JPH10216140A - Ultrasonic therapeutic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an ultrasonic therapeutic system which is provided with a high-strength focusing ultrasonic probe with a higher operability. SOLUTION: A tubular member 6 communicating with an inserting part at the body of an ultrasonic probe and a pipeline within an operating part are extended backward and the rear end thereof is connected to a medium tank 12 provided in an ultrasonic therapeutic system body 3. The components as mentioned above are filled with an ultrasonic propagation medium 15 and an ultrasonic wave of an ultrasonic vibrator 11 provided in the ultrasonic therapeutic system body 3 is propagated to the tip side of the inserting part. The medium tank 12 is provided with a cooler 18 to cool heat generated in the ultrasonic vibrator 11. This dispenses with provision of a cooling means on the side of the body of the ultrasonic probe thereby securing operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment system for performing ultrasonic treatment in a body cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an ultrasonic therapy apparatus or system for performing a therapeutic treatment by irradiating a powerful ultrasonic wave so as to focus on a diseased tissue or the like of a subject. When powerful ultrasonic waves are focused in vivo by this ultrasonic treatment system,
Protein denaturation can be caused in the living tissue at the focus position. Irradiation of intense focused ultrasound to diseased tissue such as tumor tissue causes protein denaturation, which results in necrosis,
Due to the shedding, the diseased tissue can be removed and used for treatment.

[0003] Ultrasonic transducers used for ultrasonic therapy generate a large amount of heat because they are driven with high energy. For safe use, it is necessary to avoid continuous driving or to provide cooling means.

As a cooling means of the ultrasonic transducer, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-32110,
A method of using an acoustic matching layer fixed to an ultrasonic transducer for cooling has already been known. Also, JP-A-6-5070
No. 1 discloses a method of circulating a cooling liquid over the entire length of the apparatus.

[0005]

However, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-3
When an ultrasonic transducer cooled by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2110 is incorporated in the probe, the size of the probe is increased due to the presence of the cooling mechanism, and the portion that can be inserted into the body cavity is restricted, and the range of use is limited. Would. Also, JP-A-6
In the cooling means disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50701, a cooling pipe is connected to the probe, so that a plurality of members extend from the vicinity of the operation unit, and the operability is reduced.

(Object of the Invention) It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic treatment system provided with a high-intensity convergent ultrasonic probe having good operability.

[0007]

An ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window for radiating ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction, and an ultrasonic vibrator connected to the ultrasonic probe main body and capable of generating ultrasonic waves are provided. An ultrasonic therapy system main body, a tubular acoustic medium accommodating means for communicating between an ultrasonic wave generating surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic radiation window, and an ultrasonic medium accommodated in the acoustic medium accommodating means. By providing an ultrasonic transmission medium that transmits ultrasonic waves generated from an ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic radiation window, and a cooling unit that is provided in the ultrasonic treatment system body and cools the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic transducer propagates through the ultrasonic wave propagation medium and is emitted from the high intensity convergent ultrasonic wave emitting portion of the high intensity convergent ultrasonic probe, thereby exhibiting a therapeutic effect. On the other hand, heat generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is absorbed by a cooling mechanism provided near the ultrasonic vibrator. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a change in acoustic characteristics of the ultrasonic vibrator due to heat, a damage to a patient, and the like. Since the cooling mechanism does not need to be provided on the high-intensity focused ultrasonic probe side, the operability is good.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the whole of an ultrasonic treatment system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the treatment system body, FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the distal end portion, and FIG. 4 shows an example of use of the present ultrasonic treatment system.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic therapy system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a high-intensity focused ultrasound probe 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a high-intensity focused ultrasound probe) that emits highly intensified therapeutic ultrasound.
And an ultrasonic treatment system main body 3 to which the rear end of the ultrasonic probe 2 is connected.

The ultrasonic probe 2 extends from the rear end of the operating section 5 and accommodates an acoustic medium. The probe body includes an inserting section 4 inserted into a body cavity and an operating section 5 formed at the rear end. A tubular member 6 serving as an acoustic medium storage means, and a connection portion at the rear end of the tubular member 6 is connected to the ultrasonic treatment system main body 3.

The distal end 7 of the insertion section 4 is provided with an acoustic lens 8 which is a convex lens which emits an ultrasonic wave so as to converge at an opening serving as an acoustic window for emitting (emitting) the ultrasonic wave. The insertion portion 4 is formed, for example, straight in a hard, straight tube shape, and secures good sniper characteristics when inserted into the abdominal cavity or the like (as described in FIG. 4). In addition,
The insertion portion 4 may be flexible as described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a high-intensity converging ultrasonic oscillator (hereinafter simply referred to as an ultrasonic oscillator) which is formed of a piezoelectric element and generates high-intensity or high-energy ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic treatment system main body 3. The medium tank 12 is disposed on one side of emitting (radiating) the ultrasonic waves. The electrodes on both sides of the ultrasonic transducer 11 are connected to an ultrasonic drive signal generator 14 via a cable 13 so that an ultrasonic drive signal can be applied to the ultrasonic transducer 11.

The medium tank 12 is filled with an ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 for transmitting ultrasonic waves. An acoustic matching layer 16 for reducing the reflection of ultrasonic waves at the boundary with the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 is adhered to one surface of the ultrasonic oscillator 11, and the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic oscillator 11 are It is possible to converge and emit to the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 side (the part facing the front surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11) in the medium tank 12 via the acoustic matching layer 16 (hereinafter, the ultrasonic vibrator 11). The surface in contact with the acoustic matching layer 16 is referred to as a “resonator front surface” and the surface on the opposite side is referred to as a “rear surface”.

The front side of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 in the medium tank 12, that is, the side where the ultrasonic beam generated by the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is incident on the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 in the medium 12, The ultrasonic beam is converged to a considerable extent as it propagates through the ultrasonic propagation medium 15 in the medium tank 12 and the medium tank 12 is tapered and thinned near its convergence point. The portion is connected to the tubular member 6.

Then, the ultrasonic wave propagates in the tubular member 6 extending forward so that its base end is located on the central axis O (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2) of the ultrasonic beam. Ultrasonic waves considerably focused on the medium 15 are propagated to the front side thereof, and emitted through the acoustic lens 8 at the distal end portion 7 to the living body side. The surface portion of the medium tank 12 that is in contact with the acoustic matching layer 16 is formed of a member that transmits ultrasonic waves or a member that transmits vibration.

A backing material 17 is arranged on the rear surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 to attenuate the ultrasonic waves to this rear surface. For example, a cooling device 18 is provided on the upper surface of the medium tank 12 so as to cool the heat generated by the ultrasonic transducer 11. Although the cooling device 18 is a simple radiating fin in FIG. 2, a fan may be provided for the radiating fin, for example. 12 may be contacted.

In the tubular member 6 and the ultrasonic probe 2, there is formed a conduit communicating with the medium tank 12 over the entire length, and the ultrasonic propagation medium 15 filled in the conduit is formed.
Form an ultrasonic wave propagation path.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the vicinity of the tip 7. The distal end portion 7 is formed of a hard distal member 21, and the distal end of, for example, a hard outer tube 22 forming the insertion portion 4 is fixed to the proximal end thereof. The distal end of the medium storage tube 23 that is inserted inside the outer tube 22 and is filled with the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 is fixed to an opening at the base end of the distal end member 21 via a connection base. The rear end of the medium storage tube 23 inserted through the insertion section 6 is connected to the flexible (soft) tubular member 6 inside the operation section 5.

The opening at the base end of the distal end member 21 communicates with the opening serving as an acoustic window on the side of the distal end member 21 so as to be bent, and an ultrasonic mirror 24 for reflecting ultrasonic waves is fixed to the bent portion. The tip member 21 by the member 25
It is stuck to. Then, the acoustic window on the side serving as the ultrasonic wave emitting end to the outside of the probe is closed by the acoustic lens 8, so that the internal ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 does not leak.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic therapy system main body 3 incorporates an ultrasonic vibrator 11 for generating high-intensity ultrasonic waves and a medium tank 12 filled with an ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15. Is cooled by a cooling device 18, and a line is formed in the ultrasonic probe 2 so as to communicate with the medium tank 12 over the entire length, and the ultrasonic wave is propagated by the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 filled in the line. It is configured to transmit the high-intensity focused ultrasound generated by the vibrator 11 and emit or irradiate the high-intensity focused ultrasound through the acoustic lens 8 to the living body contacting the acoustic lens 8. It is characteristic.

Then, the temperature of the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 near the front surface of the high-intensity convergent ultrasonic transducer 11 is increased by cooling with the cooling device 18, so that the insertion portion 4 inserted into the body cavity is made thicker. It is possible to emit ultrasonic waves without performing.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
Shows a state when the ultrasonic therapy system 1 is used. The surgeon grasps the operation section 5 and inserts the insertion section 4 and the distal end section 7 into the abdominal wall 2.
7 is inserted into the body cavity via a trocar 28 attached to the body 7, and the acoustic lens 8 at the distal end portion 7 is inserted into the organ 29 in the body cavity.
Contact the site to be treated.

The ultrasonic vibrator 11 generates an ultrasonic wave in response to an AC ultrasonic driving signal supplied from an ultrasonic driving signal generator 14. Ultrasonic waves generated from the front surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11 propagate through the acoustic matching layer 16 to the ultrasonic propagation medium 15 in the medium tank 12.

Further, the ultrasonic wave propagates in the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15 and reaches the main body of the ultrasonic probe via the tubular member 6. Then, the ultrasonic wave that has reached the distal end portion 7 is reflected by the ultrasonic mirror 24, is focused toward the treatment target side by the acoustic lens 8 from the opening of the acoustic window on the side of the distal end portion 7, and is irradiated. The focused ultrasound exerts a therapeutic effect.

The ultrasonic waves generated from the rear surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11 are absorbed by the backing material 17. The heat generated by the ultrasonic transducer 11 is transmitted to the ultrasonic propagation medium 15 via the acoustic matching layer 16 and is absorbed by the cooling device 18.

This embodiment has the following effects. Since the heat generated in the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is absorbed by the cooling device 18, no trouble such as a change in acoustic characteristics due to a rise in temperature of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 occurs. Also, this heat does not damage the patient.

Further, the cooling device 18 includes the ultrasonic probe 2
(Because it is provided on the ultrasonic therapy apparatus main body 3 side), it does not hinder the operation of handling the ultrasonic probe 2 in the body cavity and also has a load that adversely affects the operation of the operator. No. Therefore, the operability of the operator can be improved.

In addition, especially the insertion section 4 on the side of the ultrasonic probe 2
Can be reduced in diameter, so that the usable range for insertion can be expanded. That is, the applicable range can be expanded. Also, when puncturing with a trocar or the like, the diameter of the hole required for the puncturing can be reduced, and there is an effect that pain given to the patient can be reduced and healing can be performed in a shorter time. Further, since the ultrasonic probe main body can be made light, the operation becomes easy, and good operability can be secured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the insertion section 4 of the ultrasonic probe main body can be reduced in diameter and weight, and good operability when the operation section 5 is gripped and operated is provided. Treatment system 1 provided with ultrasonic probe 2 having
Can be provided. In this case, a conventional example (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 50701), it is possible to prevent a plurality of members branched from the vicinity of the operation section from extending and obstructing the operation.

Furthermore, since the entire ultrasonic probe 2 can be formed without any electrical influence, the operator and the patient holding the ultrasonic probe 2 will not be shocked even if any abnormality occurs in the system.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a backing material 17 ′ made of a material having good heat conductivity is arranged on the rear surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11.
A cooling device 18 is provided on the rear surface of the 7 '
Is installed.

A part or all of the backing material 17 'which is not in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator 11 may be formed into a heat radiation fin shape. In this case, the cooling device 18 may or may not be provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described. The heat generated by the ultrasonic transducer 11 is transmitted to the backing material 17 '. This heat is further absorbed by the cooling device 18 when the cooling device 18 is provided, and is directly dissipated from the backing material 17 ′ when the backing material 17 ′ is formed into a radiation fin shape. In addition, the usage of the device and the propagation of the ultrasonic waves are the same as those in the first embodiment.

This embodiment has the following effects. First
The same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved, and since the cooling means is provided near the heat source than in the first embodiment, cooling can be performed more efficiently.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, on the rear surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 11, a cooling medium tank 31 made of a material such as a metal, whose acoustic impedance does not greatly differ from that of the ultrasonic vibrator 11, is provided. The cooling medium tank 31 is filled with a cooling medium 32. As the cooling medium 32, a fluid having a large attenuation of ultrasonic waves such as liquid paraffin is selected.

If the difference between the material of the cooling medium tank 31 and the acoustic impedance of the cooling medium 32 is large, the cooling medium tank 31
(Not shown). A pump (not shown) is provided in a pipe between the cooling medium tank 31 and the cooling device 18.

When the acoustic impedance of the cooling medium 32 does not greatly differ from that of the vibrator 11 and the cooling medium 32 is non-conductive, a hole is formed in the surface of the cooling medium tank 31 in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator 11. The rear surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11 may directly contact the cooling medium 32. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described. The heat generated in the ultrasonic transducer 11 is absorbed by the cooling device 18 from the cooling medium tank 31 via the cooling medium 32. Ultrasonic waves generated on the rear surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11 are absorbed in the cooling medium 32. In addition, the usage of the device and the propagation of the ultrasonic waves are the same as those in the first embodiment. This embodiment has substantially the same effects as the second embodiment.

In the above embodiments, the insertion portion 4 of the ultrasonic probe main body is described as the case of the hard outer tube 22. However, since the ultrasonic wave is propagated by the ultrasonic wave propagation medium 15, the medium storage tube The flexible (soft) insertion section 4 may be formed by forming the tube 23 and the outer tube 22 with a flexible tube or the like. In this case, a bending section may be formed on the distal end side of the insertion section 4 and a bending mechanism may be provided on the operation section 5 so that the bending section on the distal end side can be bent.

When the insertion portion 4 has flexibility as described above, it can be used by being inserted into a bent body cavity.
As in the case of the first embodiment, there is no need to provide a cooling means in the insertion section 4 and the operation section 5, so that operability and the like can be improved. Alternatively, the entire ultrasonic probe 2 may be made of a resin material to have flexibility.

[Supplementary Notes] An ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window that radiates ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction, the ultrasonic probe main body is connected, an ultrasonic treatment system main body having an ultrasonic vibrator capable of generating ultrasonic waves, A tube-shaped acoustic medium accommodating means communicating between the ultrasonic wave generating surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic radiation window, accommodated in the acoustic medium accommodating means,
An ultrasonic transmission medium that transmits ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic radiation window, and a cooling unit that is provided in the ultrasonic treatment system main body and cools the ultrasonic transducer. An ultrasonic treatment system characterized by the following.

2. An ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window for emitting ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction, the ultrasonic probe main body being connected thereto, an ultrasonic treatment system main body having an ultrasonic vibrator capable of generating ultrasonic waves, A tubular acoustic medium accommodating means communicating between an ultrasonic wave generating surface of an ultrasonic vibrator and the ultrasonic radiation window; and an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic vibrator accommodated in the acoustic medium accommodating means. An ultrasonic transmission medium that transmits the ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic radiation window, and a cooling unit that is disposed near the ultrasonic vibrator and cools the ultrasonic vibrator. .

3. An ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window that radiates ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction, the ultrasonic probe main body is connected, an ultrasonic treatment system main body having an ultrasonic vibrator capable of generating ultrasonic waves, A tubular acoustic medium accommodating means communicating between an ultrasonic wave generating surface of an ultrasonic vibrator and the ultrasonic radiation window; and an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic vibrator accommodated in the acoustic medium accommodating means. An ultrasonic transmission medium that transmits the ultrasonic transmission medium to the ultrasonic radiation window, and cooling means that cools the ultrasonic transmission medium.

4. The ultrasonic therapy system according to claim 3, wherein the cooling means is provided near the ultrasonic transducer. 5. 2. The ultrasonic treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe body has a rigid insertion portion. 6. The ultrasonic treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe main body has a flexible insertion portion.

7. An ultrasonic vibrator provided separately from a probe comprising a high-intensity focused ultrasonic wave emitting unit and an operator operation unit, a cooling mechanism provided in proximity to the ultrasonic vibrator, and the ultrasonic vibrator An ultrasonic treatment system characterized in that a high-intensity focused ultrasonic wave emitting part is connected via an ultrasonic wave propagation medium.

8. 8. The ultrasonic treatment system according to claim 7, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a cooling device provided in contact with a medium tank filled with the ultrasonic wave propagation medium. 9. 8. The ultrasonic treatment system according to claim 7, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a heat conductive backing material provided on one surface of the ultrasonic transducer and a cooling device provided in contact with the backing material.

10. 8. The ultrasonic treatment system according to claim 7, wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a mechanism in which one surface of the ultrasonic vibrator is brought into contact with a non-conductive cooling medium to be circulated directly or through a wall of the cooling medium tank.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, an ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window for emitting ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction is connected to the ultrasonic probe main body to generate ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic therapy system main body having a possible ultrasonic transducer, a tube-shaped acoustic medium accommodating means communicating between an ultrasonic wave generating surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic radiation window, and the acoustic medium accommodating An ultrasonic transmission medium that is housed in the means and transmits ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic radiation window, and cooling that is provided in the ultrasonic treatment system main body and cools the ultrasonic transducer. Since the cooling means is not required on the ultrasonic probe main body side, the diameter of the ultrasonic probe main body side can be reduced, and the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic treatment system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration inside an ultrasonic treatment system main body.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a distal end portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage example according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main configuration inside an ultrasonic treatment system main body according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a main configuration inside an ultrasonic treatment system main body according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic treatment system 2 ... High intensity ultrasonic probe 3 ... Ultrasonic treatment system main body 4 ... Insertion part 5 ... Operation part 6 ... Tubular member 7 ... Tip part 8 ... Acoustic lens 11 ... Ultrasonic vibrator 12 ... Medium Vessel 13 ... Cable 14 ... Ultrasonic drive signal generator 15 ... Ultrasonic propagation medium 16 ... Acoustic matching layer 17 ... Backing material 18 ... Cooling device 21 ... Tip member 22 ... Outer tube

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic treatment apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe main body having an ultrasonic radiation window for radiating ultrasonic waves in a predetermined direction; and an ultrasonic transducer connected to the ultrasonic probe main body and capable of generating ultrasonic waves. A system main body, a tubular acoustic medium accommodating means communicating between the ultrasonic wave generating surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic radiation window, and housed in the acoustic medium accommodating means, An ultrasonic transmission medium for transmitting the generated ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic radiation window; and a cooling unit provided in the ultrasonic treatment system main body for cooling the ultrasonic vibrator. Ultrasound therapy system.