Ultrasound wound treatment method and device using standing waves

Abstract

The method and device of the present invention for wound treatment with ultrasound standing waves includes a transducer probe to produce ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer has a tip with a distal radiation surface that radiates ultrasound energy toward the surface of a wound. Ultrasound standing waves occurring as a result of incident and reflected waves from the wound surface create ultrasonic radiation pressure. Ultrasound radiation pressure increases the blood flow in wound area, and ultrasound waves kill bacteria, stimulate healthy tissue cell and treat wounds.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the treatment of wounds using ultrasound standing waves. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and device of creating ultrasonic standing waves in air and directing them to a wound for delivering aerodynamic forces as ultrasonic radiation pressure and ultrasonic waves as well. Ultrasound radiation pressure increases the blood flow in the wound area, and ultrasound waves kill bacteria, stimulate healthy tissue cells, and treat the wound. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Ultrasonic waves have been widely used in medical applications, including diagnostics and therapy as well as many industrial applications, e.g., welding, cutting, fiber optics technology, speed meters, etc. Diagnostic use of ultrasound waves includes using ultrasonic waves to detect underlying structures in an object or human tissue. In this method, an ultrasonic transducer is placed in contact with the tissue or object via a coupling medi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention is a method and device for using ultrasonic standing waves to treat wounds. Ultrasound standing waves occur as a result of incident and reflected waves from a reflective surface that are traveling in opposite directions. The resultant superposition of the two waves forms standing waves, which create ultrasonic radiation pressure. The standing waves, actually ultrasound radiation pressure, occur when the distance between (a) the distal end of a transducer (as a radiant of ultrasound waves) and (b) the reflected surface (e.g., a wound surface) is: n X λ / 2, where λ is the wave length and n is a positive integer. The standing waves are more effective in limited space or area as a tube.

[0015] According to the method of the present invention, the radiation pressure of ultrasonic standing waves increase blood flow in wound area and destroy the surface bacteria to result in a higher disinfecting property of ultrasound. Additionally, the ultrasound also stimulates healthy cell growth to aid in granulization and epithelization of the healing tissue. Other applications of the method can be directed to non-medical uses such as cleansing, drying, sterilizing and coating surfaces of objects and food.

[0016] The method of the present invention offers an approach that may re-establish use of some traditional ultrasound and establish a method of treating wound and fighting bacteria without antibiotics when necessary.

Problems solved by technology

The ultrasound contact physiotherapy procedure may cause a patient significant discomfort and / or pain, and skin may appear raw and damaged.

This technique can produce a very fine dense fog or mist.

An air stream is then required to direct the aerosol to the target, but this decreases the efficiency of ultrasound.

Images