EP0212352B1 - Ultrasonic generator - Google Patents

Ultrasonic generator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0212352B1
EP0212352B1 EP86110398A EP86110398A EP0212352B1 EP 0212352 B1 EP0212352 B1 EP 0212352B1 EP 86110398 A EP86110398 A EP 86110398A EP 86110398 A EP86110398 A EP 86110398A EP 0212352 B1 EP0212352 B1 EP 0212352B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ultrasonic generator
piezoelectric transducer
generator according
acoustic
lens
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Expired
Application number
EP86110398A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0212352A1 (en
Inventor
Arnim Dipl.-Ing. Rohwedder
Gerd Dr. Wessels
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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Publication of EP0212352A1 publication Critical patent/EP0212352A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
    • G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
    • G10K11/30—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an ultrasonic generator according to the first part of patent claim 1.
  • Such an ultrasound generator can be used, for example, to generate shock waves for the contactless destruction of concrements or for sonication of pathologically changed tissue in the human body.
  • Such an ultrasonic generator is known from US Pat. No. 3,387,604, in which the lens is acoustically coupled to the front of the piezoelectric transducer by a casting process and the damping body is adhesively coupled to the rear by gluing.
  • the front and back of the piezoelectric transducer are covered by a conductive coating, e.g. Silver lacquer, designed as electrodes.
  • the known ultrasonic generator can thus only be produced with great effort, since the transducer must first be provided with electrodes and then measures must be taken for its acoustic coupling to the lens and the damping body.
  • EP-A 0 018 614 shows a layer which is arranged directly on a piezoelectric transducer and which can consist of Pb or Al.
  • the invention has for its object to provide an ultrasonic generator of the type mentioned in such a way that the piezoelectric transducer can be provided with electrodes in a simple manner and acoustically coupled to the lens and the damping body.
  • the piezoelectric transducer can be designed very simply, e.g. by making it from a single sheet of piezoelectric material. Even in the case in which a plurality of plates of piezoelectric material arranged in one plane are used to construct the piezoelectric transducer, there is a simplification compared to the prior art, since all of the plates contact very easily by means of the layers of soft metal and on the lens and damping bodies are coupled.
  • Each plate can be formed by a single layer, but also by a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material lying one above the other, between which layers of a soft metal are arranged, each of which form individually contacted electrodes.
  • contacting and coupling of the transducer to the lens and damping body are very simple compared to the prior art. There is also an effective acoustic coupling of the layers of piezoelectric material to one another.
  • the acoustic lens can advantageously consist of a material whose acoustic impedance is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of the acoustic impedances of the material of the piezoelectric transducer and of water, it being assumed that the acoustic impedance of water is essentially that of the tissue to be sonicated corresponds.
  • the acoustic lens can consist of two parts, of which the first part has a fixed focus and is acoustically coupled to the piezoelectric transducer and the second part has a variable focus and is acoustically coupled to the radiation surface of the first part.
  • This training enables a focus shift and thus an optimal adjustment of the focus position to the respective circumstances, e.g. B. an adjustment to a kidney stone, possible.
  • the first part is expediently made of a material with a lower acoustic impedance than the piezoelectric transducer, for. B. made of magnesium or aluminum.
  • the second part can be formed by a liquid lens which is integrated in the first part and whose shape can be adapted to the desired focus position by the liquid pressure. Instead of a liquid lens, a solid-state lens can also be used. The focus can also be shifted by moving the solid-state lens or changing the temperature.
  • FIG. 1 shows a piezoelectric transducer 1 which forms a single oscillator and which forms a flat plate and is glued into a ring 2.
  • the electrical contacting of the piezoelectric transducer 1 is made by two lead plates 4, 5, which are pressed between the front of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and the first part 6 of an acoustic lens and the back of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and an acoustic damping body 7.
  • the lead plates 4, 5 also ensure the acoustic coupling of the first part 6 of the acoustic lens and the damping body 7 to the piezoelectric transducer 1.
  • the acoustic lens has a liquid lens 8 integrated in part 6, which can be made of magnesium, for example, which is formed by a membrane 9 and an acoustically favorable liquid 10.
  • the acoustic lens then has a sound impedance that is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of the sound impedances of the material of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and of water.
  • the volume of the rivers liquid lens 8 can be changed via a line 11. This changes the shape of the liquid lens 8 and the resulting focus can be adjusted according to the respective requirements.
  • the coupling of the ultrasound generator to the body to be treated can, for. B. over a further membrane 3.
  • the space between the membranes 9 and 3 is thereby by a coupling medium 13, z. B. water filled.
  • the components 6, 9, 11 are held by a steel ring 14.
  • a steel plate 15 serves as a counter plate.
  • An insulating plate 16 is arranged between the acoustic damping body 7 and the steel plate 15.
  • a number of such plates of piezoelectric material arranged in one plane can also be used as the piezoelectric transducer.
  • the piezoelectric transducer is formed by several layers 17, 18, 19 made of piezoelectric material, which are covered by lead layers 20, 21, 22, 23, which serve as electrodes and for acoustic coupling.
  • thicknesses in the order of magnitude greater than 1 mm and diameters greater than 10 mm are suitable for use as high-intensity ultrasound generators for the irradiation of pathological changes. It is essential that the diameter is larger than the thickness.
  • Lead zirconate titanate can be used as the active material.
  • FIG. 1 shows in dashed lines an embodiment with three plates 1a, 1b, 1 which together form the piezoelectric transducer and which can be used instead of a single plate.
  • the lead plates 4 and 5 cover all plates 1 a, 1 b and 1 c.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Ultraschallgenerator gemäß dem ersten Teil des Patentanspruches 1.The invention relates to an ultrasonic generator according to the first part of patent claim 1.

Ein derartiger Ultraschallgenerator kann beispielsweise zur Erzeugung von Stoßwellen für die berührungslose Zertrümmerung von Konkrementen oder zur Beschallung von pathologisch verändertem Gewebe im menschlichen Körper dienen. Durch die US-PS 3 387 604 ist ein solcher Ultraschallgenerator bekannt, bei dem die Linse durch einen Gießvorgang mit der Vorderseite des piezoelektrischen Wandlers und der Dämpfungskörper durch Kleben mit dessen Rückseite akustisch gekoppelt sind. Außerdem sind Vorder- und Rückseite des piezoelektrischen Wandlers durch eine leitfähige Beschichtung, z.B. Silberlack, als Elektroden ausgebildet.Such an ultrasound generator can be used, for example, to generate shock waves for the contactless destruction of concrements or for sonication of pathologically changed tissue in the human body. Such an ultrasonic generator is known from US Pat. No. 3,387,604, in which the lens is acoustically coupled to the front of the piezoelectric transducer by a casting process and the damping body is adhesively coupled to the rear by gluing. In addition, the front and back of the piezoelectric transducer are covered by a conductive coating, e.g. Silver lacquer, designed as electrodes.

Der bekannte Ultraschallgenerator ist somit nur aufwendig herstellbar, da zunächst der Wandler mit Elektroden versehen werden muß und dann Maßnahmen zu dessen akustischer Kopplung an die Linse und den Dämpfungskörper getroffen werden müssen.The known ultrasonic generator can thus only be produced with great effort, since the transducer must first be provided with electrodes and then measures must be taken for its acoustic coupling to the lens and the damping body.

Der EP-A 0 018 614 ist eine unmittelbar an einem piezoelektrischen Wandler angeordnete Schicht zu entnehmen, die aus Pb oder AI bestehen kann.EP-A 0 018 614 shows a layer which is arranged directly on a piezoelectric transducer and which can consist of Pb or Al.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Ultraschallgenerator der eingangs genannten Art so auszubilden, daß der piezoelektrische Wandler auf einfache Weise mit Elektroden versehen und an die Linse und den Dämpfungskörper akustisch angekoppelt werden kann.The invention has for its object to provide an ultrasonic generator of the type mentioned in such a way that the piezoelectric transducer can be provided with electrodes in a simple manner and acoustically coupled to the lens and the damping body.

Diese Aufgabe ist erfindungsgemäß durch den zweiten Teil des Patentanspruches 1 gelöst. Um den piezoelektrischen Wandler mit Elektroden zu versehen und akustisch an die Linse und den Dämpfungskörper anzukoppeln, ist es somit lediglich erforderlich, auf Vorder- und Rückseite des piezoelektrischen Wandlers dünne Platten aus weichem Metall, z.B. Blei, aufzulegen und diese zwischen dem piezoelektrischen Wandler und der akustischen Linse sowie dem Dämpfungskörper eingepreßt zu halten.This object is achieved by the second part of claim 1. In order to provide the piezoelectric transducer with electrodes and to acoustically couple it to the lens and the damping body, it is therefore only necessary to place thin plates of soft metal, e.g. Lead to hang up and keep this pressed between the piezoelectric transducer and the acoustic lens and the damping body.

Bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Ultraschallgenerator kann der piezoelektrische Wandler sehr einfach ausgebildet werden, z.B. indem er aus einer einzigen Platte aus piezoelektrischem Material hergestellt wird. Auch in dem Fall, in dem mehrere, in einer Ebene angeordnete Platten aus piezoelektrischem Material zum Aufbau des piezoelektrischen Wandlers benutzt werden, ergibt sich eine Vereinfachung gegenüber dem Stand der Technik, da sämtliche Platten mittels der Schichten aus weichem Metall sehr einfach kontaktiert und an Linse und Dämpfungskörper angekoppelt sind. Jede Platte kann dabei von einer einzigen Schicht, aber auch von mehreren übereinanderliegenden Schichten aus piezoelektrischem Material gebildet sein, zwischen denen Schichten aus einem weichen Metall angeordnet sind, die jeweils einzeln kontaktierte Elektroden bilden. Auch hier ergibt sich eine gegenüber dem Stand der Technik sehr einfache Kontaktierung und Ankoppelung des Wandlers an Linse und Dämpfungskörper. Außerdem ist eine wirkungsvolle akustische Koppelung der Schichten aus piezoelektrischem Material untereinander gegeben.In the ultrasonic generator according to the invention, the piezoelectric transducer can be designed very simply, e.g. by making it from a single sheet of piezoelectric material. Even in the case in which a plurality of plates of piezoelectric material arranged in one plane are used to construct the piezoelectric transducer, there is a simplification compared to the prior art, since all of the plates contact very easily by means of the layers of soft metal and on the lens and damping bodies are coupled. Each plate can be formed by a single layer, but also by a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material lying one above the other, between which layers of a soft metal are arranged, each of which form individually contacted electrodes. Here too, contacting and coupling of the transducer to the lens and damping body are very simple compared to the prior art. There is also an effective acoustic coupling of the layers of piezoelectric material to one another.

Die akustische Linse kann in vorteilhafter Weise aus einem Material bestehen, dessen Schallimpedanz größer oder gleich dem geometrischen Mittel der Schallimpedanzen des Werkstoffes des piezoelektrischen Wandlers und von Wasser ist, wobei davon ausgegangen wird, daß die akustische Impedanz von Wasser im wesentlichen der des zu beschallenden Gewebes entspricht.The acoustic lens can advantageously consist of a material whose acoustic impedance is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of the acoustic impedances of the material of the piezoelectric transducer and of water, it being assumed that the acoustic impedance of water is essentially that of the tissue to be sonicated corresponds.

Dabei kann die akustische Linse aus zwei Teilen bestehen, von denen der erste Teil einen festen Fokus aufweist und akustisch am piezoelektrischen Wandler angekoppelt und der zweite Teil einen veränderbaren Fokus aufweist und akustisch an der Abstrahlfläche des ersten Teiles angekoppelt ist. Durch diese Ausbildung ist eine Fokusverlagerung und damit eine optimale Anpassung der Fokuslage an die jeweiligen Gegebenheiten, z. B. eine Einstellung auf einen Nierenstein, möglich. Der erste Teil wird dabei zweckmäßigerweise aus einem Material mit geringerer Schallimpedanz als der piezoelektrische Wandler aufgebaut, z. B. aus Magnesium oder Aluminium. Der zweite Teil kann von einer Flüssigkeitslinse gebildet sein, die in den ersten Teil integriert ist und die durch den Flüssigkeitsdruck in ihrer Form der jeweils gewünschten Fokuslage anpaßbar ist. Anstelle einer Flüssigkeitslinse kann aber auch eine Festkörperlinse Verwendung finden. Die Fokusverlagerung kann auch durch Verschiebung der Festkörperlinse oder Temperaturänderung erfolgen.The acoustic lens can consist of two parts, of which the first part has a fixed focus and is acoustically coupled to the piezoelectric transducer and the second part has a variable focus and is acoustically coupled to the radiation surface of the first part. This training enables a focus shift and thus an optimal adjustment of the focus position to the respective circumstances, e.g. B. an adjustment to a kidney stone, possible. The first part is expediently made of a material with a lower acoustic impedance than the piezoelectric transducer, for. B. made of magnesium or aluminum. The second part can be formed by a liquid lens which is integrated in the first part and whose shape can be adapted to the desired focus position by the liquid pressure. Instead of a liquid lens, a solid-state lens can also be used. The focus can also be shifted by moving the solid-state lens or changing the temperature.

Die Erfindung ist nachfolgend anhand eines in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispieles näher erläutert.The invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Es zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 einen Schnitt durch einen Ultraschallgenerator nach der Erfindung, und
  • Fig. 2 eine Variante des piezoelektrischen Wandlers des Ultraschallgenerators gemäß Figur 1.
Show it:
  • Fig. 1 shows a section through an ultrasonic generator according to the invention, and
  • 2 shows a variant of the piezoelectric transducer of the ultrasound generator according to FIG. 1.

In der Figur 1 ist ein einen Einzelschwinger bildender piezoelektrischer Wandler 1 dargestellt, der eine ebene Platte bildet und in einem Ring 2 eingeklebt ist. Die elektrische Kontaktierung des piezoelektrischen Wandlers 1 erfolgt durch zwei Bleiplatten 4, 5, die zwischen der Vorderseite des piezoelektrischen Wandlers 1 und dem ersten Teil 6 einer akustischen Linse sowie der Rückseite des piezoelektrischen Wandlers 1 und einem akustischen Dämpfungskörper 7 eingepreßt sind. Durch die Bleiplatten 4, 5 wird zugleich die akustische Kopplung des ersten Teiles 6 der akustischen Linse und des Dämpfungskörpers 7 an den piezoelektrischen Wandler 1 gewährleistet. Die akustische Linse weist eine in dem Teil 6, der z.B. aus Magnesium bestehen kann, integrierte Flüssigkeitslinse 8 auf, die von einer Membran 9 und einer akustisch günstigen Flüssigkeit 10 gebildet ist. Die akustische Linse weist dann eine Schallimpedanz auf, die größer oder gleich dem geometrischen Mittel der Schallimpedanzen des Werkstoffes des piezoelektrischen Wandlers 1 und von Wasser ist. Das Volumen der Flüssigkeitslinse 8 kann dabei über eine Leitung 11 verändert werden. Dadurch verändert sich die Form der Flüssigkeitslinse 8 und der resultierende Fokus kann den jeweiligen Anforderungen entsprechend eingestellt werden. Die Ankopplung des Ultraschallgenerators an den zu behandelnden Körper kann z. B. über eine weitere Membran 3 erfolgen. Der Raum zwischen den Membranen 9 und 3 wird dabei durch ein durch einen Kanal 12 einleitbares Koppelmedium 13, z. B. Wasser, gefüllt. Die Komponenten 6, 9, 11 sind durch einen Stahlring 14 gehaltert. Eine Stahlplatte 15 dient als Gegenplatte. Zwischen dem akustischen Dämpfungskörper 7 und der Stahlplatte 15 ist eine Isolierstoffplatte 16 angeordnet.FIG. 1 shows a piezoelectric transducer 1 which forms a single oscillator and which forms a flat plate and is glued into a ring 2. The electrical contacting of the piezoelectric transducer 1 is made by two lead plates 4, 5, which are pressed between the front of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and the first part 6 of an acoustic lens and the back of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and an acoustic damping body 7. The lead plates 4, 5 also ensure the acoustic coupling of the first part 6 of the acoustic lens and the damping body 7 to the piezoelectric transducer 1. The acoustic lens has a liquid lens 8 integrated in part 6, which can be made of magnesium, for example, which is formed by a membrane 9 and an acoustically favorable liquid 10. The acoustic lens then has a sound impedance that is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of the sound impedances of the material of the piezoelectric transducer 1 and of water. The volume of the rivers liquid lens 8 can be changed via a line 11. This changes the shape of the liquid lens 8 and the resulting focus can be adjusted according to the respective requirements. The coupling of the ultrasound generator to the body to be treated can, for. B. over a further membrane 3. The space between the membranes 9 and 3 is thereby by a coupling medium 13, z. B. water filled. The components 6, 9, 11 are held by a steel ring 14. A steel plate 15 serves as a counter plate. An insulating plate 16 is arranged between the acoustic damping body 7 and the steel plate 15.

Als piezoelektrischer Wandler kann, wie bereits eingangs erwähnt, anstelle einer einzigen ebenen Platte auch eine Anzahl solcher in einer Ebene angeordneter Platten aus piezoelektrischem Material Verwendung finden.As already mentioned at the beginning, a number of such plates of piezoelectric material arranged in one plane can also be used as the piezoelectric transducer.

Bei dem Beispiel gemäß Figur 2 ist der piezoelektrische Wandler von mehreren Schichten 17, 18, 19 aus piezoelektrischem Material gebildet, die durch Bleischichten 20, 21, 22, 23, die als Elektroden und zur akustischen Ankoppelung dienen, abgedeckt sind.In the example according to FIG. 2, the piezoelectric transducer is formed by several layers 17, 18, 19 made of piezoelectric material, which are covered by lead layers 20, 21, 22, 23, which serve as electrodes and for acoustic coupling.

Für den piezoelektrischen Wandler 1 kommen für die Anwendung als Hochintensitäts-Ultraschallgenerator für die Beschallung pathologischer Veränderungen Dicken in der Größenordnung größer 1 mm und Durchmesser größer 10 mm in Frage. Wesentlich ist, daß der Durchmesser dabei größer als die Dicke ist. Als aktives Material kann Blei-Zirkonat-Titanat verwendet werden.For the piezoelectric transducer 1, thicknesses in the order of magnitude greater than 1 mm and diameters greater than 10 mm are suitable for use as high-intensity ultrasound generators for the irradiation of pathological changes. It is essential that the diameter is larger than the thickness. Lead zirconate titanate can be used as the active material.

In der Figur 1 ist gestrichelt eine Ausbildung mit drei Platten 1a, 1b, 1 dargestellt, die zusammen den piezoelektrischen Wandler bilden und die anstelle einer einzigen Platte Verwendung finden können. Dabei überdecken die Bleiplatten 4 und 5 sämtliche Platten 1 a, 1 b und 1 c.FIG. 1 shows in dashed lines an embodiment with three plates 1a, 1b, 1 which together form the piezoelectric transducer and which can be used instead of a single plate. The lead plates 4 and 5 cover all plates 1 a, 1 b and 1 c.

Um unterschiedliche Spektralanteile der akustischen Welle zu erreichen, können mehrere Keramiken mit unterschiedlichen Dicken übereinander und/oder ringförmig angeordnet werden.In order to achieve different spectral components of the acoustic wave, several ceramics with different thicknesses can be arranged one above the other and / or in a ring.

Claims (10)

1. An ultrasonic generator for the acoustic irradiation of pathological changes in the human body comprising a flat piezoelectric transducer (1), which is acoustically coupled on its front side with an acoustic lens (6, 8) and on its rear side with an attenuation member (7) and is provided on its front and rear sides with electrodes, characterised in that layers (4, 5, 20, 23) of a soft metal are placed onto the front and rear sides of the piezoelectric transducer and held pressed into place both between the piezoelectric transducer (1) and the acoustic lens (6, 8) and between the piezoelectric transducer (1) and the attenuation member (7), said layers being used simultaneously as electrodes and for the acoustic coupling of the piezoelectric transducer (1) with the acoustic lens (6, 8) and the attenuation member (7).
2. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 1, characterised in that the acoustic lens (6, 8) is made of a material whose acoustic impedance is greater than or equal to the geometric average of the acoustic impendance of the material of the piezoelectric transducer (1) and of water.
3. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the acoustic lens is made of two parts (6, 8), the first part (6) having a fixed focus and being acoustically coupled to the piezoelectric transducer (1) and the second part (8) having a variable focus and being acoustically coupled to the emitting surface of the first part (6).
4. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 3, characterised in that the first part (6) is made of a light metal.
5. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 4, characterised in that the first part (6) is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy.
6. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 4, characterised in that the first part (6) is made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy.
7. An ultrasonic generator according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the second part (8) is formed from a fluid lens, which is incorporated into the first part (6).
8. An ultrasonic generator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the piezoelectric transducer (1) is formed by a single plate made of piezoelectric material.
9. An ultrasonic generator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the piezoelectric transducer is formed from a plurality of plates (1a, 1b, 1 c) made of piezoelectric material arranged in a plane and is provided on its front and rear sides with a single layer of soft metal (4, 5) in each case.
10. An ultrasonic generator according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that each plate comprises a plurality of superimposed layers (17, 18, 19) of piezoelectric material, between which layers (21, 22) of a soft metal are arranged, which form individually contacted electrodes in each case.
EP86110398A 1985-08-09 1986-07-28 Ultrasonic generator Expired EP0212352B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3528676 1985-08-09
DE3528676 1985-08-09

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EP0212352A1 EP0212352A1 (en) 1987-03-04
EP0212352B1 true EP0212352B1 (en) 1989-09-27

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EP (1) EP0212352B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS62164011U (en)
DE (1) DE3665949D1 (en)

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JPS62164011U (en) 1987-10-19
US4718421A (en) 1988-01-12
EP0212352A1 (en) 1987-03-04
DE3665949D1 (en) 1989-11-02

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