JPH0255052A - Ultrasonic medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To safely remedy calculuses in a human body by arranging the first ultrasonic radiating means crushing the calculuses and the second ultrasonic radiating means accelerating the dissolution of the calculuses on the vibrator fitting face of a vibrator holder. CONSTITUTION:A position detecting means 7 detecting the position of calculuses 3 in a human body, the first ultrasonic radiating means 5 crushing the calculuses 3, and the second ultrasonic radiating means 6 dissolving the calculuses 3 are fitted to the inner face formed on the partial spherical body 17 of a supporter 4. The first and second ultrasonic radiators 5 and 6 are connected to a pulse generator 10 driving them, the ultrasonic vibrator of the first ultrasonic radiator 5 radiates a ultrasonic beam with the frequency of 500KHz, the ultrasonic vibrator of the second ultrasonic radiator 6 radiates a ultrasonic beam with the frequency of 100KHz. A focal point moving means 11 moves the supporter 4 and is controlled by a computer 8 so that the ultrasonic beams radiated by the first and second ultrasonic radiators 5 and 6 are concurrently converged on the calculuses 3 in the human body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment device, more specifically, an ultrasonic treatment device that focuses ultrasonic waves generated outside the body toward an object to be treated, such as a stone inside the body. This invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment device that performs.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of ultrasonic treatment device was disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 621208.
This is already well known, as shown in Publication No. 46 and the like. This ultrasonic treatment device consists of an ultrasonic transducer for position detection to obtain tomographic images of the treatment target and its vicinity, an injection needle that penetrates through the skin to the vicinity of stones such as the gallbladder, and It consists of an ultrasonic irradiator that focuses an ultrasonic beam on the object, such as a stone, to treat it, and a dissolving agent is also used to treat the object, such as a stone. It has become. A highly focused ultrasonic beam with a frequency in the range of 500 KHz to IMIlz is suitable for crushing the stones, etc.;
It is stated that a wide ultrasound beam with a frequency in the range of 00 Ktlz to 500 KHz is suitable.

In addition, the present applicant has previously provided an ultrasound transducer with an acoustic dispersion medium, and focused ultrasound beams of different frequencies on the treatment area through the acoustic dispersion medium to suitably crush stones, etc. We have proposed an ultrasonic treatment device (see Japanese Patent Application No. 62-94973).

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in the ultrasonic treatment device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 120846/1984, 50
A highly focused ultrasound beam with a frequency in the range of 0KHz to 1M) is preferred and 100Kt for stone dissolution.
(Although it is stated that a wide ultrasonic beam with a frequency in the range of z to 500 KHz is preferable, there is no indication of any specific means for doing so.

Further, the ultrasonic treatment device proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 62-94973 focuses ultrasonic beams of different frequencies on a treatment area to crush stones and the like.

However, it is not designed to dissolve stones, etc.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to efficiently configure a specific device including an ultrasonic irradiation means for crushing stones, etc. in the body, and an ultrasonic irradiation means for dissolving the stones, etc., so that treatment can be carried out safely. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic treatment device that can perform ultrasonic treatment.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides means for detecting the position of a stone or the like formed in the body, a means for injecting a dissolving agent around the stone, and the like. a first ultrasonic irradiation means for irradiating the stone with an ultrasonic beam to crush the stone; and a second ultrasonic irradiation means for irradiating the stone with an ultrasonic beam to promote dissolution of the stone. In the ultrasonic treatment apparatus, the first ultrasonic irradiation comprises a transducer holder that holds an ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic transducer attached to a transducer mounting surface of the transducer holder. The invention is characterized in that the second ultrasonic irradiation means is disposed between the means and the vibrator holder, or at a position related to the vibrator holder.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated example.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic treatment apparatus. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicates a human body, 2 indicates a gallbladder, and 3 indicates a stone within the gallbladder 2, respectively. It should be noted that although this example deals with the treatment of gallbladder stones, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto.

This ultrasonic treatment device includes a position detection means for detecting the position of a stone in the body, a first ultrasonic irradiation means for crushing the stone, and a second ultrasonic irradiation means for dissolving the stone. The main parts thereof include a means for moving the focus of the ultrasonic beam and a focus moving means for moving the focus of the ultrasonic beam.

The position detecting means and the first. The second ultrasonic irradiation means are both attached to the inner surface formed in the partial spherical shell 17 of the support 4. The above position detection means is a partial spherical shell body 1
an ultrasonic transducer 7 provided at one end of the ultrasonic transducer 7 for obtaining a tomographic image of a treatment site such as a stone in the body; a drive circuit 9 for driving the ultrasonic transducer 7; The receiving circuit 12 processes the signal received from the treatment site in the body at 7, and the display device 13 displays the signal processed by the receiving circuit 12 on a screen such as a CRT. The first ultrasonic irradiator 5, which serves as the first ultrasonic irradiation means for emitting an ultrasonic beam for crushing stones, etc. in the body, transmits an ultrasonic vibrator made of a large number of piezoelectric elements to the spherical shell. They are arranged in a mosaic pattern on the inner surface of a vibrator holder consisting of 17 members. Further, like the first ultrasonic irradiator 5, there are a large number of second ultrasonic irradiators 6 as the second ultrasonic irradiators that emit ultrasonic beams that promote the dissolution of stones in the body. Ultrasonic transducers made of piezoelectric elements are arranged and attached to the inner surface of the transducer holder made of the spherical shell 17 in a mosaic pattern. In addition, the above 1. Both of the second ultrasonic irradiators 5 and 6 are connected to a pulse generator 10 that drives them, and the ultrasonic transducer of the first ultrasonic irradiator 5 emits an ultrasonic beam with a frequency of 500Kilz. The ultrasonic vibrator of the second ultrasonic irradiator 6 irradiates an ultrasonic beam with a frequency of 100 KIIz to accelerate the dissolution of the calculus 3 and the like.

The focus moving means 11 moves the support 4,
1st. It focuses the ultrasonic beams irradiated from the second ultrasonic irradiators 5 and 6 on the calculus 3, etc. inside the body, and the pulse generator 10. It is connected to a computer 8 along with a drive circuit. The computer 8 includes the drive circuit 9.
Noculus generator 10, focal point moving means 11. Receiving circuit 12
etc., and is designed to control each of them.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the partial spherical shell 17 on which the first ultrasonic irradiator 5, the second ultrasonic irradiator 6, and the ultrasonic transducer 7 are disposed is made of a soft resin material. The water bag 16 is filled with water or the like as an ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 15.

The outer surface of the water bag 16 is brought into close contact with the human body 1.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic treatment apparatus of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, before treating the stones 3 in the gallbladder 2 of the human body 1, a gallstone dissolving agent is injected into the gallbladder 2 endoscopically or percutaneously using an injection needle or the like. The computer 8 then sends a signal to the drive circuit 9 to drive it, and supplies the drive signal to the ultrasound transducer 7. As a result, the ultrasonic transducer 7 is activated and detects an ultrasonic echo near the gallbladder 2 in the human body 1, and sends this detection signal to the receiving circuit 12.
send to This receiving circuit 12 processes the detection signal and sends it to the gallbladder 2.
A nearby tomographic image is displayed on the display device 13, and a position signal of the stone 3 is sent to the computer 8. The computer 8 compares the sent position signal of the stone 3 with the focal position of the first ultrasonic irradiator 5, and if the two do not match, the computer 8 moves the focal point moving means 11 to A signal is sent to drive the focus moving means 11 to move the support 4 so that the position of the stone 3 coincides with the focus of the first ultrasonic irradiator 5. Then, when the two match, the computer 8 sends a signal to the pulse generator 10,
This is activated and a drive pulse is supplied to the first ultrasonic irradiator 5. As a result, the first ultrasonic irradiator 5 emits an ultrasonic beam. This beam is focused as a narrow beam on the stone 3 in the gallbladder 2 of the human body 1 via the water bag 16 filled with the ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 15, and crushes the stone 3. Further, the state of fragmentation of the calculus 3 can be observed from the cross section displayed on the display device 13 by the ultrasonic transducer 7.

Therefore, while observing the state of fragmentation of the stone 3, the operator determines whether or not an ultrasonic beam is necessary to promote dissolution. Sends a command to irradiate the beam.

Based on this command, the computer 8 sends a signal to the pulse generator 10, which in turn sends a signal to the second ultrasonic irradiator 6.
A driving pulse is supplied to irradiate an ultrasonic beam that promotes dissolution of the stone 3. As a result, the second ultrasonic irradiator 6 emits an ultrasonic beam that promotes the dissolution of the stone 3.

As described above, this ultrasonic beam becomes a wide beam, and the ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 15. water bag 1
6, the bile and gallstone dissolving agent in the gallbladder 2 of the human body 1 are vibrated to dissolve the stones 3.

The state of dissolution of the stone 3 can also be observed from the tomographic image obtained by the ultrasonic transducer 7 and displayed on the display device 13. Therefore, the operator can judge whether or not to end the treatment while observing the state of dissolution of the stone 3 from the above-mentioned tomographic image, and if the operator wants to end the treatment, he can instruct the computer 8 to end the treatment. In response to this command, the computer 8 sends a drive stop signal to the pulse generator 10. Then, the pulse generator 10 stops sending drive pulses to the first and second ultrasonic irradiators 5 and 6. This ends the treatment.

In the first embodiment, the ultrasonic beam for accelerating the dissolution of the calculus 3 is irradiated after the ultrasonic beam for crushing the calculus 3 is irradiated. The ultrasonic beam and the ultrasonic beam that promotes the dissolution of the calculus 3 may be irradiated simultaneously, or the ultrasonic beam that crushes the calculus 3 and the ultrasonic beam that promotes the dissolution of the calculus 3 may be alternately irradiated.

In this way, the ultrasonic treatment device of this embodiment is capable of simultaneously crushing and dissolving stones, etc., so that unlike conventional devices, crushed stones can become stuck in the body cavity and cause diseases such as jaundice. There are no complications, and the treatment is sure to be safe and effective.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of essential parts of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This ultrasonic treatment device is constructed in exactly the same way as the ultrasonic treatment device shown in FIG. The explanation will be omitted for now.

The second ultrasonic irradiator 6 in the ultrasonic treatment apparatus shown in FIG. The only difference is that a Langevin type vibrator 18 that emits a wide ultrasonic beam at a frequency of 100 KIIz is used as an ultrasonic irradiator. In the ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to this embodiment configured as described above, the function of the second ultrasonic irradiator 18 is different from that of the second ultrasonic irradiator 6 in the ultrasonic treatment apparatus shown in FIG. Since there is nothing different, it is clear that the operation is exactly the same as the first embodiment, and the effect is also the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of essential parts of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention. This ultrasonic treatment device differs from the Langevin type vibrator 18 used as the second ultrasonic irradiator in the ultrasonic treatment device shown in FIG. The only difference is that the partial spherical portion of the spherical shell body 17 is attached to a position closer to the human body 1. By configuring in this way, the overall structure can be made small and compact, and the effects can be made completely the same.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail based on each of the embodiments, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously crush and dissolve stones, so unlike conventional methods, crushed stones can be removed from the body cavity. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic treatment device that reliably prevents complications such as yellow scars due to clogging in the tube and being unable to be discharged, and allows for extremely easy and safe treatment with a light burden on the patient. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of an ultrasonic treatment device showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic treatment device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 5......First ultrasonic irradiator (first ultrasonic irradiator) 6.18...Second ultrasonic irradiator (first ultrasonic irradiator) (2) Ultrasonic irradiation means) 7... Ultrasonic transducer (position detection means) 17... Spherical shell

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A means for detecting the position of a stone, etc. that has occurred in the body, a means for injecting a dissolving agent around the stone, and a first ultrasonic wave for crushing the stone by irradiating the stone with an ultrasonic beam. An ultrasonic treatment device having an irradiation means and a second ultrasonic irradiation means for irradiating the stone with an ultrasonic beam to promote dissolution of the stone; At a position related to the first ultrasonic irradiation means and the ultrasonic transducer attached to the transducer mounting surface of the transducer holder and the transducer holder, or the transducer holder, An ultrasonic treatment apparatus characterized in that the second ultrasonic irradiation means described above is provided.