KR20210142462A - Apparatus for generating ultrasound - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic generator comprising: a support; an ultrasonic transducer module fastened to the support and configured to generate ultrasonic waves; a camera capturing an image in the irradiation direction of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer module; and a lighting unit generating light for illuminating an image capturing area of the camera. The ultrasonic transducer module includes a housing and an ultrasonic transducer installed in the housing, wherein the housing is configured to enable the light generated by the lighting unit to pass therethrough.

Description

Ultrasound generating device {Apparatus for generating ultrasound}

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic wave generating device for generating ultrasonic waves.

When performing an ultrasound procedure using an ultrasound generating device, the operator may see the ultrasound irradiation site visually or use a separately installed small camera to visually check the ultrasound irradiation site. In particular, recently, ultrasound devices that can be inserted into body cavities such as the nasal cavity and the oral cavity have been developed. In particular, in the body cavity insertion type ultrasound apparatus, since the ultrasound generating device is inserted into the body cavity and used, it is more difficult for the operator to visually confirm the ultrasound irradiation site. To this end, a technique for installing a small camera in the part inserted into the body cavity was introduced so that the operator can visually check the ultrasound irradiation site.

In addition, a lighting device is installed to allow images to be taken in a body cavity where visual confirmation is difficult or there is little light. In general, an ultrasonic wave generating device includes an ultrasonic piezoelectric element installed in an ultrasonic wave transmission space in a housing, an ultrasonic wave transmission medium for propagation of ultrasonic waves is filled in the ultrasonic wave transmission space, and an ultrasonic transmission film for sealing the ultrasonic wave transmission medium is installed in the housing. . The ultrasonic wave induced by the ultrasonic piezoelectric element propagates through the ultrasonic transmission medium and then passes through the ultrasonic transmission film and is irradiated to the outside. The camera and the lighting device may be installed together in the housing or on the ultrasonic piezoelectric element, and in this case, there is a problem in that light generated by the lighting device is reflected by the ultrasonic transmission film sealing the ultrasonic transmission medium and is reflected on the camera. In addition, in order to fix the lighting device to the housing, the size of the ultrasound device needs to be increased. However, if the ultrasound device is inserted into a body cavity, there is a problem in that there is a limitation in size expansion. If the external size of the ultrasound device is increased, problems occur due to the foreign body sensation felt by the patient when inserting the body cavity and the anatomical structure of the body cavity to be inserted. You can consider how to free up space to install the device. However, the reduction in the size of the ultrasonic piezoelectric element has a problem of causing a shortage of ultrasonic energy.

US Patent Application Publication US2009/0264759 (2009.10.22.) Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2039594 (2019.10.28.)

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the light generated by the lighting device from being reflected by the ultrasonic transmissive film and shining on the camera when a camera and a lighting device for visualizing an ultrasonic irradiation site are installed together inside the ultrasonic transducer module It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic wave generating device capable of securing a space for installing a lighting device without increasing the overall size.

An ultrasonic wave generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support, an ultrasonic transducer module fastened to the support and configured to generate ultrasonic waves, a camera for capturing an image in the irradiation direction of ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer module, and and an illumination unit that generates light for illuminating a photographing area of the camera. The ultrasonic transducer module includes a housing and an ultrasonic transducer installed in the housing, wherein the housing is configured to allow light generated by the lighting unit to pass therethrough.

The housing may include one or more through-holes, and the lighting unit may include one or more light propagating members respectively installed in the through-holes of the housing.

The light propagating member may be installed such that a tip end thereof is exposed to the outside of the housing to illuminate the ultrasonic irradiation direction.

The light propagating member may be an optical fiber.

The housing may be formed of a light-transmitting material, and the lighting unit may be configured to introduce light for illuminating the photographing area into the housing.

The lighting unit may include a light source and a light propagating member optically connecting the light source to the housing so that the light of the light source is transmitted to the housing.

According to another embodiment, the lighting unit may include a light source installed to be in contact with the housing to transmit the generated light to the housing.

The housing may have a hollow shape penetrating in the longitudinal direction, and a reflective layer for reflecting the light introduced by the light source may be provided on at least one of an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface of the housing.

The reflective layer may be coated with a light reflective material or formed by a separate light reflective structure.

According to the ultrasound generating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, the support and the ultrasound transducer module may be formed to be at least partially inserted into a body cavity.

The ultrasound generating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a camera that captures an image in the irradiation direction of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transducer module.

The ultrasonic transducer may have a through hole formed by removing a central portion, and the camera may be installed in the through hole.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent light generated by the lighting device from being reflected by the ultrasonic transmissive film and shining on the camera, and it is possible to secure a space for installing the lighting device without increasing the overall size.

1 is a perspective view of a body cavity insertion type ultrasound apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 .
3 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasound transducer module of a body cavity insertion type ultrasound apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasound transducer module of a body cavity insertion type ultrasound apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An ultrasonic wave generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention generates ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic wave generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to irradiate ultrasonic waves to the external surface of the human body, and to irradiate ultrasonic waves while being inserted into body cavities such as the nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, vagina, and abdominal cavity. may be configured. For example, ultrasound may be irradiated in the form of focused ultrasound, and ultrasound may be used for various therapeutic or surgical purposes, such as causing thermal lesions in tissues. The drawings illustrate a case in which the ultrasound generating apparatus is configured to be inserted into a body cavity, and hereinafter, such a body cavity insertion type ultrasound generating apparatus will be described as an example.

1 and 2, the handpiece 10 may be formed so that the user can hold it by hand. The support 20 may be formed to be inserted into the body cavity, and may be formed to extend forward from the handpiece 10 . The support 20 may be formed to have a long rod shape, and may be formed to be bent through a curved shape or a joint structure, if necessary. The support 20 may be formed of a hollow member such that the power line supplied from the handpiece 10 to the ultrasonic transducer module 30 and the hose for supply and drainage of the ultrasonic transmission medium pass through, and is formed as a separate member to form the handpiece 10 ) or may be formed integrally with the handpiece 10 .

The ultrasonic transducer module 30 induces ultrasonic vibrations by application of pulse power to thereby generate focused ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer module 30 is fastened to the support 20 , for example, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ultrasonic transducer module 30 may be fastened to the front end of the support 20 . . The ultrasonic transducer module 30 may include a housing 31 and an ultrasonic transducer 33 fixed to the housing 31 . The housing 31 of the ultrasonic transducer module 30 is formed to be inserted into a body cavity. The support 20 and the housing 31 may have a rod shape having a substantially circular cross-section.

The ultrasonic transducer 33 may be an ultrasonic piezoelectric element that vibrates ultrasonically by application of pulse power. Although not shown in the drawings, a power line for applying pulse power may be electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer 33 . The ultrasonic transducer 33 is mounted on the housing 31 and is configured to generate focused ultrasonic waves by application of pulse power. For example, the ultrasonic transducer 33 may have a surface shape such as a cylindrical surface, a spherical surface, a spherical surface from which left and right parts are removed, a center hole type spherical surface, etc. so that the generated ultrasonic waves can be focused in the form of a point or a line. The front space of the ultrasonic transducer 33 may be filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium such as water, and the handpiece 10 may include a hose for supplying or removing the ultrasonic transmission medium filled in the front space of the ultrasonic transducer 33 . can A hose for supply and drainage of the ultrasonic transmission medium may be connected to the ultrasonic transducer module 30 by passing through the support 20 through the inside or the outside of the handpiece 10 from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the ultrasound transducer 33 may be arranged to irradiate the focused ultrasound in the longitudinal direction of the support 20 , and the focal point of the focused ultrasound is a predetermined distance forward from the ultrasound transducer module 30 . It may be formed at spaced apart points. The ultrasound transducer 33 may have a concave curved shape, and the ultrasound transmission space in front of the ultrasound transducer 33 may be filled with an ultrasound transmission medium. An ultrasonic transmission window 37 for transmission of ultrasonic waves is formed on the front surface of the housing 31 , and the ultrasonic transmission window 37 for transmission of ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic transmission window 37 and sealing of the ultrasonic transmission medium is ultrasonic transmission It may be sealed with a film 39 . The ultrasonic transmission film 39 may be formed of a synthetic resin material capable of ultrasonic transmission, and may be formed of a transparent material so that an image can be captured by the camera 40 to be described later. Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic transmission window may be configured to be sealed to the ultrasonic transducer module 30 and the cover member covered on the support 20 .

The camera 40 captures an image in the irradiation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic transducer module 30 . The ultrasonic transducer 33 has a through-hole 331 formed by removing the central portion, and the camera 40 may be installed in the through-hole 331 so as to capture an image in the direction in which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated.

The lighting unit 50 generates light for illuminating a photographing area of the camera 40 . The lighting unit 50 may be any device capable of generating light for lighting, such as any lamp, LED lamp, or the like. According to the present invention, a structure in which the lighting unit 40 can be installed without increasing the diameter of the ultrasonic transducer module 30 and preventing light reflection by the ultrasonic transmissive film 39 by the light for illumination. is adopted To this end, according to the present invention, the housing 31 is configured to allow light generated by the lighting unit 50 to pass therethrough, and the light passing through the housing 31 is configured to illuminate the photographing area.

The lighting unit 50 may include a light source 51 and a light propagation member 52 . The light propagating member 52 may be an optical fiber. Referring to FIG. 2 , the housing 31 has one or more through-holes 332 , and one or more optical fibers 52 may be installed to pass through the through-holes 32 . At this time, the light source 51 may be any light source capable of generating light, such as an LED, and the light source 51 is in contact with the optical fiber 52 so that light can be incident on the rear end of the optical fiber 52 . can be placed. As shown in FIG. 2 , the through-hole 32 may be disposed to extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the housing 31 so as to pass through the outside of the ultrasonic transducer 33 , and the plurality of through-holes 32 have a circumference It may be arranged at equal intervals along the direction. The optical fiber 52 may be formed to have a substantially straight shape, and may be installed such that a tip end thereof is exposed to the outside from the front surface of the housing 31 . The light generated from the light source 51 may be irradiated to the front of the housing 31, that is, in the ultrasonic irradiation direction, through the optical fiber 52, whereby the imaging area of the camera 40, that is, the tissue of the body cavity through which the ultrasonic waves pass. Illumination of the surface area becomes possible. Through this structure, since the light source 51 generating light for illumination is disposed at the rear of the housing 31 , the radius of the housing 31 may not increase for the installation of the light source.

3 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasound transducer module of an ultrasound generating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 . The same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the above-described embodiment, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

The housing 31 is formed of a light-transmitting material, and the lighting unit 60 is configured to introduce light for illuminating the photographing area into the housing 31 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the lighting unit 60 may include a light source 61 and an optical fiber 62 receiving light therefrom, and the front end of the optical fiber 62 is the rear surface of the housing 31 . can be adhered to. In this case, the housing 31 may have a hollow shape with penetration in the longitudinal direction, and a light reflective layer 315 that reflects light may be provided on at least one of an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface of the housing 31 . For example, the light reflective layer 315 may be implemented by applying a light reflective structure such as a silver film that reflects light or a light reflective material. As light is reflected by the light reflective layer 315 , the light is concentrated toward the front of the housing 31 so that the photographing area may be illuminated more brightly.

4 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasound transducer module of an ultrasound generating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 . The same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the above-described embodiment, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 except for the lighting unit, that is, a light source 71 that generates light for illumination is disposed at the rear of the housing 31 so that the housing 31 is configured to incident light into

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is easily changed by a person skilled in the art from the embodiment of the present invention and recognized as equivalent. including all changes and modifications to the scope of

10: handpiece
20: support
30: ultrasonic transducer module
31: housing
33: ultrasonic transducer
37: ultrasonic transmission window
39: ultrasonic transmission film
40: camera
50, 60: lighting unit
51, 61, 71: light source
52, 62: light propagation member

Claims (12)

support fixture,
An ultrasonic transducer module coupled to the support and configured to generate ultrasonic waves, and
Illumination unit configured to illuminate the irradiation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic transducer module
including,
The ultrasonic transducer module includes a housing and an ultrasonic transducer installed in the housing,
The housing is configured to allow light generated by the lighting unit to pass therethrough.
Ultrasonic generator. In claim 1,
The housing has one or more through-holes,
The lighting unit includes one or more light propagating members respectively installed in the through holes of the housing. In claim 2,
The light propagating member is installed so that a tip of the light propagating member is exposed to the outside of the housing to illuminate the irradiation direction of the ultrasonic wave. In claim 3,
The light propagating member is an optical fiber. In claim 1,
The housing is formed of a light-transmitting material,
The lighting unit is configured to introduce light for illuminating the photographing area into the housing.
Ultrasonic generator. In claim 5,
The illumination unit includes a light source and a light propagating member optically connecting the light source and the housing so that the light of the light source is transmitted to the housing. In claim 5,
The lighting unit includes a light source installed at the rear of the housing to transmit the generated light to the housing. In claim 5,
The housing has a hollow shape penetrating in the longitudinal direction,
A reflective layer for reflecting the light introduced by the light source is provided on at least one of the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the housing
Ultrasonic generator. In claim 8,
The reflective layer is applied with a light reflective material or is formed by a separate light reflective structure. In claim 1,
The support and the ultrasound transducer module are formed to be at least partially inserted into a body cavity. 11. In claim 1 or 10,
The ultrasound generating apparatus further comprising a camera that captures an image in the irradiation direction of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound transducer module. In claim 11,
The ultrasonic transducer has a through hole formed by removing the central portion,
The camera is installed in the through hole
Ultrasonic generator.

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