DE19624163A1 - Ultrasonic therapy system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a compact unit housing the entire therapy system and coupled to the external current supply via a network plug. A microcomputer (16) controls the overall operation of the therapy system. The common housing (7) contains a number of piezoceramic oscillation elements (1), coupled to membrane elements (2) on one side and cooperating with a damping mass (12) on the opposite side, together with electronic control and power elements (3,4), operating elements (5) and optical and acoustic display elements (6,13).

Description

The innovation, in accordance with the protection requirements, has set itself the task To develop technology that enables ultrasound therapy, which both acceptable from an economic as well as from a professional-therapeutic point of view is. This means:

• - powerful technology
• - controlled therapy
• - high ease of use
• - One-piece, compact design
• - anatomically sensible design
• - Most cost-effective implementation.

The invention is based on the fact that, apart from the external power supply, which is in the form of a plug-in power supply unit, all of the elements required for a functional ultrasound therapy system, such as an ultrasound oscillating element, are a compact, holistic, complete system ( 1 ), membrane element ( 2 ), damping mass ( 12 ), control electronics ( 3 ), power electronics ( 4 ), operating elements ( 5 ) and optical display elements ( 6 ) as well as acoustic display Elements ( 13 ) combined in a common housing ( 7 ) and controlled by a microcomputer ( 16 ) represent a very cost-effective solution.

An additional integration of a power supply in the form of a battery or a dry battery is neither economically sensible nor is it technically justifiable, since the energy expenditure of an acceptable therapy is relatively large. The energy volume and therefore the spatial volume of a battery or a battery would be so large that the Handling of the therapy device should suffer greatly.

Using a micro-computer ( 16 ), the therapy system can be manufactured very inexpensively and can also meet all modern requirements in terms of technical feasibility and the desired therapeutic options.

The ultrasonic vibrating element ( 1 ) consists of a "Pietzo ceramic system" which transmits the ultrasonic vibrations directly to the membrane element ( 2 ) attached to the bottom of the housing. From here, the ultrasound is emitted onto the part of the body to be treated. On the opposite side of the ultrasonic vibrating element ( 1 ) there is a damping mass ( 12 ) which, due to its inertia, causes the ultrasonic energy to move towards the side towards the membrane element ( 2 ) is delivered.

The system is protected against pressurized water by means of sealing elements ( 8 ) and the adhesive bonds ( 9 ), making it also suitable for underwater therapy. Consequently, the cable entry is also implemented using a PG screw connection ( 14 ) that is protected against pressurized water.

The supply voltages are supplied via the only external cable connection ( 11 ). For reasons of better handling, a spiral line ( 11 ) is preferably used for this.

All settings of the digital control system in relation to treatment time, intensity, modulation, start / stop and the optical and acoustic controls are carried out using a waterproof membrane keyboard ( 15 ). Under the membrane keyboard ( 15 ) there are buttons ( 5 ) which forward the button signals directly or indirectly to the microcomputer ( 16 ).

For the realization and control of a very specific treatment time, the Control system a time circuit with down counter, with which a very specific Treatment time is specified and the effective remaining treatment time is also displayed at any time can be.

With a coupling control that includes the control system, the system is able to determine whether there is contact from the ultrasound membrane ( 2 ) via the coupling medium (e.g. petroleum jelly) to the part of the body to be treated. If this is not the case, the power of the ultrasound signal emitted at the ultrasound membrane ( 2 ) is reduced or completely switched off. The down counter stops here and the acoustic frequency of the acoustic control changes audibly due to an acoustic frequency change, or switches off completely.

Therapeutically, it may well be appropriate that the treatment, despite the individual adjustable ultrasound intensity, not always performed at full ultrasound power becomes. For this reason, the temporal rhythm with which the system sends ultrasound signals broadcast in the form of a modulation, which represents the pause-pulse ratio, from 0% to 100% set and displayed. The pulse time represents the time in which Ultrasound is emitted while the pause time represents the rest time of the system.

All displays relating to the operational readiness, treatment time, ultrasound intensity, modulation, start / stop and the optical coupling control are carried out using digital numerical displays ( 6 ) or light-emitting diodes. The activity indicators for the operational readiness and for the coupling control are additionally carried out by means of a tone generator ( 13 ) which on the one hand indicates whether the ultrasound system is active, and on the other hand when there is a coupling to the part of the body in therapy. The latter is indicated by the acoustic frequency changing in its temporal rhythm.

The design of the ultrasound therapy system has the shape of a mushroom or a pear. For anatomical reasons, the reinforced part is enclosed by the therapist's hand. The operating elements ( 5 ) and display elements ( 6 ), as well as the circuit boards of the control electronics ( 3 ) and power electronics ( 4 ) are located in the reinforced part of the system. The circuit boards of the control electronics ( 3 ) and power electronics ( 4 ) are here one above the other in a sandwich design. At the end of the tapered part there is the ultrasonic vibrating element ( 1 ) with the ultrasonic membrane ( 2 ) and the damping mass ( 12 ).

Claims (10)

1. Ultrasound therapy system characterized as a compact, holistic, complete system, characterized in that , in addition to the external power supply, which is designed in the form of a plug-in power supply, all elements that are required for a functional ultrasound therapy system, such as ultrasound Vibration element ( 1 ), membrane element ( 2 ), damping mass ( 12 ), control electronics ( 3 ), power electronics ( 4 ), operating elements ( 5 ) and optical display elements ( 6 ) and acoustic display elements ( 13 ) are combined in a common housing ( 7 ), and a micro-computer ( 16 ) takes over all control tasks. 2. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ultrasound vibrating element ( 1 ) consists of a "Pietzo ceramic system", which directly applies the ultrasound vibrations to the membrane attached to the housing bottom. Element ( 2 ) transmits and radiated from here and on the other on the opposite side of the ultrasonic vibrating element ( 1 ) there is a damping mass ( 12 ) which causes the ultrasonic energy preferably to the side to the membrane Element ( 2 ) is delivered. 3. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the system is protected by means of sealing elements ( 8 ) and adhesive bonds ( 9 ) against pressurized water and is therefore also suitable for underwater therapy. 4. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the supply voltages, in the form of a plug-in power supply unit, are supplied via the only externally available cable connection, which, for reasons of better handling, preferably consists of a coil Line ( 11 ) exists. 5. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that all settings of the digital control system with respect to treatment time, ultrasound intensity, modulation, start / stop and the optical and acoustic controls by means of a waterproof membrane keyboard ( 15 ) and underlying keys ( 5 ) are executed and a micro-computer ( 16 ) with integrated ROM and RAM area and a quartz oscillator ( 17 ) takes over all control tasks. 6. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 5, characterized, that the control system includes a time circuit with a down counter with which, after corresponding previous setting of the desired Total treatment time at any time the effective remaining treatment time is displayed and can be read.   7. Ultrasound therapy system claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the control system includes a coupling control which is able to determine whether the contact of the ultrasound membrane ( 2 ) via the coupling medium (z. B. Vaseline) to the part of the body to be treated and if it does not exist, the output of the ultrasound signal on the ultrasound membrane ( 2 ) is reduced or completely switched off and the down counter is stopped and the acoustic frequency of the acoustic Control changes or switches off. 8. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 7, characterized, that the temporal rhythm with which an ultrasound signal is emitted in the form of a Modulation, which represents the pause-pulse ratio, set from 0% to 100% and can be displayed. 9. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that all displays in relation to treatment time, intensity, modulation, start / stop and the optical coupling control by means of digital numerical displays ( 6 ) or light -Diodes occur and the acoustic display by means of a tone generator ( 13 ) indicates whether the ultrasound system is active, or indicates by a changing acoustic frequency if there is a coupling to the part of the body being treated. 10. Ultrasound therapy system according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the design of the ultrasound therapy system resembles the shape of a mushroom or a pear, in which, for anatomical reasons, the reinforced part, which by the hand of the Therapists is enclosed, the control ( 5 ) and display elements ( 6 ), as well as inside the housing, the circuit boards of the control ( 3 ) and power electronics ( 4 ), which are designed in a sandwich design, and the ultrasonic vibrating element ( 1 ) with the ultrasonic membrane ( 2 ) and the damping mass ( 12 ) is located at the end of the tapered part, connected by means of corresponding electrical lines.