JP7506953B2 - Bone treatment device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to bone repair devices .

Up until now, various attempts have been made to treat fractured bones. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-231788 (Patent Document 1) describes various attempts that have been considered up to now. For example, there have been attempts to attach electrodes to the fractured area to provide electrical stimulation to the affected area. There have also been attempts to expose the entire affected area to a magnetic field to generate an induced current in the affected area. There have also been attempts to irradiate the fractured area with an ultrasonic beam, as in the invention of Patent Document 1. In addition, there has also been a proposal for a device in which a pin is inserted into the fractured bone and vibrations are applied to the bone through the pin, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-360598 (Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-231788 A JP 2002-360598 A

However, devices that attach electrodes to the affected area are invasive, and devices that insert pins into bones are also invasive, both of which place a large physical and mental burden on the patient. Also, devices that expose the entire affected area to a magnetic field require a huge device. Also, devices that irradiate ultrasonic beams eliminate these drawbacks and have been partially put to practical use, but there is a demand for bone treatment devices that allow for faster healing.
There is also a demand for a bone treatment/diagnosis device that is capable of performing accurate diagnosis while also treating bones.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a bone treatment device that enables faster healing of fractured bones. It also aims to provide a bone treatment and diagnosis device that can treat bones and provide accurate diagnosis.

[1] The bone treatment device of the present invention is a bone treatment device for a fractured bone, characterized in that it comprises a transducer that is placed at the fracture site so as not to come into direct contact with the fractured bone, and a transducer drive circuit that drives the transducer so as to displace the fractured bone.
For example, the displacement may be 0.2 to 1.0 mm and the frequency may be 1 to 100 Hz.

According to the bone treatment device of the present invention, a vibrator placed at the fractured part is driven by a vibrator drive circuit, and the fractured bone is displaced, stimulating the fractured part and promoting the growth of callus etc. Therefore, it is possible to provide a bone treatment device that allows for faster healing of the fractured bone. In addition, since the vibrator is placed at the fractured part so as not to come into direct contact with the fractured bone, it is possible to perform non-invasive treatment that allows for quick healing while placing less strain on the treatment subject (human or animal).

[8] The bone treatment and diagnosis device of the present invention is a bone treatment and diagnosis device for treating and diagnosing bones, and is characterized in that it comprises the above-mentioned bone treatment device, an ultrasonic irradiator that irradiates ultrasonic waves to the fracture site, an ultrasonic irradiator driving circuit that drives the ultrasonic irradiator, an ultrasonic detection circuit that detects reflected ultrasonic waves or residual ultrasonic waves from the fracture site, and a bone diagnosis device having a display unit that visualizes the healing status of the bone from the detected ultrasonic waves.

According to the bone treatment and diagnosis device of the present invention, since it is equipped with both a bone treatment device and a diagnosis device, it is possible to achieve early healing of a fractured bone using the treatment device, and to accurately diagnose the healing status using the diagnosis device. As described above, the bone treatment device is equipped with a specified transducer and a transducer drive circuit, and early healing is possible by using these. In addition, since the diagnostic device has an ultrasonic irradiator, an ultrasonic irradiator drive circuit, an ultrasonic detector, and a display unit, accurate diagnosis is possible by using these. In addition, after treatment with the treatment device, it is also possible to diagnose the healing status with the diagnostic device, and then treat again with the treatment device depending on the status or by feeding back the status. This cycle can be repeated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a rat bone treatment device 100. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 130 according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 140 according to a fourth embodiment (an explanatory diagram regarding installation locations when a plurality of transducers 1 are used). FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 140 according to a fourth embodiment (an explanatory diagram of a driving waveform when a plurality of transducers 1 are used). FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 150 according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a treatment and diagnosis apparatus 300 according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a processing flowchart for explaining a treatment/diagnosis apparatus 300 according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a treatment/diagnosis apparatus 310 according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 180 according to an eighth embodiment.

The bone treatment device and bone treatment/diagnosis device of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Note that each of the figures described below is a schematic diagram that simplifies the actual shape, structure, method, etc. Also, the bone treatment device (100, etc.) and treatment/diagnosis device (300, etc.) described in the following embodiments are intended for humans (human bodies) or animals other than humans (e.g. dogs and cats; animals also include birds, etc., animal bodies).

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram shown for explaining a bone treatment device 100 (bone treatment device) according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment is a treatment device 100 for a fractured bone, and includes a transducer 1 that is placed on a fractured portion 80 so as not to come into direct contact with the fractured bone 8a, and a transducer driving circuit 2 that drives the transducer 1 so as to displace the fractured bone 8a.
Here, the term "fractured bone 8a" refers to any fractured bone to be displaced. The fractured part 81, which is covered with biological tissue 9 such as muscle and skin, includes fractured bones 8a and 8b, but the fractured bone 8a is the one to be displaced in the first embodiment.

The fractured part 80 is an area including the fractured part 81, and a cast 91 is formed there to fix and protect the affected part. The transducer 1 is fixedly installed (non-invasively) at the fractured part 80 using a band 92 so as not to directly contact the fractured bone 8a. "So as not to directly contact" refers to, for example, avoiding the incision of the biological tissue 9 and attaching the transducer 1 so as to directly contact the fractured bone 8a. The transducer 1 is not attached to the pin by inserting it into the fractured bone 8a. In the first embodiment, the fractured bone 8a is covered with the biological tissue 9, and the transducer 1 is installed outside the biological tissue 9 or even outside the cast, so that the transducer 1 is installed at the fractured part 80 so as not to directly contact the fractured bone 8a.
1, the transducer 1 is installed on the side opposite to the side of the cast 91 where the bone (8a) is located (outside the cast 91), but it may be installed on the bone side of the cast 91 (between the cast 91 and the living tissue 9, inside the cast 91). The subject of treatment is a human or a rat.

The treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment is configured to displace a fractured bone 8a using a transducer 1 and a transducer driving circuit 2 in a direction D1 intersecting a longitudinal direction D5 of the bone 8a.
That is, the transducer 1 is installed in the fractured part 80 outside the biological tissue 9 within the range of extension of the longitudinal direction D5 of the fractured bone 8a. Therefore, when the transducer 1 is driven by the transducer driving circuit 2, the fractured bone 8a is displaced in a direction D1 intersecting the longitudinal direction D5 of the bone 8a. Note that "using..." does not mean to exclude the use of other directions. Note that the intersecting direction D1 includes not only a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D5 (a direction of 90°) but also a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction D5 at 80°, 60°, 45°, etc.

The treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment is configured such that the transducer 1 generates a mechanical displacement when driven by the transducer drive circuit 2, and the mechanical displacement of the transducer 1 displaces the fractured bone 8a. Therefore, the transducer 1 does not vibrate at a high frequency like ultrasound, but uses a vibration motor with a lower frequency than ultrasound. For example, it is an eccentric rotating mass type vibration motor that rotates and vibrates an elliptical weight.

As shown in FIG. 1, when a vibrator drive command signal that commands the drive of the vibrator 1 is input, the vibrator drive circuit 2 outputs a drive signal that drives the vibrator 1 so that the fractured bone 8a is displaced. When the vibrator 1 is driven and displaced mechanically, the fractured bone 8a is displaced. At this time, the vibrator drive circuit 2 controls the amplitude, period, waveform, etc. of the drive signal, and may set the vibration of the vibrator 1 so that the displacement is in the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm and the vibration frequency of the vibrator 1 is in the range of 1 to 100 Hz. When the vibrator drive command signal changes to a command signal to stop driving, the vibration of the vibrator 1 is stopped, the mechanical displacement is eliminated, and the fractured bone 8a is no longer displaced. In FIG. 1, the state before the fractured bone 8a is displaced is shown by a solid line, and the state after displacement is shown by a dotted line. In FIG. 1, the fractured bone 8a is shown displaced upward on the figure, but it can also be displaced downward. In order to avoid complicating the figure, the case of downward displacement is omitted.

The treatment device 100 is configured so that the transducer 1 is driven at a predetermined cycle by the transducer driving circuit 2, and the fractured bone 8a is displaced at that cycle. For example, the transducer 1 is configured so that it is driven for the same time and for the same period (5 to 30 minutes) every day by the transducer driving circuit 2. During the time period when the transducer 1 is driven, the fractured bone 8a is displaced, and during the time period when the transducer 1 is not driven, the fractured bone 8a is not displaced.
The vibration of the transducer 1 is set so that the displacement of the fractured bone 8a is within a range of, for example, 0.2 to 1.0 mm. The vibration frequency of the transducer 1 is set within a range of, for example, 1 to 100 Hz (the fractured bone 8a is also displaced at the same frequency).

[Effects of the First Embodiment]
The treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a transducer 1 and a transducer driving circuit 2, and the transducer 1 is driven by the transducer driving circuit 2 so as to displace the fractured bone 8a, stimulating the fractured site 81 and promoting the growth of callus and the like. Therefore, it is possible to provide a bone treatment device 100 that allows for further early healing of the fractured bone 8. In addition, the transducer 1 is placed in the fractured site 80 so as not to come into direct contact with the fractured bone 8a, allowing for non-invasive treatment.

According to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1, the transducer 1 and the transducer driving circuit 2 are configured to displace the fractured bone 8a in a direction D1 intersecting the longitudinal direction D5 of the bone 8a, making it easier to displace the fractured bone 8a.
In addition, when the displacement of the fractured bone 8a is within the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, the growth of the callus etc. is promoted and damage to the formed callus can be avoided or suppressed. In addition, when the vibration frequency of the vibrator 1 is within the range of 1 to 100 Hz, the growth of the callus etc. is likely to be promoted.
It can also be speculated that when the fractured bone 8a is displaced relative to the other bones 8b, a load is applied to the fracture site 81, and when the displacement disappears, the load is removed, stimulating the fracture site 81 and promoting the growth of callus, etc.

Furthermore, when a vibration motor is used as the vibrator 1, the vibrator 1 (vibration motor) generates a mechanical displacement when driven by the vibrator drive circuit 2. Since the fractured bone 8a is displaced by the mechanical displacement of the vibrator 1, it is easy to reliably displace the fractured bone 8a.

In addition, the vibrator 1 is driven at a predetermined cycle, and the fractured bone 8a is displaced at that cycle, so that there are time periods during which the fractured bone 8a is displaced and time periods during which it is not displaced at that cycle. It is presumed that during the time periods during which the fractured bone 8a is displaced, the fracture site 81 is stimulated, and during the time periods during which it is not displaced, the stimulation causes callus etc. to grow. It is expected that this cycle of stimulation and growth of callus etc. will further promote healing.

Experimental Treatment Device 100
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a bone treatment device 100 (experimental treatment device) for a rat. FIG. 2 shows a bone treatment device 100 in which the fibula has been osteotomized (complete fracture). The fractured portion 81 is either incised once and sutured with a drug applied to the fractured portion 81, or not incised, but in either case, the fractured bones (8a, 8b) are adjusted to their original bone positions. The fractured portion 80 is fixed, for example, with a cast 91, and a transducer 1 is installed on the fractured portion 81 side of the cast 91 and the opposite side (or on the fractured portion 81 side, or at a location without the cast 91). There are two fractured portions 81. The transducer 1 is installed on the fractured portion 80 outside the biological tissue 9 within the range of extension of the fractured bones 8a (two) in the longitudinal direction D5. When the transducer 1 is driven by the transducer driving circuit 2, the (two) fractured bones 8a are displaced in directions D11, D12 intersecting their longitudinal directions D51, D52.

An eccentric rotating mass type vibration motor is used as the vibrator 1. The vibrator 1 is fixed with a band 92. The vibrator 1 is driven by the vibrator drive circuit 2 to vibrate, generating a mechanical displacement, which displaces the fractured bone 8a. The vibrator 1 is driven at a fixed time each day (e.g., 9:00 a.m.) for the same period of time (e.g., 10 to 25 minutes), vibrating with a displacement of 0.4 to 0.8 mm and a frequency range of 5 to 80 Hz, displacing the fractured bone 8a in directions D11 and D12 that intersect with its longitudinal directions D51 and D52. At other times, the vibration of the vibrator 1 stops, and the fractured bone 8a is not displaced.

Here, when the healing period of a fracture is divided into three periods, the inflammation period, the repair period, and the remodeling period, it is preferable to drive the transducer 1 so that the fractured bone 8a is displaced relative to the other bones 8b mainly during the inflammation period, or during the inflammation and repair periods. During the repair and remodeling periods, the driving of the transducer 1 is stopped according to the healing state so that the callus is not damaged by the displacement. Alternatively, the amplitude or driving frequency of the transducer is changed (the displacement of the fractured bone 8a corresponds to the vibration of the transducer 1).
The inflammation stage (fracture hematoma stage) is a period in which a large amount of blood gathers at the fracture site 81, causing inflammation and proliferation of bone-forming cells. The repair stage (initial callus formation stage) is a period in which the fracture site 81 is gradually replaced by new bone (callus). The remodeling stage (remodeling stage to hardening stage) is a period in which the callus is replaced by lamellar bone, and the fractured bone is repaired to its original normal state.
In FIG. 2, the treatment subject of the bone treatment device 100 is a rat, but the treatment subject may be a human (human body).

[Embodiment 2]
The treatment device of the second embodiment (not shown) is basically similar to the treatment device 100 of the first embodiment, but differs in that an ultrasonic transducer, for example an ultrasonic phased array, is used as the transducer 1, and a push pulse is generated by the acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasound when driven by a transducer driving circuit 2, and the fractured bone 8 a is displaced by this push pulse.
Here, "ultrasonic waves" refers to sounds with high frequencies that cannot be heard by the human ear. The range of frequencies that can be heard by humans (audible range) is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and so "ultrasonic waves" refers to sounds with frequencies higher than 20 kHz. "Acoustic radiation pressure" refers to the pressure that an object experiences when ultrasonic waves are applied to the object. "Push pulse" refers to a single ultrasonic wave. For example, an ultrasonic phased array is used as the transducer 1.

[Effects of the Second Embodiment]
According to the treatment device of the second embodiment, the transducer 1 (ultrasonic transducer, for example, an ultrasonic phased array) generates a push pulse due to the acoustic radiation pressure of ultrasonic waves when driven by the transducer driving circuit 2. When this method is used, a push pulse can be transmitted to a position where the fractured bone is likely to move without moving the ultrasonic element by temporal control of the ultrasonic phased array, which increases the degree of freedom in the fixing method and installation location of the ultrasonic element, making it even easier to displace the fractured bone 8a.

The treatment device of embodiment 2 is similar to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1 except that it displaces bone 8 by a push pulse generated by the acoustic radiation pressure of ultrasound, and has the corresponding effects of the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 3 is a diagram shown for explaining a treatment device 130 according to the third embodiment.
The treatment device 130 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as the treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that, as shown in Fig. 3, the transducer 1 is installed on the fracture site 81 side of the cast 91 fixing the fractured bone 8a, on the opposite side to the fracture site 81 side, or in a location without the cast 91. Note that all of these installation locations are outside the biological tissue 9 surrounding the fractured bone 8a.

3A is a diagram (cross-sectional view) showing a state in which a transducer 1 (one) is installed at a location on the fracture site 81 side of a cast 91 fixing a fractured bone 8a (a location between the cast 91 and the biological tissue 9). The transducer 1 is installed at an installation location P1 away from the fracture site 81, or at an installation location P2 close to the fracture site 81, or at an installation location P3 closest to the fracture site 81.
Fig. 3(b) is a diagram (cross-sectional view) showing a state where a vibrator 1 (one unit) is installed at a location on the opposite side of the fracture site 81 of a cast 91 that fixes a fractured bone 8a. Installation locations P1, P2, and P3 are the same as those in Fig. 3(a), but the vibrator 1 is installed on the opposite side of the fracture site 81. The installation location P1 in Fig. 3(b) is the same as the installation location shown in Fig. 1 (embodiment 1).
3(c) is a diagram (cross-sectional view) showing a state in which a transducer 1 (one) is installed in a location where there is no cast 91. The transducer 1 is installed outside the biological tissue 9 between the fracture site 81 and the joint portion 82.

[Effects of the Third Embodiment]
According to the treatment device 130 of the third embodiment, by taking into consideration the condition of the human or rat, the state of the fracture, the vibration state of the fractured bone 8a, the location of the cast 91, etc., the vibrator 1 can be placed at an appropriate location, either on the fracture site 81 side of the cast 91 fixing the fractured bone 8a, on the opposite side to the fracture site 81, or in a location without the cast 91, thereby making it possible to vibrate the vibrator 1 more accurately. All of these placement locations are outside the biological tissue 9 surrounding the fractured bone 8a, making non-invasive treatment possible.
It is easier to displace the fractured bone 8 a when the vibrator 1 is placed on the fractured part 81 side of the cast 91 or in a location without the cast 91 than when it is placed on the opposite side of the cast 91 from the fractured part 81 side.

In addition, the treatment device 130 of embodiment 3 is similar to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1 except for the installation location of the transducer 1 (P2, ...), and has the corresponding effects of the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 140 according to the fourth embodiment (an explanatory diagram regarding installation locations when a plurality of transducers 1 are used).
[Installation of Multiple Transducers 1]
4, the treatment device 140 according to the fourth embodiment is basically the same as the treatment device 100 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that a plurality of (two) transducers 1 are installed. Note that these transducers are all installed outside the biological tissue 9 surrounding the fractured bone 8a.

Figure 4 (a) shows three examples of installation locations where two transducers 1 are placed at different longitudinal directions (left and right directions in the drawing) of the fractured bone 8a on either side of the fracture site 81, and at equidistant positions from the fracture site 81. Installation location P21 indicates an installation location where two transducers 1 are placed at an equidistant position from the fracture site 81 where a cast 91 is present. Installation location P23 indicates an installation location where two transducers 1 are placed at an equidistant position from the fracture site 81 where a cast 91 is present. Installation location P24 indicates an installation location where two transducers 1 are placed at an equidistant position from the fracture site 81 where no cast 91 is present. Note that "equal distance" includes distances that are strictly equal as well as distances that are approximately equal.

In Figure 4(a), both fractured bones 8a and 8b are subject to displacement as shown in the figure. The fractured bone 8a is displaced in a direction D1 intersecting the longitudinal direction D5 of the bone 8a, and the fractured bone 8b is displaced in a direction D2 intersecting the longitudinal direction D6 of the bone 8b. This figure shows a case in which two transducers 1, placed on the left and right sides of the fractured portion 81, are driven by waveforms shifted by 180° to be in opposite phases, displacing the fractured bones 8a and 8b in opposite phases (similar to Figure 4(b); see Figure 5(c) below for the drive waveforms).

Figure 4(b) shows two examples of the installation locations of the two transducers 1, which are located in different directions along the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in the drawing) of the fractured bone 8a on either side of the fracture site 81, and at different distances from the fracture site 81. Installation location P31 shows a case where one of the two transducers 1 installed at a location where there is a cast 91 is installed near the fracture site 81, and the other transducer 1 is installed far from the fracture site 81. Installation location P32 shows a case where one of the two transducers 1 is installed at a location where there is a cast 91 near the fracture site 81, and the other transducer 1 is installed at a location where there is no cast 91 far from the fracture site 81.

Figure 4 (c) shows three examples of the installation locations of the two transducers 1 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the drawing) of the fractured bone 8a, in the same direction (rightward in the drawing) from the fractured site 81. Installation location P41 shows the case where two transducers 1 are installed at a location where there is a cast 91, and are installed near the fractured site 81. Installation location P42 shows the case where one of the two transducers 1 installed at a location where there is a cast 91 is installed near the fractured site 81, and the other transducer 1 is installed far from the fractured site 81. Installation location P43 shows the case where one of the two transducers 1 is installed at a location where there is a cast 91 near the fractured site 81, and the other transducer 1 is installed at a location where there is no cast 91 far from the fractured site 81.

When the vibrator 1 is installed at a location on the cast 91, Figure 4 illustrates the case where the vibrator 1 is installed on the side opposite the fracture site 81 of the cast 91, but the vibrator 1 may also be installed on the fracture site 81 side of the cast 91 (not shown).

[Driving multiple transducers 1]
5 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 140 according to embodiment 4 (an explanatory diagram of a drive waveform when a plurality of transducers 1 are used). For ease of explanation, the number of transducers 1 is two, and Fig. 5(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the drive waveforms of a plurality (two) of transducers 1 outputted from a transducer drive circuit 2 (the displacement of a fractured bone 8a corresponds to the drive waveform of the transducer 1).
In the treatment device 140 according to the fourth embodiment, a plurality of (two) transducers 1 are driven by the transducer driving circuit 2 so as to have the same or different amplitudes or drive timings. The fractured bone 8a is displaced with the corresponding amplitude or timing.

For ease of explanation, the two transducers 1 are referred to as a first and a second transducer, and the drive waveforms are referred to as W1 and W2, respectively.
5A shows a case where the drive waveforms W1 and W2 have the same amplitude and drive timing. Here, "same" does not only include the case where they are completely the same, but also the case where they are almost the same.

Figures 5 (b) to (d) show cases where at least one of the amplitude and drive timing is different for two drive waveforms corresponding to two transducers.

FIG. 5B shows a case where the drive waveforms W1 and W2 have the same drive timing but different amplitudes (where the amplitude of W2 is greater than W1).
5C shows a case where a set of drive waveforms W1 and W2 is used as the drive waveforms for two transducers, and a case where a set of drive waveforms W1 and W3 is used. When the set of drive waveforms W1 and W2 is used, W1 and W2 have the same amplitude, but the drive timing differs by 180°. When the set of drive waveforms W1 and W3 is used, W3 has a larger amplitude than W1, and the drive timing also differs by 180°.
5D shows a case where a set of drive waveforms W1 and W2 is used as the drive waveforms for two transducers, and a case where a set of drive waveforms W1 and W3 is used. When the set of drive waveforms W1 and W2 is used, the amplitudes of W1 and W2 are the same, but the drive timings differ by 90°. When the set of drive waveforms W1 and W3 is used, W3 has a larger amplitude than W1, and the drive timings also differ by 90°.
Although FIG. 5 illustrates trapezoidal waveforms as the drive waveforms (W1, W2, W3), the drive waveforms may be rectangular waveforms, triangular waveforms, sinusoidal waveforms, or the like.

[Combination of Installation Locations of Multiple Transducers 1 and Driving Waveforms]
The following combinations are possible between the installation locations of the multiple transducers 1 shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) and the drive waveforms for the multiple transducers 1 shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d).
For example, the combinations of installation locations of multiple transducers 1/drive waveforms of multiple transducers 1 are as follows: Figure 4(a)/Figure 5(a), Figure 4(a)/Figure 5(b), Figure 4(a)/Figure 5(c), Figure 4(a)/Figure 5(d), Figure 4(b)/Figure 5(a), Figure 4(b)/Figure 5(b), Figure 4(b)/Figure 5(c), Figure 4(b)/Figure 5(d), Figure 4(c)/Figure 5(a), Figure 4(c)/Figure 5(b), Figure 4(c)/Figure 5(c), or Figure 4(c)/Figure 5(d).

[Effects of the fourth embodiment]
According to the treatment device 140 of the fourth embodiment, the fractured bone 8a can be vibrated more easily by installing and driving a plurality of transducers 1 as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. For example, even if one transducer 1 is insufficient in power, a sufficient power can be obtained by using a plurality of transducers, the load can be distributed to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the fractured bone 8a, the power (load) on the bone 8a can be distributed by installing a plurality of transducers at a distance (for example, when the bone 8a is displaced using a single transducer with high power, the power (load) is concentrated at one place on the bone 8a, but when two transducers with half the power are installed at a distance, it is possible to achieve a similar displacement while avoiding the power concentration at one place), and appropriate driving conditions can be set according to the size of the bone to be vibrated, etc., and any of the following effects can be expected.

In addition, the treatment device 140 of embodiment 4 is similar to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1 except for using multiple vibrators 1, and has the corresponding effects of the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1.

[Embodiment 5]
The treatment device 150 of embodiment 5 is basically the same as the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1, but differs in that it further includes a structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) (structure 7 is wrapped around the fracture site 81).

Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 150 according to embodiment 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the treatment device 150 according to embodiment 5 includes a structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma. The structure 7 is placed in the vicinity of a fracture site 81.
The case where the treatment device 150 is used as a treatment device for human or rat bones will be described. First, the biological tissue (skin and muscle) at the fractured site is incised, and the structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma is placed near the fractured site 81. The structure 7 can be placed near the fractured site 81 in various ways, such as wrapping the fractured site 81 as shown in Fig. 6, placing the structure 7 near the fractured site 81 without wrapping it (e.g., above, below, or to the side in the figure), placing the structure 7 between the fractured bones 8a and 8b, or using a combination of these.

Platelet-rich plasma is made by concentrating platelets from the rat being treated. The platelet-rich plasma-impregnated structure 7 can be, for example, a thin membrane made by collecting human or rat cells and culturing them in a sheet form, and then impregnating the platelet-rich plasma from the human or rat being treated. The incision is then sutured. A cast 91 is formed on top of this to fix the fractured area 81. A transducer 1 is placed on (or under) the cast 91 and fixed with a band 92. The transducer 1 is then driven by a transducer drive circuit 2 to displace the fractured bone 8a.

[Effects of the Fifth Embodiment]
According to the treatment device 150 of the fifth embodiment, the structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma is placed in the vicinity of the fracture site 81, so that growth factors (substances that promote the repair of damaged tissue) contained in the platelet-rich plasma are supplied to the fracture site 81. This further promotes the growth of callus and the like, enabling early healing of the bone.

The treatment device 150 of embodiment 5 is similar to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1 except that it further includes a structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma, and has the corresponding effects of embodiment 1.

[Embodiment 6]
7 and 8 are diagrams shown for explaining a bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 according to embodiment 6. FIG. 7 is an outline diagram of the treatment/diagnosis device 300, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the treatment/diagnosis device 300.
[Configuration of treatment/diagnosis device 300]
7, a treatment/diagnosis device 300 according to the sixth embodiment includes a bone treatment device 100 (see the first embodiment) and a bone diagnosis device 200 (bone diagnosis device). The bone diagnosis device 200 includes an acoustic irradiator 3 for irradiating a fractured part 81 with acoustic waves, an acoustic irradiator driving circuit 4 for driving the acoustic irradiator 3, an acoustic detector 5 for detecting reflected acoustic waves or residual acoustic waves from the fractured part 81, and a display unit 6 for visualizing the healing state of the fractured bone 8a from the detected acoustic waves.

The following provides a detailed explanation.
The bone treatment device 100 has been described in the first embodiment, so a repeated description will be omitted.
The bone diagnostic device 200 will be described. When a sonication command signal is input to the sonicator driving circuit 4, a driving signal is output from the sonicator driving circuit 4 to the sonicator 3, and the sonicator 3, which is made of a piezoelectric element such as a piezo, irradiates the fractured part 81 with sonic waves. The sonic waves pass through the living tissue 9. Then, the sonic detector 5, which is made of a piezoelectric element such as a piezo, detects reflected or residual sonic waves from the fractured part 81. Then, the display unit 6, which is made of a liquid crystal display device, an EL display device, or the like, visualizes and displays the healing state of the fractured bone 8a from the sonic waves detected by the sonic detector 5. The bone diagnostic device 200 may be a wearable device.
7, the sound wave irradiator 3 and the sound wave detector 5 are separate elements, but as is usually done, the sound wave irradiator 3 may also function as the sound wave detector 5. In this case, after irradiating sound waves, the same element detects reflected or residual sound waves from the irradiated sound waves.

[Adjustment of Driving Conditions of Transducer 1]
FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining a process (example) for displacing a fractured bone 8 a by the treatment and diagnosis device 300 .
The bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 according to the sixth embodiment may further include a drive condition adjustment circuit 28 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 7). The drive condition adjustment circuit 28 is a circuit capable of adjusting the drive conditions of the transducer 1 with respect to the previous drive conditions. The drive conditions of the transducer 1 are, for example, drive parameters such as the drive frequency, amplitude, and waveform for driving the transducer 1.

This will be explained with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG.
When adjusting the drive conditions of the transducer 1 in the treatment/diagnosis device 300, first, the transducer 1 is driven by the transducer drive circuit 2 to vibrate the transducer 1 and displace the fractured bone 8a (FIG. 8, step S71).
Incidentally, prior to step S71, a structure 7 impregnated with platelet-rich plasma may be placed at the fracture site 81 (step S70).
Then, sound waves are irradiated from the sound wave irradiator 3 to the fracture site 81, the reflected sound waves or residual sound waves are detected by the sound wave detector 5, and the fracture site 81 is displayed and visualized on the display unit 6 (step S73).

Then, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to further apply vibration to the fractured bone 8a to displace it (step S75). This determination is made based on, for example, the healing state of the fractured bone 8a, the state of displacement of the fractured bone 8a, etc. The subject of the determination is the treatment/diagnosis device 300 itself, a doctor (veterinarian), a patient (if the subject of treatment is a human), etc.
Then, if further displacement of the fractured bone 8a is not required (step S75, "not required"), the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is necessary to further displace the fractured bone 8a (step S75, "Necessary"), it is determined whether or not to change the driving conditions (amplitude or vibration frequency of the transducer 1) (step S77).
If no change in the drive conditions is required, the process proceeds to step S73, where the transducer 1 is driven under the same drive conditions as before to displace the fractured bone 8a in the same manner as before.
If it is necessary to change the drive conditions, the process proceeds to step S79, where the drive conditions are changed, and then the process proceeds to step S73, where the transducer 1 is driven under the changed drive conditions to displace the fractured bone 8a differently from before.

The change (or maintenance) of the driving conditions is performed by a driving condition adjustment circuit 28 indicated by a dotted line in FIG.
When performing the adjustment automatically, the output of the display unit 6 (or the sound wave detector 5) is input to the drive condition adjustment circuit 28 as an adjustment instruction signal (automatic). The drive condition adjustment circuit 28 determines whether or not to change the drive conditions based on the adjustment instruction signal (automatic). When changing the drive conditions, the transducer drive command signal is adjusted (adjusted) and input to the transducer drive circuit 2. When not changing the drive conditions, no adjustment is performed.
When performing the adjustment manually, a doctor or the like manually inputs an adjustment instruction signal (manual) to the transducer driving circuit 2 to change the driving conditions.

[Example of use of the treatment/diagnosis device 300]
The treatment/diagnosis device 300 is used, for example, as follows.
In the case where the fractured bone 8a is to be displaced according to the healing state of the fractured bone 8a, the transducer 1 is driven under certain driving conditions for a certain period of time at a periodically determined time to displace the fractured bone 8a (step S71). After the certain period of time, the driving of the transducer 1 is stopped (the displacement of the fractured bone 8a is also stopped). A predetermined time passes in this state.
Then, before driving the transducer 1 at a fixed time in the next cycle (for example, the next day), the healing status is visualized by using sound waves at the fractured part 81 (S73). If it is determined that it is not necessary to continue to displace the fractured bone 8a because the bone has healed (S75), the driving of the transducer 1 is stopped after that cycle. If it is determined that it is necessary to continue to displace the fractured bone 8a (S75), it is determined whether or not to further change the driving conditions (S77), and the transducer 1 is driven under the driving conditions adjusted by the driving condition adjustment circuit 28 to displace the fractured bone 8a.

In addition, there are cases where it is desired to provide suitable drive conditions for the transducer 1 to appropriately displace the fractured bone 8a. To explain this case using FIG. 8, for example, the transducer 1 is driven under certain drive conditions at an arbitrary time to displace the fractured bone 8a (step S71). While driving the transducer 1 to displace the fractured bone 8a, sound waves are irradiated to the fractured site 81 and the displacement state of the fractured bone 8a is checked on the display unit 6 (S73). If the displacement (amplitude) of the fractured bone 8a is too large, too small, too fast (frequency), too slow, etc., the drive conditions are adjusted by the drive condition adjustment circuit 28 (S75, S77), the transducer 1 is driven to displace the fractured bone 8a, the displacement state is checked, and the drive conditions are adjusted, and this process is repeated. In this way, suitable drive conditions are provided and used (the drive conditions are applied to S71 in the treatment processing flowchart in FIG. 8).

[Effects of the Sixth Embodiment]
According to the bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 of the sixth embodiment, since it is equipped with both the bone treatment device 100 and the diagnosis device 200, it is possible to perform early healing of the fractured bone 8a by the treatment device 100, and to accurately diagnose the healing state by the diagnosis device 200. As described above, the bone treatment device 100 is equipped with a predetermined transducer 1 and a transducer driving circuit 2, and early healing is possible by using these. In addition, the diagnosis device 200 has an ultrasonic irradiator 3, an ultrasonic irradiator driving circuit 4, an ultrasonic detector 5, and a display unit 6, and therefore accurate diagnosis is possible by using these. In addition, after treatment with the treatment device 100, it is also possible to perform a cycle of diagnosing the healing state with the diagnosis device 200, and treating again with the treatment device 100 according to the state or by feeding back the state.

According to the bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 of embodiment 6, since it is further provided with a drive condition adjustment circuit 28, when it is desired to change the displacement of the fractured bone 8a, it is easy to adjust the displacement because the drive conditions can be adjusted (changed) based on the previous drive conditions of the transducer 1.

[Embodiment 7]
FIG. 9 is a diagram shown for explaining a treatment/diagnosis apparatus 310 according to the seventh embodiment.
The bone treatment/diagnosis device 310 of embodiment 7 is basically the same as the bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 of embodiment 6, but differs in that the transducer driving circuit 2 and the ultrasonic irradiator driving circuit 4 (see Figure 7) are integrated into a transducer/sonic irradiator driving circuit 20 as shown in Figure 9.

9, a bone treatment/diagnosis device 310 according to the seventh embodiment includes a transducer/sonic irradiator drive circuit 20. The transducer/sonic irradiator drive circuit 20 includes a command signal discrimination circuit 21, a drive signal generation circuit 27, and switches 25A and 25B.
A command signal for driving the elements (1, 3) is input to the transducer/sonic irradiator driving circuit 20. The command signal discrimination circuit 21 discriminates whether this command signal is for driving the transducer 1 or the sonic irradiator 3, and outputs it to the drive signal generation circuit 27 (the sonic detector 5 is driven simultaneously with the sonic irradiator 3 or after a predetermined time).

The drive signal generating circuit 27 has an oscillator 23, a frequency adjustment circuit 22, and D/A conversion circuits 24A and 24B. The oscillator 23 outputs a reference signal to the frequency adjustment circuit 22 using an oscillator such as a quartz oscillator or a ceramic oscillator. The frequency adjustment circuit 22 outputs the reference signal from the oscillator 23 to the D/A conversion circuit 24A or 24B at the same frequency or by dividing or multiplying the frequency to a frequency appropriate for driving the oscillator 1 or the sound wave detector 5, depending on the discrimination signal from the command signal discrimination circuit 21.

The D/A conversion circuit 24A or 24B converts the drive signal (digital signal) from the frequency adjustment circuit 22 into a drive signal (analog signal) for the transducer 1 or the sound wave detector 5, and outputs it to the switches 25A and 25B.
The switches 25A and 25B are opened and closed by the discrimination output from the command signal discrimination circuit 21. When the discrimination output is for driving the transducer 1, the switch 25B is opened and the transducer 1 is driven. When the discrimination output is for driving the sonic irradiator 3, the switch 25A is opened and the sonic irradiator 3 is driven.

If the output of the frequency adjustment circuit 22 can directly drive the transducer 1 or the sonicator 3, the D/A conversion circuits 24A and 24B are not required. In addition, a buffer circuit or the like may be provided in front of the transducer 1 or the sonicator 3 in order to drive the transducer 1 or the sonicator 3 with sufficient power.

[Effects of the Seventh Embodiment]
According to the bone treatment/diagnosis device 310 of embodiment 7, the transducer driving circuit and the ultrasonic irradiator driving circuit are integrated into a transducer/sonic irradiator driving circuit 20, so that the treatment/diagnosis device 310 can be made compact.

The bone treatment/diagnosis device 310 of embodiment 7 is similar to the bone treatment/diagnosis device 300 of embodiment 6 except that the transducer driving circuit and the ultrasonic emitter driving circuit are integrated into a transducer/sonic emitter driving circuit 20, and has the corresponding effects of embodiment 6.

[Embodiment 8]
10 is a diagram for explaining a treatment device 180 according to embodiment 8. The treatment device 180 according to embodiment 8 is basically the same as the treatment device 100 according to embodiment 1, but differs in that a vibration motor is used as the vibrator 1 in embodiment 1, whereas a camshaft is used in embodiment 2.

As shown in Fig. 10, in the treatment device 180, a camshaft composed of a cam plate 11, grooves 12, etc. (cams), and a shaft 13 serves as the transducer 1. This camshaft is a so-called front cam. Note that in Fig. 10, the cam plate 11, etc. are exaggerated and drawn large to make the structure easier to understand.
To give an overview of the treatment device 180, a motor (not shown), a cam plate 11, etc. are mounted on a frame 16 constituting a base, and the motor is wrapped around a band 92 on the living tissue 9 (muscle, etc.) near the fractured portion 81, and the device is installed so as to be in a predetermined position relative to the bone 8a. When the cam plate 11 (driver) rotates around the rotating shaft 14, a circular (or elliptical) groove 12 (formed on the side of the cam plate 11) formed eccentrically with respect to the rotating shaft 14 rotates, and a shaft 13 (follower) that slides or rolls against the groove 12 moves along the groove, and is guided by a guide 17 formed on the frame 16, and moves linearly back and forth in the direction of the fractured bone 8a. The pressure of the linear reciprocating motion of the shaft 13 is transmitted to the bone 8a, mechanically displacing the bone 8a up and down.

As shown by the dotted line in the lower left of Figure 10, a similar camshaft (comprised of cam plate 11, shaft 13, etc.) may also be installed on the underside of the other fractured bone 8b (opposite the side installed on bone 8a). In the example shown, when shaft 13 (upper right) on the bone 8a side moves down to push bone 8a downward, shaft 13 (lower left) on bone 8b side moves up at the same timing (in the same phase) to push bone 8b upward, making it possible to further increase the difference in displacement between the fractured bones 8a and 8b compared to when there is only one camshaft.

Furthermore, when installing the camshaft vibrator 1 at a certain location on the cast 91 (see FIG. 1), for example, the frame 16, cam plate 11, etc. are installed on the outside of the cast 91, and a band 92 is wrapped around and fixed so that the shaft 13 moves back and forth in a straight line through a through hole formed in the cast 91 (not shown).
Alternatively, the frame 16, cam plate 11, etc. are placed on the inside (the biological tissue 9 side) of the cast 91, and the shaft 13 is made to linearly reciprocate through a through hole formed in the cast 91 (not shown). In this case, a band 92 may be wrapped around the outside of the cast 91, but the band 92 may be omitted and the cast 91 may also function as the band 92.
Furthermore, the cams constituting the camshaft are not limited to front cams, but may be spherical cams, cylindrical cams, or the like.

10 has a uniform thickness, elongated rod-like shape (long axis in the linear reciprocating direction), but the tip may be elongated in the linear reciprocating direction and thickened at a predetermined distance from the tip (not shown). As a result, when the biological tissue 9 is pushed by the shaft 13 and recessed to a predetermined depth, the thick part of the shaft 13 comes into contact with the periphery of the recess, preventing the tip of the shaft 13 from advancing any further. This may prevent the bone 8a from being displaced more than a predetermined amount, or the tip of the shaft 13 from piercing and damaging the biological tissue 9.

[Effects of the eighth embodiment]
In the treatment device 180 of embodiment 8, by using a camshaft as the transducer 1, the vibration of the transducer 1 (linear reciprocating motion of the camshaft) is transmitted to the fractured bone 8a (8b) without being dispersed, making it possible to displace (vibrate) the fractured bone 8a (8b) more reliably.
The treatment device 180 of embodiment 8 is similar to the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1 except for using a camshaft as the vibrator 1, and has the corresponding effects of the treatment device 100 of embodiment 1.

[Modification]
Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and for example, the following modifications are also possible.

(1) In the above embodiment 1, an eccentric rotating mass type vibration motor was used as the vibrator 1, but the vibrator used in the bone treatment device of the present invention is not limited to an eccentric rotating mass type vibration motor. For example, it may be a linear resonant actuator type vibration motor that has a built-in weight connected to a spring, and the weight is pushed into the spring by the force of electromagnetic induction, and the weight is moved by the reaction of the spring when the electromagnetic induction is stopped. It may also be a pneumatic pole vibrator, a piezoelectric vibrator, etc.

(2) In the above embodiment 8, a camshaft is used as the vibrator 1 to perform linear reciprocating motion, but the linear reciprocating motion mechanism is not limited to a camshaft. For example, a linear reciprocating motion mechanism using a linear drive motor or the like may be used, or a mechanism (vibrator 1) may be used in which an egg-shaped cam with an egg-shaped cross section attached to the camshaft rotation axis is pressed directly against bone 8a (or 8b) to create linear reciprocating motion.

1...Vibrator, 2...Vibrator driving circuit 2, 20...Vibrator/sound wave emitting element driving circuit, 21...Command signal discrimination circuit, 22...Frequency adjustment circuit, 23...Oscillator, 24A, 24B...D/A conversion circuit, 25A, 25B...Switch, 27...Drive signal generation circuit, 3...Sound wave emitting element, 4...Sound wave emitting element driving circuit, 5...Sound wave detector, 6...Display unit, 7...Structure, 8a, 8b...Fractured bone Bone, 81... fracture site, 9... biological tissue, 91... cast, 92... band, 20... transducer/sound irradiator drive circuit, 28... drive condition adjustment circuit, 100, 110, 200, 210... treatment device, 300, 310... treatment/diagnosis device, P1, P2, P3, P21, P22, P23, P31, P32, P41, P42, P43... installation location, W1, W2, W3... drive waveform

Claims (3)

1. A fractured bone treatment device comprising:
a transducer that is placed on the fractured part so as not to come into direct contact with the fractured bone;
a transducer drive circuit for driving the transducer so as to displace the fractured bone;
Equipped with
The transducer is an ultrasonic transducer that generates a push pulse by the acoustic radiation pressure of ultrasonic waves, and the push pulse displaces the fractured bone by mechanical vibrations at a frequency lower than that of ultrasonic waves.
A bone treatment device characterized by: 2. The bone repair device according to claim 1,
The frequency, which is lower than that of ultrasonic waves, is in the range of 1 to 100 Hz.
A bone treatment device characterized by: The bone treatment device according to claim 1 or 2,
An ultrasonic phased array is used as the ultrasonic transducer, and the ultrasonic phased array is configured to be able to transmit the push pulse toward a position where the fractured bone is likely to move.
A bone treatment device characterized by:

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