JPH04319347A - Ultrasonic wave applicator for medical treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic wave applicator for medical treatment, which is small and can generate sufficient sonic pressure to perform an ultrasonic wave cure by focusing ultrasonic waves on a living body deep part without affecting on internal organs or the like other than a place to be cured and ultra without distorbing ultrasonic wave transmission. CONSTITUTION:Ultrasonic waves of dozens of kHz are radiated in focus to a living body in vivo place 10 to be cured such as a gallstone from plural Langevin vibrators 2 through a spherical shell shape vibration surface 3, and the dissolution of this gallstone or the like is expanded. Hereupon, the diameter of the vibration surface 3 provided with Langevin vibrators 2 is made to be not less than 76mm and not more than 600mm. and the surface 3 curvature radius against an ultrasonic wave irradiation direction is made to be not less than 140mm, and ultrasonic waves of dozens of kHz are made to focus on the living body part of 50-100mm depth effectively without affecting on internal organs or the like other than the plane to be cured and without disturbing ultrasonic wave transmission.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a therapeutic ultrasound application that promotes the dissolution of clots formed in the gallbladder or the like in a living body by administering a dissolving agent and irradiating ultrasound. Regarding ta.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, monooctanoin, d-limonene, or methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) has been applied to treatment areas such as the gallbladder in order to dissolve and remove aggregates such as stones formed in the gallbladder, etc. A medical solution that is a stone dissolving agent is injected, and a therapeutic ultrasound device irradiates ultrasound waves from outside the body toward the inside of the body to promote dissolution of the coagulum present in the treatment area, and at the same time, the medical solution Treatment is performed in which the coagulated material, such as the stone, is recovered by dissolving the coagulated material and suctioning a fluid such as a drug solution in which the coagulated material has been dissolved.

[0003] The above-mentioned therapeutic ultrasonic device is equipped with various techniques for improving the therapeutic effect of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator constituting the therapeutic ultrasonic device, such as increasing the dissolution efficiency of coagulum. Proposed.

For example, in the therapeutic ultrasonic device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-120846, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are provided on a vibrating surface that irradiates ultrasonic waves toward a treatment area.
A therapeutic ultrasound applicator is shown that is capable of breaking up clots in stages.

[0005] This therapeutic ultrasonic applicator uses ultrasonic waves of several hundred kHz to destroy clots in the treatment area, and further improves the dissolution efficiency of the clots by promoting dissolution of the destroyed clots. It enhances the

However, with this therapeutic ultrasonic applicator, the dissolving effect of the coagulum cannot be promoted unless the coagulum in the treatment area is destroyed.
Since it was possible to irradiate ultrasonic waves of Hz, this resulted in an increase in the size of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator and the therapeutic ultrasonic device itself. It has been experimentally confirmed that ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz are best for irradiating ultrasonic waves to an extent that does not destroy clots such as gallstones and promoting the dissolution effect of the clots.

Furthermore, since a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are provided in order to destroy the coagulum in the treatment area in stages, this is also a factor leading to the increase in the size of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator and the therapeutic ultrasonic device itself. It became.

[0008] Due to the increase in the size of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator and the therapeutic ultrasound device itself, the usable range of the therapeutic ultrasound device is limited and the versatility is reduced.

[0009] In view of these problems, the present applicant proposed in Utility Application No. 2-32660 a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator for a therapeutic ultrasonic device in which a disc-shaped diaphragm is attached to a Langevin vibrator. ing.

[0010] According to the structure of this therapeutic ultrasonic applicator, it is possible to make the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator compact, and it is possible to make the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator smaller. It is possible to greatly improve problems such as the limitation of the usable range and the decrease in versatility.

However, since the diaphragm that emits the ultrasonic waves is disk-shaped, the ultrasonic waves diverge at a position far from the vibration surface and the sound pressure decreases, and the sound pressure decreases at a distance of 50 to 100 mm from the body surface.
There was a problem in that it was difficult to irradiate ultrasonic waves of sufficient sound pressure to treatment areas such as gallstones located at a certain depth.

[0012] Furthermore, in EPO 340422, a therapeutic ultrasound applicator is proposed that combines a Langevin transducer and an acoustic lens and focuses ultrasound from the Langevin transducer to perform effective ultrasound treatment. .

However, it is difficult to focus ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz, which are said to be effective in promoting the dissolution of clots such as gallstones, with an acoustic lens, and this therapeutic ultrasonic applicator is However, it is difficult to irradiate ultrasound with sufficient sound pressure to treatment areas such as gallstones.

[0014]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, with conventional therapeutic ultrasound applicators, when attempting to irradiate ultrasound with sufficient sound pressure to treatment areas such as gallstones, the size of the device increases and the range of use is limited. However, in order to create a small, versatile therapeutic ultrasound applicator that can be used over a wide range of applications, it is difficult to achieve sufficient sound pressure to treat areas such as gallstones. There was a problem that it was difficult to irradiate ultrasonic waves.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a small device that transmits ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz to 50% of the deep part of the body without affecting organs other than the treatment area and without interfering with the transmission of ultrasonic waves. It is an object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic ultrasound applicator capable of generating sufficient sound pressure to perform ultrasound therapy by focusing the ultrasound waves to 100 mm.

[0016]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a therapeutic ultrasound applicator according to the present invention uses a Langevin transducer that irradiates ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz to a treatment site such as a gallstone in a living body. and a plurality of Langevin oscillators are arranged, and a spherical shell-shaped vibration surface vibrated by these Langevin oscillators, and the diameter of the vibration surface on which the Langevin oscillators are arranged is larger than 76 mm, and is 600 mm. In the following, the radius of curvature of this vibrating surface with respect to the ultrasonic irradiation direction is set to be 140 mm or more.

[0017]

[Operation] In the above configuration, ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz are focused and irradiated to the treatment site of gallstones, etc. in the living body through the spherical shell-shaped vibration surface from the plurality of Langevin oscillators, and the gallstones, etc. promotes the dissolution of

[0018] Here, the diameter of the vibrating surface on which the Langevin vibrator is arranged is larger than 76 mm, and is 600 mm.
By setting the radius of curvature of this vibrating surface in the ultrasound irradiation direction to 140 mm or more, ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz can be transmitted without affecting organs other than the treatment area and preventing ultrasonic transmission from being obstructed. 50-100 deep inside the body
It becomes possible to generate sufficient sound pressure to perform ultrasonic treatment by focusing the ultrasonic wave to 1 mm.

[0019]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

{First Embodiment} FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a Langevin transducer and a vibration surface. It is an explanatory diagram.

(Configuration) In these figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a therapeutic ultrasound applicator, and this therapeutic ultrasound applicator 1 includes a housing 6 and a spherical shell-shaped vibration surface fixed to the housing 6. 3, and a plurality of Langevin vibrations (five in this example) arranged on the vibration surface 3 and covered with the housing 6, which irradiates ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz to the treatment site 10 such as gallstones. child 2 and the ultrasonic emission side of the vibration surface 3, that is,
A pouch 5 made of a soft resin material that contains an ultrasonic transmission liquid 4 and can come into contact with a living body 11 is fixed to the side opposite to the side where the Langevin transducer 2 is disposed.

[0022] The vibrating surface 3 is also provided with a water injection/drainage tube 12 which communicates with the ultrasonic transmission liquid 4 contained in the pouch 5 and whose other end is connected to a water injection/drainage pump (not shown). Further, the Langevin transducer 2 is connected to an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) via a lead wire 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of the vibrating surface 3 on which the Langevin oscillator 2 is disposed is D, the geometric focal point of this spherical shell-like vibrating surface 3 is O, and this If the radius of curvature of the vibration surface 3 is R, then the radius of curvature R of the vibration surface 3 is 1
The Langevin vibrator 2 and the vibrating surface 3 are configured such that the diameter D of the vibrating surface 3 is greater than 76 mm and less than 600 mm.

[0024] In the case of gallstone dissolution treatment, M
The catheter 8 is configured such that a dissolving agent such as TBE can be administered.
The gallbladder 9 is percutaneously punctured.

(Measurement Conditions and Value Determination) First, in the case of gallstone dissolution treatment, there are two conditions that must be satisfied in order to irradiate the gallstones 10 with ultrasound.

First, since the gallbladder 9 is located at a depth of 50 to 100 mm from the surface of the living body 11, the ultrasonic waves are focused at a position 100 mm or more away from the surface of the living body 11.

Second, when irradiating the gallbladder 9 with ultrasonic waves from outside the body, ribs and the like must be avoided, so the diameter TD of the contact surface between the pouch 5 and the living body 11 must be 150 mm or less.

It is also known that when an ultrasonic vibrator is placed on a spherical shell-shaped vibrating surface 3, the sound pressure on the central axis of the vibrating surface 3 is expressed by the following equation.

That is, in addition to the diameter D of the vibrating surface 3 and the radius of curvature R of the vibrating surface 3, the normalized sound pressure is the sound pressure value obtained by normalizing the sound pressure on the central axis by the average sound pressure on the radiation surface. Pa,
If the distance from the spherical shell to the focal point is z, and the wavelength in the medium is λ, then Pa = |2R/(R-z) ・sin {(π/2)・(
D2 /4λR)・(R-z)/z} | Therefore, in this formula, the above two conditions, z≧100mm, TD≦150
In order to satisfy mm, the above Langevin oscillators 2 to 4 are used.
When ultrasonic waves of 0 kHz or more and less than 100 kHz are irradiated, the focal point of the ultrasonic waves is determined, and the diameter D and radius of curvature R are obtained from this position. As a result, R≧140m
When m, 76 mm<D≦600 mm, the above two conditions are satisfied.

[0030] In the above range, the diameter D is 1
The radius of curvature R is between 180 and 200 mm, especially about 140 mm.
It was found that about 90 mm is most preferable for use.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the embodiment with the above configuration will be explained.

First, the catheter 8 is percutaneously punctured to the gallbladder 9, and a dissolving agent such as MTBE is administered to the gallbladder 9.

Next, the pouch 5 of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the living body 11 while facing the gallstones 10 in the gallbladder 9, and a water injection/drainage pump (not shown) is driven to remove the pouch 5. By changing the amount of the ultrasound transmission liquid 4 in the pouch 5 and adjusting the bulge of the pouch 5, the gallstones 10 and the position where the ultrasound waves are focused are made to coincide with each other.

Then, the Langevin transducer 2 is driven by an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) to irradiate the gallstones 10 in the gallbladder 9 with ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz to promote the dissolution effect of the gallstones 10.

{Second Embodiment} FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator, and FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator. It is an explanatory diagram.

In this second embodiment, the arrangement of the Langevin oscillator on the vibrating surface is changed, the shape of the vibrating surface is changed, a water injection/draining tube is provided on the side of the vibrating surface, and the pouch is fixed. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the section is separated from the ultrasonic irradiation surface of the vibration surface.

That is, the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 51
includes a casing 56, and a concave vibration surface 53 fixed to the casing 56, which is circular, has a spherical cross-sectional shape, and has a flange 53a.
It is disposed on this vibrating surface 53 and covered with the housing 56, and provides a vibration frequency of several tens of kHz to the treatment site 10 such as gallstones in the gallbladder 9.
A plurality of (five in this embodiment) Langevin transducers 52 that emit ultrasonic waves of A pouch 55 made of a soft resin material that contains an ultrasonic transmission liquid 54 and can come into contact with the living body 11 is fixed to the pouch 55 .

Here, a fixing portion 60 between the pouch 55 and the casing 56 is configured at a position away from the ultrasonic emission surface of the vibration surface 53, and an O-ring 61 is attached to this fixing portion 60. installed to maintain watertightness.

Further, a water injection/drainage port 62 for the ultrasonic transmission liquid 54 is formed in the flange 53a of the vibrating surface 53 by utilizing the gap in the area where the Langevin vibrator 52 is arranged. In addition, this water injection/drainage port 62
A water injection/drainage tube 63 for injecting/draining the ultrasonic transmission liquid from the outside of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 51 is provided at the end of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 51. The end is connected to a water injection/drainage pump (not shown).

Further, other parts, such as the radius of curvature and diameter of the vibrating surface 53, are the same as in the first embodiment, so explanations will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the embodiment with the above configuration will be explained.

First, a catheter (not shown) is percutaneously punctured to the gallbladder 9, and a dissolving agent such as MTBE is administered to the gallbladder 9.

Next, the pouch 55 of the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator 51 is brought into contact with the surface of the living body 11 toward the gallstones 10 in the gallbladder 9, and a water injection/drainage pump (not shown) is driven. The amount of the ultrasound transmission liquid 54 in the pouch 55 is changed and the bulge of the pouch 55 is adjusted to match the gallstone 10 and the position where the ultrasound is focused.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
Depending on the position of 0, the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 5
1 is tilted sufficiently diagonally so that the ultrasound waves are focused at the same position.

Furthermore, if air bubbles are mixed into the pouch 55 when the amount of the ultrasonic transmission liquid 54 is changed using a water injection/drainage pump (not shown), the therapeutic ultrasonic applicator 51 may be tilted. As a result, the air bubbles are held between the flange 53a of the vibrating surface 53 and the pouch 55, or removed from the pouch 55 through the water injection/drainage port 62.

Then, the Langevin transducer 52 is driven by an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) to irradiate the gallstones 10 in the gallbladder 9 with ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz.
promotes the dissolution effect of

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pouch 5
5 and the housing 56 is configured at a position away from the ultrasound emission surface of the vibration surface 53, so that the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 51 can be tilted sufficiently toward the living body 11 to focus the ultrasound. This makes it possible to match the positions of the two, making it possible to further widen the range of use and to perform efficient treatment.

[0048] Furthermore, since the shape of the vibrating surface 53 can be used to eliminate air bubbles that have entered the pouch 55, it is possible to easily prevent the air bubbles from interfering with the transmission of ultrasonic waves, making it possible to perform more effective treatment. be.

5 and 6 show a modification according to the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator, and FIG.
1 is an explanatory diagram of the action of a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator.

[0050] In this modification, the second embodiment is applied to an example of a conventional therapeutic ultrasound applicator, in which one Langevin transducer is used, and the ultrasound irradiation surface of the vibration surface is a spherical shell. It is not shaped like a disk but a disk.

That is, the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 10
1 includes a housing 106 and a vibration surface 103 that is fixed to the housing 106 and has a disk shape and a concave cross section and has a flange 103a.
a Langevin transducer 102 disposed on the vibrating surface 103 and covered with the housing 106 and irradiating ultrasonic waves to the treatment area 10; An ultrasonic transmission liquid 104 is contained on the side opposite to the side where the transducer 102 is disposed, and the living body 1
A pouch 105 made of a soft resin material that can come into contact with the pouch 105 is fixedly attached to the pouch 105.

[0052] Here, the pouch 105 and the casing 10
6 is configured at a position away from the ultrasonic emission surface of the vibration surface 103, and this fixing portion 110
An O-ring 111 is provided to maintain watertightness.

[0053] Further, by utilizing the gap in the portion where the Langevin oscillator 102 is arranged, the vibration surface 103 is
A water injection/drainage port 112 for the ultrasonic transmission liquid 104 is formed in the flange 103a. In addition, this water injection
A water injection/drainage tube 113 is provided at the end of the drain port 112 for injecting/draining the ultrasonic transmission liquid from the outside of the therapeutic ultrasound applicator 101.
The other end of this water injection/drainage tube 113 is connected to a water injection/drainage pump (not shown).

With this configuration, when using this therapeutic ultrasound applicator 101, the living body 11
It is possible to make the ultrasonic waves sufficiently tilted so that the focused position of the ultrasonic waves coincides with each other, thereby making it possible to further widen the range of use and perform efficient treatment.

[0055] Furthermore, since the shape of the vibrating surface 103 can be used to eliminate air bubbles that have entered the pouch 105, it is possible to easily prevent the air bubbles from interfering with the transmission of ultrasonic waves, making it possible to perform more effective treatment. be.

[0056]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator is configured with an optimal arrangement and shape,
Ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz are focused and irradiated to treatment areas such as gallstones in the living body through a spherical shell-shaped vibration surface from multiple Langevin transducers. Ultrasonic waves do not affect organs other than the treatment area,
50 to 10 times deep inside the body without any obstruction of ultrasound transmission.
It is possible to generate ultrasonic waves with a sound pressure sufficient for ultrasonic treatment by focusing them at 0 mm, and it is possible to perform effective treatment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a Langevin oscillator and a vibration surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a therapeutic ultrasound applicator according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a therapeutic ultrasonic applicator according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Therapeutic ultrasound applicator 2 Langevin oscillator 3 Vibration surface 10 Treatment area 11 Living body

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] For treatment sites such as gallstones in vivo,
It has a Langevin oscillator that irradiates ultrasonic waves of several tens of kHz, a plurality of these Langevin oscillators, and a spherical shell-shaped vibration surface that is vibrated by these Langevin oscillators, and the Langevin oscillator is arranged. The diameter of the vibrating surface is greater than 76 mm and less than 600 mm, and the radius of curvature of the vibrating surface in the ultrasonic irradiation direction is 140 m.
A therapeutic ultrasonic applicator characterized by having a diameter of m or more.