beam, the focus zone of the ultrasound beam is typically narrower than the transducer's ERA, which requires a great amount of motion, to the transducer, in order to be effective, even when the treated area is fairly small. Not to mention that when high-power ultrasound waves are applied, over time, to the same area, the absorption of the waves may cause that body part to heat, and burn. The present invention introduces an ultrasound apparatus for efficiently applying ultrasound waves over an area larger than the ERA of an ultrasound transducer, by driving by an electric actuator, which whirls the ultrasound transducer, for dispersing the ultrasound waves over an area larger than the ERA of an ultrasound transducer thus protecting the client from harm.

<FIG> is a diagram of a hand-held ultrasound apparatus for applying the ultrasound waves efficiently, according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus <NUM> may be a hand-held ultrasound apparatus having a transducer <NUM> that may be whirled. The transducer <NUM> may be whirled by an electric actuator, such as described in relation to <FIG>, for example. When the operator holds the ultrasound apparatus, by gripping the handle <NUM>, and aims the transducer <NUM> to the body of the patient the ultrasound transducer may be whirled, in circles, while applying the ultrasound waves. Thus, the transducer <NUM> efficiently disperses the ultrasound waves over an area larger than the transducer's initial ERA.

One of the features of the described apparatus is to provide a continuous electrical connectivity to the ultrasound transducer <NUM> while allowing it to make an endless number of turns in a circular pattern without excessive distortion of the electrical conductor. Before being converted to an ultrasound vibration, by the ultrasound transducer, the driving electrical signal is usually formed as an RF signal of a high power, as therapeutic ultrasound may require up to tens of Watts to be applied. Thus, the conduction of such a signal presents an additional problem caused by the nature of the RF cables, which require undisturbed coaxiality of the conductors within. The implementation of the sliding contacts may pose an engineering challenge in terms of cost and reliability.

The simplest and the most reliable way would be utilization of the basic cable without any additional contacts. The following mechanism description enables a single cable connectivity between the fixed input end, e.g. connection point <NUM> in <FIG>, and the moving end, e.g. the transducer <NUM>, where the parameters of distortion of the cable could be calculated and adjusted as required.

<FIG> is a diagram of some of the inner parts of the ultrasound apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention. The ultrasound transducer <NUM>, as described in relations to <FIG>, may have a stainless-steel cover with a PZT807 piezoelectric crystal, or any other ultrasound transducer capable of directing ultrasound waves for human treatment. The ultrasound transducer <NUM> may be connected by wiring. The wiring may be an RF cable or any other wiring capable of transferring the electric signals to the transducer <NUM>. The ultrasound transducer <NUM> may be whirled by the electric actuator <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may be an electric motor, e.g. brush or brushless, a stepper motor, or servo motor, solenoid, an angular actuator or a linear actuator, such as the Nema <NUM> Stepper Motor, or any other actuator capable of whirling the transducer. In one embodiment, the actuator <NUM> may whirl the transducer <NUM> in a circular pattern in any direction or in any other angular pattern. In an embodiment, the actuator <NUM> may whirl the transducer <NUM> in one direction and then switch the direction of rotation of the actuator <NUM> before completing the whole circle. In other embodiments, the actuator <NUM> may vibrate the transducer <NUM> by rapidly changing the actuators direction of rotation. Combinations of the vibrations and rotations are also possible according to other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the actuator <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG>, may spin a crank <NUM>, where the crank <NUM> has a shaft <NUM> which is attached pivotally and eccentrically, for rotatably whirling the transducer <NUM>. The transducer <NUM> may be attached to the shaft <NUM>. Thus, when the actuator <NUM> spins, the crank <NUM> may spin as well with its eccentrically placed shaft <NUM> making circular movements, which whirls the transducer <NUM> in circles. When the actuator's shaft <NUM> spins, it may commit a circular motion around the actuator's <NUM> center axis which may whirl the transducer in the same circular pattern. This will allow the transducer <NUM> to be whirled in circular pattern in any direction or any other angular pattern by switching direction of rotation of the actuator <NUM> before completing the whole circle, or vibrate, by rapidly changing the actuator's direction of rotation. In one embodiment, combination of the vibration and rotation is possible as well. In one embodiment, the proper displacement of axes, i.e. the axis of the shaft <NUM> and the axis of the actuator <NUM>, will allow to move the transducer in a circular pattern without overlapping the ultrasound beam focus zone, thus increasing the equality of the energy applied to the whole treated area.

The apparatus <NUM>, of <FIG>, may also have a stabilizer <NUM> which may be used to stabilize the angle of the transducer <NUM>, when the actuator <NUM> spins and whirls the transducer <NUM>. The stabilizer <NUM> may be a hollow tube made of metal, or any other rigid material, for leading the wiring of the ultrasound transducer <NUM>. In one embodiment the top part of stabilizer <NUM> is inserted into the shaft <NUM> and attached within the shaft <NUM>. When the shaft <NUM> moves the transducer <NUM>, the stabilizer <NUM> may hold the shaft, and the transducer <NUM>, in the position normal to the first linear bearing <NUM> which guides the stabilizer <NUM> at the bottom, thus reducing the twisting of the wiring which is attached to the ultrasound transducer <NUM>. The first linear bearing <NUM> is held within the apparatus cover by its axis <NUM> thus said bearing is capable of committing an angular movement around said axis <NUM>. While the stabilizer <NUM>, at its top side, repeats the circular motions committed by the shaft <NUM>, the angular movement of the bearing <NUM>, which holds the bottom side of stabilizer <NUM>, may have a much lower amplitude of the angular movement.

In one embodiment, a friction reducer <NUM>, as depicted in <FIG>, may be used for protecting the movement of wiring <NUM>. The friction reducer <NUM>, i.e. linear guide, may be a hollow tube made of metal, or any other rigid material, for leading the wiring of the ultrasound transducer <NUM>. In one embodiment, the friction reducer <NUM> may be movably held, by a second linear bearing <NUM>. Thus, the wiring <NUM> may be protected in the friction reducer <NUM> while the friction reducer <NUM> slides up and down, inside the second linear bearing <NUM>, with the movement of the transducer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram of an isometric view of some of the inner parts of the ultrasound apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention. As described in relations to <FIG>, the transducer cable <NUM> may run through a stabilizer <NUM> and may further run through the hollow shaft <NUM>, to which the transducer is attached. The stabilizer <NUM> may be inserted into the first linear bearing <NUM> which may be able to turn around its axis <NUM> within the apparatus covering. The first linear bearing <NUM> may act as a guide for the stabilizer <NUM>, as well as serving a purpose of the first stage rectifier of the cable distortion. As shown in the <FIG> the maximum distortion angle 'd' of the cable would be defined by the equation tan(d)= Movement Radius of the shaft <NUM> (MR) / Length between the axis of the actuator and the axis <NUM> of the first linear bearing (LF). By the adjustment of the MR and LF the desired maximum cable distortion angle could be achieved. While the first linear bearing <NUM> reduces the cable's left/right motion in the X direction caused by the X and Y movement path, the second linear bearing <NUM> limits the cable's up/down motion to the Y direction only. In the second stage rectification of the cable movement in the Y direction is handled. The friction reducer <NUM> encloses the cable on the contact surface with the second linear bearing <NUM> thus minimizing the friction and protecting the cable. The distance between the two linear bearings, <NUM> and <NUM>, can affect the cable Distortion Radius <NUM> - by increasing the distance the radius will increase as well.

Beyond the friction reducer <NUM>, the cable <NUM> may be freely folded in a <NUM> degrees arc, with a desired radius up to a fixing point within the apparatus embodiment, as depicted in <FIG>. With the cable movements in the Y direction the arc may keep its radius, while its center displacement may be equal to the half of the cable Y direction motion amplitude.

Returning to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> may have a control unit capable of receiving instructions such as by user interface <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may have buttons, levers, screen, touch screen or any other user interface components. The control unit, which may also be logically connected to the electric actuator, may be capable of controlling the rotation of the ultrasound transducer, by controlling the electric actuator, for performing the received instructions from the user. The control unit may also be capable of controlling speed and angular amplitude of the transducer <NUM> in different manners for creating different massaging motion types. In one embodiment, in order to allow the proper displacement of axes, the control unit may control the transducer to move in a circular pattern without overlapping the ultrasound beam focus zone, thus increasing the equality of the energy applied to the whole treated area.

In one embodiment the ultrasound apparatus may also comprise an electronic circuitry to allow user to control the motion's speed, the amplitude and/or the pattern of the ultrasound waves of the transducer. In an embodiment, the actuator may be driven directly by applying electricity to the electric actuator.

The described ultrasound apparatus may help to reduce the hardship of the manual motion during the treatment process used today. As described above, the use of the ultrasound apparatus may provide a more equal energy dispersion to the whole treated area in comparison to the manual moved transducer used today.

In one embodiment the ultrasound apparatus may be used to increase the blood flow in the treated area due to ability to perform motions at the speed amplitude and pattern. In one embodiment the ultrasound apparatus may whirl the ultrasound transducer in certain types of motions, such as vibration or other, and it may generate its own low frequency waves which in coherence with the main ultrasound carrier frequency may produce more effective and more penetrative pulses not producible by a single frequency source.

In one embodiment, the ultrasound apparatus may have a coupler or a coupler mechanism such as gearbox, lever, camshaft or any other mechanism used for changing speed, pattern, torque or amplitude of motion of the ultrasound transducer whirled by the actuator. Alternatively, the ultrasound transducer may be directly attached to the electric actuator.

In one embodiment, the electric actuator, of the ultrasound apparatus, may be driven by an electronic circuitry or by directly applied power, for whirling the ultrasound transducer in at least one motion type such as circular motion, linear motion, angular motion, spin motion, vibration, or other motion type, in at least one direction or combination of different directions and motion types.

Fig. <NUM> is a diagram of a connector for the ultrasound apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, a connector <NUM>, having two BNC connectors <NUM>-<NUM>, may be used for connecting to the ultrasound apparatus. The first BNC connector <NUM>, for example, may be used for connecting the RF signals feeding point to the ultrasound transducer while the second BNC connector <NUM> may be used for feeding the electricity to the controller and the electric actuator, for example. The connector may also have other contact points <NUM> for transferring other signals to the ultrasound apparatus. The ultrasound apparatus may have the appropriate connectors at its bottom, such as connecting point <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, for receiving the connector <NUM>. In one embodiment a lever, such as lever <NUM>, may be attached to each of the BNC connectors for easy lock of the connector to the ultrasound apparatus. Thus, the connector <NUM> may be attached to the bottom of ultrasound apparatus <NUM> and the levers may be turned in order to lock the cables feeding the ultrasound apparatus <NUM>. Thus, the whole connector assembly <NUM> may be reliably attached and fastened utilizing the effective BNC locking mechanism.

Claim 1:
An ultrasound apparatus (<NUM>) for efficiently applying ultrasound waves over a treated area by mechanically moving the ultrasound transducer comprising:
an ultrasound transducer (<NUM>), connected by wiring, for dispersing ultrasound waves;
a shaft (<NUM>) for holding said transducer;
an electric actuator (<NUM>) for spinning a crank (<NUM>), wherein said shaft is eccentrically attached to said crank for rotatably whirling said transducer in circles;
a stabilizer (<NUM>), for leading said wiring of said ultrasound transducer, and for holding said shaft;
a first linear bearing (<NUM>) for guiding a part of said stabilizer while said part of the stabilizer slides in said first linear bearing, wherein said stabilizer holds said shaft in the position normal to said first linear bearing for reducing the twisting of said wiring, of said ultrasound transducer (<NUM>), when said actuator (<NUM>) whirls said transducer; and
a control unit, logically connected to said electric actuator, capable of receiving instructions, from the user, and capable of controlling the whirling of said ultrasound transducer, by controlling said electric actuator, for performing said instructions.