KR20200008651A - Ultrasound medical apparatus with acoustic lens - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic wave medical device having an acoustic lens. The ultrasonic wave medical device having an acoustic lens according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a transducer converting vibration current into ultrasonic waves; and a lens module disposed in the traveling direction of the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer, wherein the lens module comprises: a plurality of dimples of a specific shape provided in a particular arrangement; and a plurality of detailed acoustic lenses for focusing the ultrasonic waves provided from the transducer. In addition, the dimples cause the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer to focus at a specific point, and the lens module focuses the ultrasonic waves provided from the transducer to points corresponding to each dimple.

Description

Ultrasonic Medical Device with Acoustic Lens {ULTRASOUND MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH ACOUSTIC LENS}

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic medical device having an acoustic lens.

Ultrasound is a wave having a frequency of 20KHz or more, and has a property of permeating water, and is widely used in medical fields such as an ultrasound diagnosis device and an ultrasound therapy device.

The use of ultrasound in the medical field is the most representative of the ultrasound imaging apparatus using the transmission and reflection properties of the ultrasound. For example, there is an apparatus that visualizes the reflected time and intensity while the ultrasonic waves penetrate the human body and penetrate each organ, thereby obtaining a cross-sectional image in the human body.

In addition, by using heat generated by high-intensity focused ultrasound to burn specific subcutaneous tissues such as tumors in the skin, or to remove or induce the degeneration and regeneration of the skin tissue to generate skin beauty or skin shaping effect such as wrinkle improvement have.

With the growing interest in beauty, there is an increasing demand for skin treatments, for example, for the treatment, care or care of the skin, and as a result, for skin treatment equipment that performs the treatment, care or care for the skin. Korea is actively developing.

United States Patent Application Publication No. US20019 / 0093737 (2009.04.09)

Each skin user has different skin characteristics. Accordingly, when the skin treatment is performed only by a specific ultrasound providing method using a conventional skin treatment apparatus, the effect of the treatment is inevitably different for each patient. In addition, even in the same patient, since the characteristics may be different for each skin region to be treated, the same ultrasound providing method (ie, ultrasound focusing method) may not be applied to the treatment.

In addition, since the skin treatment is performed only by a specific ultrasound providing method in the conventional skin treatment apparatus, some users have a problem that side effects are caused by excessive treatment.

In addition, there is a need for a method of providing a plurality of ultrasound focusing points spaced in a specific treatment area when treating the skin through ultrasound focusing. The conventional method of peeling off the entire skin surface is good for the improvement of the skin, but there is inconvenience in that the external activity is limited while the skin is restored. In addition, there is a method of performing ultrasound focusing while performing an ultrasound focus while the ultrasound transducer moves along a path on a 2D plane, but the treatment time for each treatment area is long because the ultrasound focus point must move on a path on the 2D plane. It may be required, and the arrangement of the ultrasonic focusing point may also be limited.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound medical apparatus having an acoustic lens that can form a variety of ultrasound focusing points in a treatment area by combining a lens module.

Problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

An ultrasound medical apparatus including an acoustic lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a transducer that converts a vibration current into an ultrasound by using a ultrasound apparatus; And a lens module disposed in an advancing direction of the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer, wherein the lens module includes one or more concave dimples 223, wherein the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer are the dimples 223. It is characterized by being focused to a specific point by).

In addition, the lens module, the plurality of dimples 223 having a specific shape in a particular arrangement state, characterized in that to simultaneously focus the ultrasonic waves provided from the transducer to a point corresponding to each of the dimples (223). .

In addition, the lens module, a plurality of sub-acoustic lens for focusing the ultrasonic wave provided from the transducer; And a plurality of metal bodies disposed between the subacoustic lenses to block the passage of the ultrasonic waves in the corresponding region.

According to the present invention as described above, by applying a specific lens module to a cartridge or a handpiece having a specific transducer (for example, a planar transducer) it can implement a desired ultrasonic focusing form. That is, a lens module suitable for the number of ultrasonic focusing points, the depth of focusing points, the focusing point arrangement form, etc., which are determined in consideration of the patient state, the treatment site, etc., may be applied to perform the desired ultrasonic treatment.

In addition, the user may perform various ultrasound treatment methods with one device by performing replacement / change to a lens module having the number of ultrasound focusing points, focusing depths, and focusing points suitable for a patient's condition or treatment area.

In addition, a plurality of ultrasound focusing can be performed at one time to a plurality of points within a specific treatment area where the handpiece or cartridge is in contact, so that the treatment can be performed at a high speed.

1 is a configuration diagram of an ultrasound medical apparatus equipped with an acoustic lens according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 is an exemplary view of the pressure distribution and sound intensity distribution when the transducer having a planar shape in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention generates ultrasonic waves.
3 is an exemplary view of a lens module having one or more dimples 223 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exemplary view of a lens module having a plurality of detailed acoustic lenses according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exemplary diagram of pressure distribution and sound intensity distribution during ultrasonic focusing using the lens module of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, only the embodiments are to make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, and the invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the present specification (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a sense that can be commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, terms that are defined in a commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless they are specifically defined clearly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and / or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the mentioned components.

1 is a configuration diagram of a medical device 1 using ultrasound according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The medical device 1 using ultrasound according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be composed of a main body 10 and a treatment unit 20, and the main body 10 and the treatment unit 20 may be connected. For example, the treatment unit 20 may be connected to the main body 10 of the medical device 1 using ultrasonic waves through a cable. The treatment unit 20 may be composed of the handpiece 210 and the cartridge 220 again.

The body unit 10 may transmit a control signal to the cartridge 220 through the handpiece 210 of the treatment unit 20.

The main body 10 may include all or a portion of the main controller 110, the memory 120, the high frequency oscillator 130, the input / output interface 140, the display 150, and the imaging circuit 160 that control the entire system. It may include. In some embodiments, the medical device 1 using ultrasound may omit at least one of the components or additionally include other components.

The main controller 110 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP). The main controller 110 may execute, for example, arithmetic or data processing related to control and / or communication of at least one other component of the medical apparatus 1 using ultrasound. Hereinafter, the main controller 110 may be represented by the controller 110. Specific functions performed by the main controller 110 will be described in detail below.

The memory 120 may include volatile and / or nonvolatile memory. The memory 120 may store, for example, instructions or data related to at least one other component of the medical apparatus 1 using ultrasound. According to an embodiment, the memory 120 may store software and / or a program. In addition, the memory 120 may store data about a movement pattern or frequency intensity of the transducer 221 which will be described later. Through this, the memory 120 may store the movement path, movement speed, signal strength, etc. of the transducer 221 in the cartridge housing in a programmed specific treatment mode.

The high frequency oscillator 130 may include a semi-coupled oscillator, a negative resistance oscillator, a crystal oscillator, and the like. For example, the high frequency oscillator 130 emits a continuous vibration current inside the cartridge 220 of the medical apparatus 1 using ultrasonic waves so that the transducer 221 inside the cartridge 220 is changed to ultrasonic waves of the same frequency. Do it.

The input / output interface 140 may serve as, for example, an interface capable of transmitting a command or data input from a user or another external device to other component (s) of the medical apparatus 1 using ultrasound.

In an embodiment, the input / output interface 140 may include a wireless communication unit 141. The wireless communication unit 141 may serve to receive data from an external device and transmit the data to the control unit 110. For example, the wireless communication unit 141 may receive a measurement value or skin condition information from a skin condition measuring apparatus corresponding to an external device. The medical apparatus 1 may determine skin treatment information (or treatment program) suitable for a user by receiving skin condition information of a patient.

In another embodiment, the input / output interface 140 may include a button unit or a touch screen. Through the button part or the touch screen, the user can select the treatment mode of the medical device 1. For the convenience of the user, the button unit may be provided in the handpiece to be described later, and an input value may be transmitted to the medical device 1 through a cable.

Display 150 may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. have. The display 150 may include a touch screen. For example, the display 150 may receive a touch input using an electronic pen or a part of a user's body.

In addition, the body portion 10 may further include an imaging circuit 160. The imaging circuit 150 may image the structure information of the skin tissue output by the main controller 110. That is, when the main controller 110 analyzes the time and intensity of the reflected ultrasound received by the transducer 221, the imaging circuit 160 receives the analysis result from the main controller 110 and converts the image into an image. Can be performed. The imaging circuit 150 is a component necessary only when outputting the structure information of the skin tissue as an image, and may be omitted when the structure information of the skin tissue is not output as the image.

The treatment unit 20 performs a function of providing ultrasound to the skin of the patient. The treatment unit 20 may be formed in various structures. In one embodiment, the treatment unit 20 is formed in one structure including a transducer for generating ultrasound. For example, the treatment unit 20 includes a transducer having a specific size in a planar shape, and uses a combination of a desired lens module as described below.

In another embodiment, the treatment unit 20 may include a handpiece 210 and a cartridge 220. After generating a lot of ultrasonic waves through vibration, the transducer generating ultrasonic waves may not generate the desired ultrasonic power output due to a change in impedance. Thus, a separate cartridge can be created to replace the transducer.

The handpiece 210 serves to connect the main body 10 and the cartridge 220. In addition, the handpiece 210 may include a handpiece controller 212. The handpiece controller 212 may receive a signal from the main controller 110 and serve as a hub of a signal between the main body 110 and the connection unit.

The cartridge 220 may include a housing and a transducer 221. The cartridge 220 is coupled to one side of the handpiece 210, receives the electrical signal from the handpiece 210 and outputs the ultrasonic wave. The cartridge 220 is formed to be detachable and attachable to the handpiece 210.

The transducer 221 may serve to receive high frequency pulses from the main body 10 and convert them into ultrasonic waves. That is, the transducer vibrates based on a high frequency pulse signal to oscillate ultrasonic waves.

The transducer 221 may be formed and arranged to irradiate ultrasonic waves toward one focal point. The cross-sectional structure of the transducer 221 has a concave shape (eg, hemispherical shape), so that the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer 221 are focused to the concave center point of the transducer 221. Can be. As such, the focusing point of the ultrasonic wave may be formed at the concave center point of the transducer 221. It is also arranged to have an output surface aligned with the sound window. Through this, as the shape of the transducer itself is made in a concave shape to generate a high intensity focused ultrasound.

The transducer 221 may be formed to have different depths of focusing points at positions on the same Z axis according to curvature. In addition, the transducer 221 may adjust the intensity of energy applied per unit area of the skin surface when the same energy is delivered to the focal point according to the size of the piezo.

In another embodiment, the transducer 221 has a planar shape. That is, the transducer 221 serves to generate an ultrasonic signal, as shown in FIG. 2, based on the electrical signal. The planar transducer 221 is coupled to the lens module 222 of a particular shape, the lens module 222 controls the focusing form of the ultrasonic waves.

The lens module 222 is disposed in parallel to the transducer 221 for generating the ultrasonic wave to adjust the traveling direction of the ultrasonic wave. The lens module 222 corresponds to an acoustic lens to focus or divert sound wave energy.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the lens module 222 has a certain number of dimples (223). That is, the lens module 222 includes a plurality of dimples 223 having a specific curvature on a two-dimensional area of a size corresponding to the transducer 221. Each dimple 223 forms one ultrasonic focusing point as it converges the ultrasonic waves. In addition, when the lens module 222 includes a plurality of dimples for forming a plurality of focal points, the dimples in the lens module 222 may have different curvatures to form focal points of different depths.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the lens module 222 has a plurality of subacoustic lenses 224 having a specific curvature or the same curvature, and a space between the subacoustic lenses 224. (Ie, spaced apart). The space is filled with a material different from an acoustic lens such as aluminum.

For example, as a material such as aluminum (that is, the metal body 225) is filled in the spaced apart space, ultrasonic waves do not pass through the spaced space in the lens module 222, and each subacoustic lens 224 Ultrasound is passed only through the region), and as shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasound converges at a point corresponding to the curvature of each subacoustic lens 224.

In addition, in another embodiment, when the lens module 222 includes a plurality of subacoustic lenses 224, each subacoustic lens has the same or different curvature according to the patient's condition, treatment area, use, etc. Is formed. For example, the lens module 222 is formed of a plurality of subacoustic lenses 224 coupled to the frame body and the frame body made of a metal body 223, the user can combine the desired subacoustic lens 224 combination to the frame body By combining to form a lens module is set the depth of focus individually.

By doing so, the lens module 222 having the plurality of dimples 223 may be coupled to the planar transducer 221 to simultaneously focus ultrasonic waves at a plurality of points. That is, the treatment unit 20 forms a plurality of ultrasound focusing points spaced at specific intervals on the treatment site.

In addition, the lens module 222 may be manufactured in a specific shape (that is, the number of dimples, the arrangement position of one or more dimples, the shape in which the focal point depth of each dimple is determined), and changed to have a focal point condition desired by the user. It may be made to be possible. When the focusing point condition of the lens module can be changed, as the shape of the lens module 222 coupled to the planar transducer 221 is changed, the treatment unit 20 adjusts the number of focusing points on the plane and the depth to be focused. Adjust That is, the number of focal points is adjusted by adjusting the number of dimples 223 included in the lens module 222, and the depth of the focal point is adjusted by adjusting the curvature of the dimples 223. The user may combine the appropriate lens module 222 according to the treatment situation to be applied to the patient to perform the appropriate treatment. For example, when the lens module 222 is composed of a plurality of subacoustic lenses, the user sets a desired focal point condition as the user changes the combination and arrangement of the subacoustic lenses 224 included in the lens module 222. do.

The housing of the cartridge includes a transducer 221 and a lens module 222, and has a form that can be coupled to the handpiece. In one embodiment, the housing is implemented in a form capable of attaching and detaching the lens module 222. For example, the cartridge housing includes a lens module 222 inserting hole for inserting and extracting a slide-type lens module 222 on one side, and inserting a lens module 222 that meets the conditions of use to provide one or more specific focusing points. Implement point placement.

The transducer 221 may be installed in the housing. In addition, the interior space of the housing may be an empty space and may be filled with acoustic liquid. The acoustic liquid may act as a medium for transmitting ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer 221 into the skin tissue of the subject, and may also serve to cool the heat generated by the transducer 221. The acoustic liquid is preferably degassed water.

When the acoustic liquid (eg, degassed water) is filled in the housing, the cartridge 220 may be formed to completely seal the inside and the outside of the cartridge 220 to prevent loss of the acoustic liquid in the cartridge 220. In addition, when the acoustic liquid is filled in the housing, the housing may be formed with an inlet hole and an outlet hole for the acoustic liquid to pass through. The inlet and outlet holes are connected to an acoustic liquid supply pump so that the acoustic liquid can flow between the interior space and the liquid supply. By circulating the liquid filled inside the housing, it is possible to lower the temperature of the part in contact with the skin (ie, provide a cooling effect).

In addition, the cartridge 220 may further include a sound wave transmission unit formed on one side of the housing (that is, the cartridge) to be in contact with the skin of the patient to deliver the ultrasound generated by the transducer 221 to the patient side. The sound wave transmission unit may be a transmission window such as a film that is coupled to the lower portion of the cartridge housing and sealed.

Referring to the principle of operation of the ultrasonic medical device (1) having an acoustic lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the cartridge 220 of the present invention in close contact with and fixed to a specific position of the skin tissue of the subject, such as a face The transducer 221 generates ultrasound to focus ultrasound on the focal point in the skin tissue. At this time, the lens module 222 suitable for treating the patient is combined to form a specific ultrasound focus point arrangement. Specifically, when the transducer 221 generating the ultrasonic wave has a planar shape, the transducer 221 outputs the ultrasonic wave in the direction of the treatment site. The lens module 222 having a specific number of dimples 223, the arrangement of the dimples 223, and the curvature of the dimples 223 is disposed in a direction in which the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer 221 are generated, and the ultrasonic waves move the lens module 222. As it passes, ultrasonic focusing is performed at a point corresponding to each dimple 223. Through this, a plurality of dimples 223 are provided in the lens module 222 to focus the ultrasonic waves provided by the transducer 221 at several points at the same time, and simultaneously perform the same ultrasonic focusing on the plurality of points. can do. In addition, the medical device 1 controls the focusing point temperature in the skin by adjusting the time and frequency of the ultrasound and the intensity of the ultrasound while the specific lens module 222 is coupled to the cartridge.

In the above, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may realize the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

1: Medical device
10: main body 20: treatment unit
110: main controller 120: memory
130: high frequency oscillator 140: input and output interface
150: display 160: imaging circuit
210: handpiece 212: handpiece controller
220: cartridge 221: transducer
222: lens module 223: dimple (223)
224: detailed acoustic lens 225: metal

Claims (5)

In a medical device using ultrasound,
A transducer for converting a vibration current into an ultrasonic wave; And
And a lens module disposed in a traveling direction of the ultrasonic wave generated by the transducer.
The lens module,
A plurality of dimples of a particular shape provided in a particular arrangement; And
And a plurality of subacoustic lenses for focusing the ultrasonic waves provided from the transducer.
The dimple causes the ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer to be focused to a specific point,
The lens module is characterized in that to focus the ultrasound provided from the transducer to a point corresponding to each dimple. The method of claim 1,
The lens module,
A plurality of metal bodies disposed between each subacoustic lens,
The plurality of metal bodies,
Medical device, characterized in that to block the passage of the ultrasonic wave in the spaced area between each subacoustic lens. The method of claim 1,
Each of the plurality of subacoustic lenses is formed to have the same or different curvature. The method of claim 1,
The lens module,
Medical device, characterized in that detachable. The method of claim 1,
The lens module,
Characterized in that the number of focusing point or focusing point depth condition is changed by the user,
The number of focal points is determined by the number of dimples included in the lens model,
The focus point depth condition is determined by the curvature of each dimple.

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