JPH01139052A - Ultrasonic treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily mount and replace an ultrasonic vibrator, by mounting the ultrasonic vibrator to a mount plate from the back surface thereof in a freely detachable manner and providing a transmission liquid leakage preventing means between the ultrasonic vibrator and the ultrasonic wave transmission liquid allowed to fill an ultrasonic wave generator. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic vibrator fixing jig 30 having an ultrasonic vibrator 8 mounted therein in a freely replaceable manner is engaged with the vibrator mount hole 13 of the mount plate 9 of an ultrasonic wave generator 6 and a diaphragm 14 is arranged so as to prevent an ultrasonic wave transmission liquid 12 from flowing to the outside. The ultrasonic vibrator fixing jig 30 can be mounted to the generator 6 from the outside and is not also brought into contact with the ultrasonic wave transmission liquid 12 allowed to fill both of the generator 6 and a water bag 5. That is, the ultrasonic vibrator 8 integrated with the ultrasonic vibrator fixing jig 30 is not also brought into contact with the ultrasonic wave transmission liquid 12. Therefore, even when the ultrasonic vibrator fixing jig 30 having the vibrator 8 mounted therein is mounted to the mount plate 9 or replaced, it is unnecessary to remove the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 from the ultrasonic wave generator 6 and the water bag 5.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is an ultrasonic treatment device, and more specifically, focuses shock waves generated by ultrasonic waves generated outside the body on a treatment target site such as a stone inside the body to perform stone crushing, etc. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment device that performs treatment.

[Prior Art] A stone destruction device as an example of an ultrasonic treatment device has already been used.
JP 60-145131, JP 62-417
This method is known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 23, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 112544/1983, and the like.

Generally, ultrasonic therapy devices that use ultrasonic shock waves are constructed by mounting a large number of ultrasonic transducers made of piezoelectric elements in a mosaic pattern on a mounting plate of a spherical shell formed in a partially spherical shape. The generator is brought into contact with the surface of the human body through a diaphragm-shaped water bag made of soft resin or the like filled with an ultrasonic transmission fluid such as water, and is applied to the kidneys, liver, and gallbladder.

For objects to be treated such as stones existing inside the bile duct, etc.
It is configured to focus the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic generator to destroy the stones and the like. The ultrasonic waves are generated by applying a pulsed voltage from an ultrasonic generation circuit to the ultrasonic transducer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional ultrasonic treatment device of this type, each ultrasonic transducer that generates ultrasonic waves has a spherical shell so that it can be easily replaced when it breaks down. It can be detachably attached to the mounting plate of the body. However, this installation was structured so that the front side of the mounting plate of the spherical shell, that is, the water bag, was not visible, so if the ultrasonic transducer malfunctioned, the water that filled the ultrasonic generator could easily be removed. The ultrasonic transducer must be removed from the ultrasonic generator before the ultrasonic transducer can be replaced, which is disadvantageous in that it takes a lot of time and effort.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology, and to eliminate the need to remove the ultrasonic transmission liquid such as water from the ultrasonic generator.
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic treatment device in which an ultrasonic transducer can be easily replaced.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ultrasonic generating body with a large number of ultrasonic transducers made of piezoelectric elements arranged in a partially spherical mosaic shape. In the mounting structure in which the ultrasonic transducers are arranged and fixed on the plate, a large number of ultrasonic transducers are detachably attached to the mounting plate from the back side of the mounting plate, and the ultrasonic transducers and the ultrasonic generator are filled with the ultrasonic transducers. A transmission liquid leakage prevention means is provided between the ultrasonic transmission liquid and the transmission liquid leakage prevention means, the transmission liquid leakage prevention means can propagate ultrasonic waves,
and the weight of the ultrasonic transmission fluid.

It is constructed with a diaphragm made of soft resin that can withstand liquid pressure, a membrane surface of epoxy resin, etc., and prevents the ultrasonic transmission liquid from leaking from the ultrasonic generator to the outside even if the ultrasonic transducer is removed from the ultrasonic generator. This is what I did.

[Example] The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

First, before explaining the present invention in detail, the overall configuration of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 9, this ultrasonic treatment device includes an observation means (position detection means) for detecting the position of a stone in the body, a positioning signal generation means 4, a focus moving means 7, and an ultrasonic wave for destroying a stone 1. The generator is configured to include a generating means 11.

The observation means includes an ultrasonic observation device 2 that emits ultrasonic waves to the human body 10 to detect the position of the stone 1 inside the body, and displays the stone location based on the detection signal from this device on a screen such as a CRT. It is composed of a display device 3 and the like.

The positioning signal generating means 4 provides an indication marker or the like at a target point on the screen of the display device 3, and sends a control signal to the focus moving means 7 so that the focus of the ultrasonic wave for lithotripsy is placed at the position of this indication marker. This is what is output.

The focal point moving means 7 moves the water bag 5 and the ultrasonic generator 6 described below using a numerically controlled robot or the like according to the positioning signal to focus the ultrasonic waves for lithotripsy on the calculus 1. The ultrasonic generator 6 is configured by fixing a large number of ultrasonic transducers 8 made of piezoelectric elements arranged in a mosaic pattern on the front surface of a mounting plate 9 formed in a spherical shape, and generates ultrasonic waves on the front surface. A water bag 5 made of soft resin or the like and having liquid injection and pressure control means is arranged between the ultrasonic generator 6 and the human body 10. The bag 5 is filled with an ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 such as water.

The ultrasonic wave generating means 11 is a well-known ultrasonic pulse voltage generating circuit, and the circuit is adapted to drive each of the ultrasonic transducers 8.

The ultrasonic treatment device is configured as described above, and the present invention provides the ultrasonic generator 6 in this ultrasonic treatment device.
Applies to.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of an ultrasound generator in an ultrasound treatment apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

The mounting plate 9 of the ultrasonic generator 6 is provided with a large number of transducer mounting holes 13 made of through holes, and the ultrasonic transducers 8 made of piezoelectric elements are exchanged in the transducer mounting holes 13. The built-in ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 is freely fitted. A transducer is mounted on the front surface of the mounting plate 9, that is, on the inner surface of the ultrasonic generator 6, so that the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 (see FIG. 9) does not leak out from the transducer mounting hole 13. Hole 1
3, a diaphragm 1 made of soft resin or the like covers the front surface of the diaphragm 1 and is fixed to the mounting plate 9 with a fastening member 15 such as a screw.
4 are arranged.

The ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 is inserted into the transducer mounting hole 13 from the outer surface of the mounting plate 9, that is, from the outside of the ultrasonic generator 6, and is positioned and fixed to the mounting plate 9 by the mounting member 16. Ru. Further, the ultrasonic transducer 8 made of a piezoelectric element that is replaceably mounted inside the ultrasonic transducer fixing device 30 has its ultrasonic wave generating surface on its tip surface exposed to the tip surface of the fixing device 30. The ultrasonic wave generating surface and the diaphragm 14 are in close contact with a jelly-like ultrasonic transmitting substance (not shown) so that ultrasonic waves can be transmitted efficiently.

In the ultrasonic generator 6 of the first embodiment configured as described above, the ultrasonic transducer fixing device 30 can be attached to the generator 6 from the outside, and is inserted into the generator 6 and the water bag 5. It does not come into contact with the filled ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 such as water. That is, the ultrasonic transducer 8 integrated with the ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 does not need to come into contact with the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12. Therefore, when attaching the ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 containing the transducer 8 to the mounting plate 9, or when replacing the ultrasonic transducer 8 due to failure, the ultrasonic generator 6 and the water bag There is no need to remove the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 contained in the ultrasonic generator 6 and the water bag 5, and the ultrasonic transducer can be installed and replaced in a short time and without any trouble.

In the above embodiments, it goes without saying that the diaphragm 14 may be fixed using an adhesive instead of the fastening member 15 such as a screw.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of an ultrasound generator 6A in an ultrasound treatment apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 1st above
In the embodiment, a transmission fluid leak prevention means consisting of a diaphragm 14 was provided for each vibrator mounting hole 13 bored in the mounting plate 9, but in this second embodiment, instead of each diaphragm 14 provided, , a single diaphragm 14A is used that covers substantially the entire inner surface of the mounting plate 9.

This diaphragm 14A is made of a soft resin material with good ultrasonic transmission efficiency, and its peripheral portion is fixed to the inner surface of the mounting plate 9 with adhesive, screws, or the like. And the third
As shown in the figure, the diaphragm 14A and the periphery of the vibrator mounting hole 13 on the inner surface of the mounting plate 9 are further fixed in a watertight manner using an adhesive 18. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

Even with this configuration, the ultrasonic generator 6 of the first embodiment
You can obtain the same action and effect as.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the ultrasonic generator 6B of the third embodiment, a coating film 17 made of epoxy resin is used as the transmission liquid leakage prevention means instead of the diaphragm 14 used in the first embodiment.

That is, the coating film 1 made of epoxy resin is applied to the peripheral edge of the vibrator mounting hole 13, including the opening surface to the inner surface of the mounting plate 9.
7 is provided, thereby closing the opening of the vibrator mounting hole 13 in a watertight manner. Further, the portion of the coating film 17 that comes into contact with the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 is formed in a shape that focuses the ultrasonic waves emitted from each ultrasonic transducer 8 .

Further, FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the ultrasonic generator 6C in the fourth embodiment, the coating film 17 does not cover the openings of the individual transducer mounting holes 13 independently as in the third embodiment, but instead covers the openings of the mounting plate 9. A coating film 17A made of epoxy resin is provided on the inner surface, thereby closing the openings of each vibrator mounting hole 13 at once, and the ultrasonic transmission liquid 12 of this coating film 17A
The contact surface with the mounting plate 9 is formed into a curved shape similar to the curved surface of the mounting plate 9, which focuses the ultrasonic waves emitted from each ultrasonic transducer 8 to one point.

The coating films 17A, 17 and the ultrasonic generation surface of the ultrasonic transducer 8 in the fourth and third embodiments are made of a jelly-like material (not shown) that has high ultrasonic transmission efficiency. Closely attached.

Even if the ultrasonic wave generator 6 is constructed as in the third or fourth embodiment, the same operation and effect as in the ultrasonic generator 6 of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 6 shows another example of the attachment mechanism for the ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 to the attachment plate 9. An ultrasonic transducer fixture 30 containing a built-in ultrasonic transducer 8 made of a piezoelectric element,
Insert the fixing tool 3 into the mounting hole 13 drilled in the mounting plate 9.
0 to the mounting plate 9, the mounting member 16 may be screwed onto the mounting plate 9 using screws, as shown in FIG. 1, but fixing means using screws lacks quickness. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, if a click stop mechanism is provided in the fixing tool 30 and the mounting hole 13, and the ultrasonic transducer fixing tool 30 can be attached to and removed from the mounting hole 13 using this mechanism, the mounting can be done quickly. able to perform work.

As shown in FIG. 7, the click stop mechanism has a housing hole 30a formed in the side wall 30A of the fixture 30, and a click protrusion 19 provided with a protruding habit by a coil spring 20 in the same size hole 30a. At the same time, a click hole 21 into which the click projection 19 fits is provided in the vibrator mounting hole 13. In this way, when the ultrasonic transducer fixing tool 30 is inserted into the transducer mounting hole 13, the click protrusion 19 fits into the click hole 21, so that the fixing tool 30 can be attached and detached from the mounting plate 9 very easily. Can be installed.

Further, the click stop mechanism has a click protrusion 19A formed of a ball and a storage hole 30a as shown in FIG.
This click protrusion 19A, which is inserted inside, has the same size 30
It is also possible to use a device in which the protruding habit is imparted by a leaf spring 2OA disposed within a.

It goes without saying that the target treatment object of the present invention is not limited to stones only, and the target device is not limited to stone destruction devices, but it is possible to focus ultrasonic waves on the target object. Of course, the present invention can be applied to all devices that perform treatment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer does not come into contact with the ultrasonic generator or the ultrasonic transmitting liquid such as water filled in the water bag. At the time of installation or replacement, there is no need to remove the ultrasonic transmission liquid filled in the ultrasonic generator and the water bag from the generator or the water bag each time, and the installation or replacement can be easily and quickly performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic treatment device that eliminates the conventional drawbacks.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of an ultrasonic generator in an ultrasonic treatment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the ultrasound generator shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts of the body; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic generator in an ultrasonic treatment apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views of essential parts showing different configurations of the click stop mechanism, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic treatment device. It is a diagram.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An ultrasonic generator including a large number of ultrasonic transducers such as piezoelectric elements arranged side by side, a water bag connected to the ultrasonic generator and in contact with the surface of the human body, and a water bag filled with water. In an ultrasonic treatment device comprising an ultrasonic transmission liquid interposed between the ultrasonic transducer and the surface of the human body, An ultrasonic treatment device characterized in that a transmission fluid leak prevention means is provided in a watertight manner.