GB2569194A - Ultrasound applicator device - Google Patents
Ultrasound applicator device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2569194A GB2569194A GB1720625.1A GB201720625A GB2569194A GB 2569194 A GB2569194 A GB 2569194A GB 201720625 A GB201720625 A GB 201720625A GB 2569194 A GB2569194 A GB 2569194A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- ultrasound
- applicator device
- housing
- chamber
- fluid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N7/00—Ultrasound therapy
- A61N7/02—Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
- A61B17/22—Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for
- A61B17/225—Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
- A61B17/2251—Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient
- A61B2017/2253—Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves characterised by coupling elements between the apparatus, e.g. shock wave apparatus or locating means, and the patient, e.g. details of bags, pressure control of bag on patient using a coupling gel or liquid
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00005—Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
- A61B2018/00011—Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe with fluids
- A61B2018/00023—Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe with fluids closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N7/00—Ultrasound therapy
- A61N2007/0056—Beam shaping elements
- A61N2007/0065—Concave transducers
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Surgical Instruments (AREA)
- Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
Abstract
An ultrasound applicator device 5, comprises a housing 47 forming a chamber 33, in which is mounted an ultrasound transducer 12. Housing 47 has a fluid inlet port 24 and a fluid outlet port 25. Housing 47 includes a window 48 that comprises a material 35 that is permeable to ultrasound waves. Ultrasound transducer 12 is mounted in chamber 33 so there is a gap 34 between ultrasound transducer 12 and window 48. The chamber 33 is configured to receive an ultrasound conducting fluid that enters the chamber 33 via the fluid inlet port 24 and leaves the chamber 33 via the fluid outlet port 25, with the gap 34 between ultrasound transducer 12 and window 48 being filled with the fluid. Window 48 may comprise a flexible material that may be between the housing 47 and a cap 36 that’s attached to housing 47. Housing 47 and cap 36 may have respective apertures 32,37 that are aligned when housing 47 and cap 36 are attached, where the flexible material forms a barrier between the apertures 32,37. Uses include lipolysis, skin tightening and collagen creation by achieving thermal coagulation in the super muscular aponeurotic system layer or the panniculus carnosus.
Description
ULTRASOUND APPLICATOR DEVICE
The present invention relates to an ultrasound applicator device.
Ultrasound may be used on a patient for cosmetic and/or medical purposes. The ultrasound may be applied by an ultrasound applicator device which has an ultrasound transducer wherein the device is placed against the skin of the patient. The ultrasound transducer vibrates as it produces the ultrasound waves to treat the patient.
A problem with such an ultrasound applicator device is that if the device is placed on the patient’s head, the vibrations from the ultrasound transducer can cause the ear drums of the patient to vibrate. This makes the patient experience high pitched screaming which is uncomfortable.
Another problem is that the ultrasound transducer may overheat when in use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasound applicator device which alleviates at least one of the above-mentioned problems.
According to the present invention there is provided an ultrasound applicator device comprising: a housing forming a chamber wherein the housing has a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; at least one window in the housing, the window comprising material which is permeable to ultrasound waves; and an ultrasound transducer mounted in the chamber such that there is a gap between the ultrasound transducer and the at least one window, wherein the chamber is configured to receive a fluid for conducting ultrasound waves which enters the chamber via the fluid inlet port and leaves the chamber via the fluid outlet port with the gap between the ultrasound transducer and the at least one window being filled with said fluid.
The ultrasound applicator device is used for lipolysis, skin tightening and the creation of collagen in a treated area of the patient by achieving thermal coagulation in the super muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) layer or the panniculus carnosus.
When the gap between the ultrasound transducer and the at least one window is filled with the fluid for conducting ultrasound waves, which may be a liquid such as water, the vibrations of the ultrasound transducer are dissipated or dampened by the fluid. This prevents the patient from experiencing high pitched screaming when the ultrasound applicator device is used on the head.
When the fluid flows through the chamber via the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port, the flow of fluid cools the ultrasound transducer preventing it from overheating.
The ultrasound transducer may comprise a piezo disc transducer. The piezo disc transducer may comprise a concave-shaped disc or dish. The concave-shaped disc enables there to be a focused delivery of ultrasound to a required depth into a patient’s skin.
The ultrasound transducer may be attached to a mount that extends into the chamber.
The ultrasound transducer may be configured to emit ultrasound waves between 1 and 4 MHz. The ultrasound transducer may be configured to emit ultrasound waves at substantially 2 MHz.
The window may comprise a flexible material. The flexible material may be between the housing and a cap attached to the housing. The housing and the cap may both have at least one aperture aligned with each other when the cap is attached to the housing, the flexible material forming a barrier between the at least one housing aperture and the at least one cap aperture.
The fluid outlet port may comprise a tube that extends into the chamber. When the chamber is filled with liquid, such as water, the tube assists with the removal of any air trapped in the chamber.
At least the gap of the chamber may be filled with the fluid for conducting ultrasound waves which may be a liquid such as water. The chamber may be substantially filled with the fluid.
An ultrasound applicator system may be provided which includes the ultrasound applicator device as described above, and a pump for pumping fluid through the chamber of the ultrasound applicator device via the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a view of an ultrasound applicator system including an ultrasound applicator device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasound applicator device; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ultrasound applicator device.
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, an ultrasound applicator system 1 includes a reservoir 2 containing ionized water. The reservoir 2 is connected to a pump 3 via a reservoir pump conduit 4 and the pump 3 is connected to an ultrasound applicator device 5 via an ultrasound applicator device inlet conduit 6. The ultrasound applicator device inlet conduit 6 extends past a fan 7 and a radiator 8. An ultrasound applicator device outlet conduit 9 extends between the ultrasound applicator device 5 and the reservoir
2.
A control system or main control unit 10 is connected to the pump 3 and to the fan 7 and radiator 8. An interface 11, such as a touch screen, is connected to the control system 10. The control system 10 is also connected to a piezo disc ultrasound transducer 12 in the ultrasound applicator device 5. The control system 10 may be connected by wires or be wirelessly connected to the various items.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the ultrasound applicator device 5 comprises a main body 13 having a cylindrical main portion 14 with a central axis 15 and the cylindrical main body portion 14 has an outer annular flange 16. A cylindrical protrusion 17 of a smaller diameter than the main body portion 14 extends from a first side 18 of the main body portion 14 along the axis 15. A distal end of the cylindrical protrusion 17 has an enlarged head 19 to which a smaller diameter portion 20 of a cylindrical stepped casing 21 of the piezo disc transducer 12 is screwed into. An end of a larger diameter portion 22 of the cylindrical stepped casing 21 distal from the smaller diameter portion 20 has a concave-shaped disc or dish 23 of the ultrasound transducer 12 mounted to it.
The main body 13 also has an inlet aperture 24 and an outlet aperture 25 extending through the main body portion 14 wherein the apertures 24, 25 are parallel to the central axis 15. The outlet aperture 25 includes a tube 26 that extends from the first side 18 of the main body portion 14. The tube 26 is of a shorter length than the distance of the enlarged head 19 from the main body portion 14.
A cylindrical stepped shell 27 has a larger diameter portion 28 which is screwed onto the main body portion 14 so that it is adjacent to a first side of the outer flange 16. The shell 27 extends beyond the piezo disc ultrasound transducer 12 mounted at the end of the cylindrical protrusion 17. The larger diameter shell portion 28 is shaped to have an indent 29 to make the ultrasound applicator device 5 easy to hold. A smaller diameter portion 30 of the shell 27 extends from the larger diameter portion 28 and has a tapered end portion 31 which is distal from the main body portion 14. The tapered end shell portion 31 has a central opening 32 which is aligned with the concave-shaped disc 23 of the ultrasound transducer 12. The shell 27 forms a chamber 33 into which the ultrasound transducer 12 mounted at the end of the cylindrical protrusion 17 extends.
A thin flexible plastic sheet 35 which is permeable to ultrasound waves is glued onto the tapered end shell portion 31 and covers its central opening 32.
A cap 36 is screwed onto the smaller diameter shell portion 30 and the plastic sheet 35 is between the cap 36 and the tapered end shell portion 31. The cap 36 has a central opening 37 that is aligned with the tapered end shell portion central opening 32 and the two central openings 32, 37 have substantially the same diameter. The flexible plastic sheet 35 forms a barrier between the tapered end shell portion opening 32 and the cap opening 37. The chamber 33 includes a gap 34 between the concave-shaped transducer disc 23 and the plastic sheet 35 between the tapered end shell portion opening 32 and the cap opening 37.
A rear cover 38 is screwed onto the main body portion 14 so that it is adjacent to an opposite second side of the outer flange 16. The rear cover 38 has an end 39 which is distal from the main body portion 14 and contains openings 40, 41 through which the ultrasound applicator device inlet and outlet conduits 6, 9 extend, respectively. The inlet conduit 6 is connected by an inlet conduit connector 42 to the inlet aperture 24 on a second side 43 of the main body portion 14 opposite the first side 18 wherein the inlet aperture 24 forms a fluid inlet port. The outlet conduit 9 is connected by an outlet conduit connector 44 to the outlet aperture 25 on the second side 43 of the main body portion 14 wherein the outlet aperture 25 forms a fluid outlet port. The rear cover end 39 also has a cable connector 45 from which cabling 46 extends through the cylindrical body portion 14 and cylindrical protrusion 17 of the main body 13 to the ultrasound transducer 12, and the cable connector 45 is connected to the control system 10.
The main body 13 and the shell 27 may form a housing 47. The cap 36 may form part of the housing 47. The rear cover 38 may also form part of the housing 47. The tapered end shell portion central opening 32 and the plastic sheet 35 may form a window 48 in the housing 47. The cap central opening 37 may form part of the window 48 in the housing 47.
In use, the ultrasound applicator device 5 is placed against the part of the patient that is to be treated and is moved round in circles on the patient’s skin. Ionized water from the reservoir 2 is circulated by the pump 3 through the chamber 33 of the ultrasound applicator device 5 via the fluid inlet and outlet ports 24, 25 so that the water fills the chamber 33 including the gap 34 between the between the concave-shaped disc 23 of the ultrasound transducer 12 and the window 48. The pressure of the water in the chamber 33 pushes the flexible plastic sheet 35 in the cap opening 37 against the skin of the user.
The ultrasound transducer 12 emits ultrasound waves which are conducted through the water in the chamber 33. The fan 7 cools the water being delivered to the chamber 33 and the water flowing through the chamber 33 cools the ultrasound transducer 12. The concave-shape of the disc 23 of the ultrasound transducer 12 focuses the ultrasound waves to a specified depth into the skin of the patient. The ultrasound waves travel through the dermis and the subcutaneous layer to reach the target SMAS layer. The body responds to thermal effects of the ultrasound waves with a process of rejuvenation gradually over time which may be up to 3 months.
The interface 11 can used to vary the intensity and duration of a burst of ultrasound waves and the time between bursts of ultrasound waves. The interface 11 controls the power supplied to the piezo disc ultrasound transducer 12, the pump 3 and the fan 7.
In a specific example of a preferred embodiment, the ultrasound transducer 12 is configured to emit ultrasound waves at 2 MHz. The concaveshaped disc 23 of the ultrasound transducer 5 has a diameter of 19 to 20 mm. The thickness of the gap 34 between the edge of the disc 23 and the plastic sheet 35 of the window 48 may be between 5 and 7 mm. The thickness of the gap 34 between the centre of the disc 23 and the plastic sheet 35 of the window 48 may be about 10 mm. The plastic sheet 35 may be black. The plastic sheet 35 may be less than 0.5 mm thick. When the ultrasound applicator device 5 is placed the against the patient’s skin, the concave-shaped disc 23 of the ultrasound transducer 12 focuses the ultrasound waves to a depth of 4 to 6.5 mm into the skin creating a temperature there of about 65°C. The ultrasound applicator device 5 may be moved in a continual circular motion of about 1 cm in circumference on the patient’s skin.
Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The interface may include a foot switch for activating a burst of ultrasound waves.
Claims (14)
1. An ultrasound applicator device comprising:
a housing forming a chamber wherein the housing has a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port;
at least one window in the housing, the window comprising material which is permeable to ultrasound waves; and an ultrasound transducer mounted in the chamber such that there is a gap between the ultrasound transducer and the at least one window, wherein the chamber is configured to receive a fluid for conducting ultrasound waves which enters the chamber via the fluid inlet port and leaves the chamber via the fluid outlet port with the gap between the ultrasound transducer and the at least one window being filled with said fluid.
2. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer is attached to a mount that extends into the chamber.
3. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a piezo disc transducer.
4. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the piezo disc transducer comprises a concave-shaped disc.
5. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the window comprises a flexible material.
6. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flexible material is between the housing and a cap attached to the housing.
7.
The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing and the cap both have at least one aperture aligned with each other when the cap is attached to the housing, the flexible material forming a barrier between the at least one housing aperture and the at least one cap aperture.
8. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid outlet port comprises a tube that extends into the chamber.
9. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least the gap of the chamber is filled with the fluid for conducting ultrasound waves.
10. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fluid for conducting ultrasound waves is a liquid.
11. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ultrasound damping fluid comprises water.
12. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to emit ultrasound waves between 1 and 4 MHz.
13. The ultrasound applicator device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to emit ultrasound waves at substantially 2 MHz.
14. An ultrasound applicator system including the ultrasound applicator device as claimed in any preceding claim, and a pump for pumping fluid through the chamber of the ultrasound applicator device via the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1720625.1A GB2569194A (en) | 2017-12-11 | 2017-12-11 | Ultrasound applicator device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1720625.1A GB2569194A (en) | 2017-12-11 | 2017-12-11 | Ultrasound applicator device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201720625D0 GB201720625D0 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
| GB2569194A true GB2569194A (en) | 2019-06-12 |
Family
ID=61007018
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1720625.1A Withdrawn GB2569194A (en) | 2017-12-11 | 2017-12-11 | Ultrasound applicator device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2569194A (en) |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20030163067A1 (en) * | 2000-07-17 | 2003-08-28 | Lidgren Lars Ake Alvar | Device for mini-invasive ultrasound treatment of disc disease |
| CN101274124A (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-01 | 重庆融海超声医学工程研究中心有限公司 | Ultrasonic medical treating gun |
| US20100016764A1 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2010-01-21 | Francois Lacoste | Therapeutic Treatment Head, Therapeutic Treatment Appliance, Method of Sequencing Activation Stages for the Head, and Method of Indirectly Determining the Temperature of the Skin |
| KR101469791B1 (en) * | 2013-08-14 | 2014-12-17 | 이성근 | An ultrasonic handpiece |
| WO2015030268A1 (en) * | 2013-08-26 | 2015-03-05 | 알피니언메디칼시스템 주식회사 | High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment head |
| CN104667439A (en) * | 2013-11-27 | 2015-06-03 | 重庆融海超声医学工程研究中心有限公司 | Focusing ultrasonic treatment head and ultrasonic treatment equipment |
| KR101687569B1 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2016-12-19 | (주)대주메디테크엔지니어링 | High intensity focused ultrasound operating apparatus with a integral handpiece |
-
2017
- 2017-12-11 GB GB1720625.1A patent/GB2569194A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20030163067A1 (en) * | 2000-07-17 | 2003-08-28 | Lidgren Lars Ake Alvar | Device for mini-invasive ultrasound treatment of disc disease |
| US20100016764A1 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2010-01-21 | Francois Lacoste | Therapeutic Treatment Head, Therapeutic Treatment Appliance, Method of Sequencing Activation Stages for the Head, and Method of Indirectly Determining the Temperature of the Skin |
| CN101274124A (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-01 | 重庆融海超声医学工程研究中心有限公司 | Ultrasonic medical treating gun |
| KR101469791B1 (en) * | 2013-08-14 | 2014-12-17 | 이성근 | An ultrasonic handpiece |
| WO2015030268A1 (en) * | 2013-08-26 | 2015-03-05 | 알피니언메디칼시스템 주식회사 | High-intensity focused ultrasound treatment head |
| CN104667439A (en) * | 2013-11-27 | 2015-06-03 | 重庆融海超声医学工程研究中心有限公司 | Focusing ultrasonic treatment head and ultrasonic treatment equipment |
| KR101687569B1 (en) * | 2016-03-31 | 2016-12-19 | (주)대주메디테크엔지니어링 | High intensity focused ultrasound operating apparatus with a integral handpiece |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201720625D0 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |