Medical device comprising a cooling system and method of operation thereof

Abstract

Provided is a medical instrument including a cooling system and a method for operating the same. The medical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a cooling tank holder for mounting a cooling tank, a refrigerant chamber for accommodating a refrigerant, a refrigerant delivery portion for delivering the refrigerant to a handpiece, one or more sensors for measuring a pressure or a refrigerant level of the refrigerant chamber, and a control portion for outputting a gas discharge alarm or starting a discharge operation of a gas discharge portion based on the measured values. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the effect of relieving pain accompanying treatment and preventing a burn on a treatment site by delivering a refrigerant to the treatment site during skin treatment can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a medical device including a cooling system, and more particularly to a medical device and its working method that can cool the treatment site or medical device when using energy such as high frequency, ultrasound and laser for medical treatment. Background Technology

[0002] Medical devices that utilize energy such as high frequency, ultrasound, and laser to perform skin treatments have been developed.

[0003] For example, laser devices that use erbium lasers or long-pulse lasers for treatments such as skin tightening and freckle removal, high-frequency devices that use high-frequency current to induce collagen regeneration and skin restructuring in the dermis, and ultrasound devices that use ultrasound to improve skin elasticity and achieve skin lifting effects are all representative medical devices for skin treatment.

[0004] However, energy-powered medical devices may cause problems such as pain during treatment or burns due to heat generated at the treatment site. Cooling the treatment area may be an effective solution to these problems. By cooling the treatment area to a low temperature, effects such as significantly relieving pain by desensitizing the skin and preventing burns by reducing heat at the treatment site can be achieved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a medical device including a cooling system and a method thereof, which can relieve pain during skin treatment and prevent burns to the treatment site by delivering a coolant to the treatment site.

[0006] Another technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a medical device including a cooling system and a method thereof that can solve the problem of refrigerant supply failure due to excessive gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber.

[0007] Another technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a medical device including a cooling system and a method thereof that automatically detects and prompts for replacement of the cooling tank when no cooling tank is installed or when the remaining amount in the cooling tank is insufficient.

[0008] The technical subject matter of this invention is not limited to the technical subject matter mentioned above. Those skilled in the art will be able to further understand other technical subject matter not mentioned through the following description.

[0009] To address the aforementioned issues, a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: a cooling tank support for mounting a cooling tank; a refrigerant chamber for containing refrigerant flowing from the cooling tank; a refrigerant delivery unit for delivering the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant chamber to a machine head; one or more sensors for measuring the pressure or refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber; and a control unit for outputting a gas discharge alarm or initiating a gas discharge operation of the gas discharge unit based on the measured values ​​of the pressure or refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber.

[0010] To address the aforementioned issues, a method for operating a medical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a step of confirming a first pressure value of a cooling tank; a step of confirming a refrigerant level value of a refrigerant chamber when the first pressure value reaches or exceeds a first reference value and a second reference value; a step of confirming a second pressure value of the refrigerant chamber when the refrigerant level value is lower than a third reference value; and a step of outputting a gas discharge alarm or initiating a gas discharge operation of a gas discharge unit when the refrigerant level value is lower than the third reference value and the second pressure value is higher than a fourth reference value.

[0011] Through the embodiments of the present invention described above, the effects of relieving pain during skin treatment and preventing burns to the treatment area can be achieved by delivering a coolant to the treatment site during skin treatment.

[0012] Furthermore, the cooling system can be made simpler by being embedded in the medical device, and there is no need to equip the medical device with an additional cooling system.

[0013] In addition, the problem of refrigerant supply failure due to excessive gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber can be solved by providing a component that can effectively detect and expel excessive gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber.

[0014] In addition, the system can automatically detect when a cooling tank is not installed or when the coolant level is low, prompting users to replace the coolant.

[0015] In addition, the pressure drop in the cooling tank can be compensated by the cooling tank heater, and the problem of cooling tank explosion due to overheating can be prevented by adjusting the heating time and interval.

[0016] In addition, a high-pressure protector that can operate independently of the gas discharge section can force the gas in the refrigerant chamber to be discharged in the event of a sharp increase in gas pressure, thereby preventing problems such as refrigerant chamber damage caused by excessive gas pressure.

[0017] The effects of this invention are not limited to those mentioned above. Those skilled in the art will be able to further understand other technical effects not mentioned through the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a medical device including a cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components of a cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 It is used for Figure 2 The diagram below provides a further explanation of the detailed configuration of the refrigerant chamber 150 and the liquid level sensor 170.

[0021] Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram used to explain in detail the problem of pressure rise in the refrigerant chamber 150 and the method of gas discharge at this time.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a sequence diagram illustrating a method of operating a cooling tank for managing a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an operating method for managing refrigerant chamber pressure in a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 It is against the general Figure 7 A more specific embodiment of step S270 is illustrated in the sequence diagram.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall operating method related to the cooling function of a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary computing device for implementing a method of operating a medical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0028] 1000: Medical Devices

[0029] 10: Main Body

[0030] 11: Energy Generation Department

[0031] 12: Control Department

[0032] 20: Nose

[0033] 30: Tip

[0034] 100: Cooling System

[0035] 110: Cooling tank support

[0036] 120: Heater

[0037] 130: First pressure sensor

[0038] 140: First flow path

[0039] 141: First valve

[0040] 150: Refrigerant chamber

[0041] 151: Water hammer preventer

[0042] 160: Second pressure sensor

[0043] 170: Liquid level sensor

[0044] 180: Second Flow Path

[0045] 181: Refrigerant Transfer Section

[0046] 190: Third Flow Path

[0047] 191: High-voltage protector

[0048] 192: Gas Exhaust Section

[0049] 500: Computing device Detailed Implementation

[0050] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods by which they are achieved, will become even clearer through the subsequent detailed descriptions of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but can be implemented in many different forms. The following embodiments are merely to more completely disclose the technical concept of the present invention and to more completely introduce the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. The technical concept of the present invention should only be defined within the scope of the claims.

[0051] It should be noted that, in assigning reference numbers to the constituent elements of the various figures, the same numbers were assigned as much as possible, even when they are shown in different figures. Furthermore, in describing the invention, detailed descriptions of related constituent elements or functions are omitted when it is determined that such detailed descriptions may obscure the essence of the invention.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Furthermore, unless explicitly defined otherwise, terms that are commonly used and defined in dictionaries should not be given overly idealized or exaggerated interpretations. The terminology used in this specification is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. Singular statements in this specification also have plural meanings unless explicitly stated in the context.

[0053] Furthermore, in describing the constituent elements of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the corresponding constituent elements from other constituent elements, and the nature, order, or sequence of the corresponding constituent elements are not limited by the terms used. When a constituent element is described as being "connected," "combined," or "linked" to other constituent elements, the constituent element may be directly connected or linked to the other constituent elements, but it should be understood that there may also be other constituent elements "connected," "combined," or "linked" between the constituent elements.

[0054] Next, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a medical device including a cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 (a) represents the front face of medical device 1000, while Figure 1 (b) indicates the back side of medical device 1000.

[0056] See Figure 1 A medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a body 10, a head 20, and a tip 30.

[0057] The main body 10 generates energy for skin treatment, transmits the generated energy to the head unit 20, and provides a user interface for overall control of the medical device 100. For this purpose, the main body 10 may be equipped with an energy generation unit 11, a control unit 12, and a display screen 13.

[0058] The energy generating unit 11 can generate different types of energy depending on the type of medical device 1000. For example, if the medical device 1000 is a high-frequency device, the energy generating unit 11 can generate electrical energy. Or, if the medical device 1000 is a laser device, the energy generating unit 11 can generate laser light.

[0059] The control unit 12 controls the overall operation of the constituent elements 11, 13, and 100 of the main body 10. For example, the control unit 12 can start or stop the energy generation operation of the energy generation unit 11, the user interface display operation of the display screen 13, and / or the cooling operation of the cooling system 100.

[0060] The display screen 13 is a component for displaying the user interface and can be an electronic display component such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED), or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

[0061] Furthermore, the main body 10 can supply refrigerant to cool the treatment area during skin treatment, and to cool the head 20 and tip 30 in case they overheat during treatment. For this purpose, the main body 10 can also be equipped with a cooling system 100.

[0062] The specific structure and operation of the cooling system 100 will be described in the following sections. Figure 2 A detailed explanation will be provided.

[0063] The head unit 20 is configured to receive the energy generated by the energy generating unit 11 and transmit it to the tip 30. The head unit 30 is configured to output the energy transmitted from the head unit 20 to the skin.

[0064] The types of the head 20 and tip 30 can be varied depending on the type of medical device 1000. For example, if the medical device 1000 is an ultrasonic medical device, the head 20 and tip 30 are ultrasonic output heads and tips. In this case, the tip 30 may be equipped with a transducer for converting the transmitted energy into ultrasonic waves. As another example, if the medical device 1000 is a high-frequency medical device, the head 20 and tip 30 are high-frequency output heads and tips. In this case, the tip 30 may be equipped with one or more electrodes for irradiating high frequencies onto the skin.

[0065] As an example, such as Figure 1As shown, two or more heads 20 and tips 30 can be equipped. In this case, each head 20a, 20b and tip 30a, 30b can be a different type of head and tip. For example, the first head 20a and the first tip 30a can be ultrasonic output heads and tips, while the second head 20b and the second tip 30b can be high-frequency output heads and tips. As another example, the first head 20a and the first tip 30a can be invasive heads and tips that transmit high frequencies in an invasive manner, while the second head 20b and the second tip 30b can be non-invasive heads and tips that transmit high frequencies non-invasively.

[0066] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the main components of a cooling system according to one embodiment of the present invention. (See attached diagram.) Figure 2 The cooling system 100 may include a cooling tank support 110, a heater 120, a refrigerant chamber 150, a water hammer preventer 151, a refrigerant transfer section 181, a high-pressure protector 191, a gas exhaust section 192, and / or one or more sensors 130, 160, and 170. Furthermore, the cooling system 100 may also include a first valve 141, a first flow path 140, a second flow path 180, and / or a third flow path 190 for the movement of the refrigerant.

[0067] A bracket for mounting the cooling tank 110 is provided. The cooling tank 1 contains refrigerant in a fluid state inside a metal casing and supplies refrigerant for the operation of the cooling system 100.

[0068] like Figure 2 As shown, the cooling tank support 110 may be cylindrical in shape to stably house the cooling tank 1, but is not limited to this. For example, the cooling tank support 110 may be in various shapes such as disk, pipe, or clamp.

[0069] The heater 120 is configured to heat the cooling tank 1 mounted on the cooling tank support 110. For example, if the pressure inside the cooling tank 1 is too low, the heater 120 can increase the pressure inside the cooling tank 1 by heating it. This facilitates easier transfer of refrigerant to the refrigerant chamber 150.

[0070] For example, if the pressure inside the refrigerant tank 1 is lower than the pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150, the refrigerant in the cooling tank 1 will have difficulty being transferred to the refrigerant chamber 150 due to the fluid characteristics of flowing from a higher pressure position to a lower pressure position. In this case, by heating the cooling tank 1 using the heater 120, the pressure in the cooling tank 1 can be increased to above the pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150, thereby making the transfer of refrigerant easier.

[0071] As one embodiment, the heater 120 may have an annular or curved shape surrounding at least a portion of the cooling tank 1 or the cooling tank support 110.

[0072] The first pressure sensor 130 is a sensor that measures the pressure of the cooling tank 1. The pressure value of the cooling tank 1 measured by the first pressure sensor 130 (hereinafter referred to as the "first pressure value") can be used to determine whether the cooling tank 1 is present or absent. For example, if the first pressure value measured by the first pressure sensor 130 is lower than a first reference value (or a no-canister (NoCAN) reference value), the control unit 12 can determine that the cooling tank 1 is not installed in the cooling tank bracket 110, or that the cooling tank 1 is installed but the refrigerant is depleted. In the above-described case, the control unit 12 can output an alarm to prompt the installation or replacement of the cooling tank 1. The alarm may be an alarm indicating that the cooling tank is not installed in the cooling tank bracket.

[0073] As one embodiment, the control unit 12 may display the alarm on the display screen 13 or output the alarm by voice broadcast through a speaker equipped on the main body 10.

[0074] Furthermore, the first pressure value can be used to control the operation of the heater 120. For example, the first pressure value measured by the first pressure sensor 130 will be transmitted to the control unit 12, which can increase the pressure of the cooling tank 1 by operating the heater 120 if the first pressure value is lower than the heating reference value (hereinafter referred to as the "second reference value"). In this way, the refrigerant transfer from the cooling tank 1 to the refrigerant chamber 150 can be completed more smoothly.

[0075] As one embodiment, the control unit 12 can monitor the pressure (e.g., a first pressure value) or temperature of the cooling tank 1 and operate the heater 120 until the pressure of the cooling tank 1 reaches a predetermined pressure value or the temperature of the cooling tank 1 reaches a predetermined temperature value.

[0076] As one embodiment, when operating the heater 120, the control unit 12 can control the operation of the heater 120 in such a way that the operating range of the heater 120 includes two or more heating ranges and one or more stopping ranges. This will help to heat the cooling tank 1 more safely.

[0077] For example, if the heater 120 is used continuously to heat the tank until a specific pressure or temperature is reached, the cooling tank 1 may be heated too quickly, which could lead to a risk of explosion. To mitigate this risk, the control unit 12 can repeat heating intervals (i.e., the intervals during which the heater is heating) according to a predetermined cycle while the heater 120 is running, and configure stop intervals (i.e., the intervals during which the heater is not heating) between the heating intervals. This helps to gradually heat the cooling tank 1, thereby helping to minimize the risk of explosion.

[0078] Furthermore, after the cooling tank 1 is installed onto the cooling tank bracket 110, the first valve 141 will be opened, thereby allowing the refrigerant in the cooling tank 1 to be transferred to the refrigerant chamber 150 through the first flow path 140.

[0079] As an example, the opening and closing of the first valve 141 can be electronically controlled by the control unit 12. In this case, the first valve 1 can be a solenoid valve.

[0080] The refrigerant chamber 150 contains and stores the refrigerant flowing in from the cooling tank 1. The refrigerant stored in the refrigerant chamber 150 can be transferred to the head unit 20 through the second flow path 180 and the refrigerant transfer section 181. The refrigerant transferred to the head unit 20 can be sprayed onto the treatment area or used to cool the components of the head unit 20 or the tip 30.

[0081] As one embodiment, the refrigerant delivery unit 181 may include a second valve (not shown), and the control unit 12 may allow or block the delivery of refrigerant to the compressor head 20 by controlling the second valve.

[0082] In addition, one or more sensors 160 and 170 can be equipped to measure the pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150 and the liquid level of the refrigerant.

[0083] The second pressure sensor 160 measures the pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150. At this time, the pressure value measured by the second pressure sensor 160 (hereinafter referred to as the "second pressure value") can represent the gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150.

[0084] For example, when the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 150 is stored in a gaseous state, the second pressure value can directly represent the pressure of the gaseous refrigerant. As another example, when the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 150 is stored in a liquid state, the second pressure value can represent the gas pressure of the portion not filled with refrigerant.

[0085] The level sensor 170 measures the level of the refrigerant stored in the refrigerant chamber 150. Therefore, the level sensor 170 can be configured to function effectively when the refrigerant is stored in a liquid state.

[0086] The second pressure value measured by the second pressure sensor 160 and / or the refrigerant level value measured by the level sensor 170 can be used to control the gas discharge from the refrigerant chamber 150. For example, a high gas pressure within the refrigerant chamber 150 may cause difficulty in refrigerant flow from the refrigerant pipe 1, and in cases of excessively high gas pressure, there is a risk of explosion in the refrigerant chamber 150. In such situations, it is necessary to reduce the gas pressure within the refrigerant chamber 150 by discharging the gas to the outside, and the second pressure value and / or the refrigerant level value can be used to control this. Further details will be provided later. Figure 4 A more detailed explanation will follow.

[0087] The water hammer preventer 151 is a device used to mitigate water hammer caused by refrigerant flow. The water hammer preventer 151 can be attached to one side of the refrigerant chamber 150.

[0088] As one embodiment, the water hammer preventer 151 is internally equipped with a spring, thereby absorbing the impact applied to the refrigerant chamber 150 due to the flow of refrigerant through the elastic energy of the spring.

[0089] The gas discharge section 192 is configured to discharge the gas in the refrigerant chamber 150 to the outside of the equipment. The gas discharge section 192 may include a third valve (not shown).

[0090] As one embodiment, the third valve can be a solenoid valve. The opening and closing of the third valve can be electronically controlled by the control unit 12. When the third valve is opened by the control unit 12, the gas in the refrigerant chamber 150 is transferred to the gas discharge unit 192 via the third flow path 190 and discharged to the outside of the equipment through the open third valve. Conversely, when the third valve is closed by the control unit 12, the discharge of gas from the refrigerant chamber 150 is also blocked.

[0091] The high-pressure protector 191 is designed to prevent an explosion due to excessively high gas pressure within the refrigerant chamber 150. When the gas pressure within the refrigerant chamber 150 rises above a certain level, the high-pressure protector 191 is destroyed, and the gas within the refrigerant chamber 150 is released through the destroyed portion. For example, the high-pressure protector 191 can function as a fuse that limits the upper limit of gas pressure within the refrigerant chamber 150.

[0092] The high-pressure protector 191 is equipped for safety reasons, and is therefore configured to force the gas in the refrigerant chamber 150 to be discharged even when the gas discharge section 192 has not started its discharge operation. For this purpose, the high-pressure protector 191 can be installed in the path of the third flow path 190.

[0093] According to the reference Figure 2 The embodiment of the present invention described herein provides a cooling system that transfers refrigerant from a cooling tank 1 to a treatment head 20. The refrigerant supplied to the treatment head 20 is then delivered to the treatment site, thereby relieving pain in the patient and preventing burns to the treatment site.

[0094] In addition, the problem of refrigerant supply failure due to excessive gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150 can be solved by providing a component that discharges the gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150 to the outside when it becomes too high.

[0095] Furthermore, the system can automatically detect when the coolant tank 1 is not installed or when the coolant tank 1 has insufficient capacity, and prompt users to replace the coolant tank 1, thus allowing users to easily manage the coolant tank.

[0096] In addition, the pressure drop in the cooling tank 1 can be compensated by the heater 120, and the problem of the cooling tank 1 exploding due to overheating can be prevented by adjusting the heating time and interval.

[0097] In addition, the gas discharge section 192 can be forcibly discharged by an independently operating high-pressure protector 192 in case of excessive gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150, thereby preventing problems such as explosion of the refrigerant chamber 150 due to gas pressure.

[0098] Figure 3 It is used for Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the detailed configuration of the refrigerant chamber 150 and the liquid level sensor 170. Figure 3 An example of measuring the liquid level in the refrigerant chamber 150 using a liquid level sensor 170 is described.

[0099] See Figure 3The liquid level sensor 170 is composed of one or more liquid level sensors 171, 172, 173, and 174, and each of these liquid level sensors corresponds to a different refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber 150. For example, the first liquid level sensor 171 may correspond to the first refrigerant level L1, the second liquid level sensor 172 may correspond to the second refrigerant level L2, the third liquid level sensor 173 may correspond to the third refrigerant level L3, and the fourth liquid level sensor 171 may correspond to the fourth refrigerant level L1.

[0100] As one embodiment, one or more level sensors 171, 172, 173, and 174 can detect the presence of refrigerant at their respective refrigerant levels L1, L2, L3, and L4 using binary values. For example, as Figure 3 As shown, when the refrigerant level W is between the first refrigerant level L1 and the second refrigerant level L2, the first level sensor 171 will output an "on" measurement value because there is refrigerant at the first refrigerant level L1. Conversely, because there is no refrigerant at the other refrigerant levels L2, L3, the second level sensor 172, the third level sensor 173, and the fourth level sensor 174 will all output an "off" measurement value.

[0101] The measurement values ​​from one or more level sensors 171, 172, 173, and 174 are transmitted to the control unit 12, which determines the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber 150 based on these values. At this time, the control unit 12 can determine the current refrigerant level value of the refrigerant chamber 150 from a value above the level confirmed as "on" and below the level confirmed as "off". For example, in... Figure 3 In the example, the control unit 12 can determine the first refrigerant level L1 as the current refrigerant level value.

[0102] As an example, when the measured values ​​of one or more level sensors 171, 172, 173, and 174 are all off, the control unit 12 can determine the current refrigerant level as 0 or as not having reached the reference value.

[0103] Furthermore, the control unit 12 can display the corresponding refrigerant balance on the display screen 13 based on the refrigerant level value of the refrigerant chamber 150 measured by one or more level sensors 171, 172, 173, and 174.

[0104] Figure 4 as well as Figure 5This is a schematic diagram used to explain in detail the problem of pressure rise in the refrigerant chamber 150 and the method of gas discharge at this time. Figure 4 (a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the refrigerant chamber 150 when the gas pressure G is within the normal range, while Figure 4 (b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the refrigerant chamber 150 when the gas pressure G is too high.

[0105] exist Figure 4 In example (a), since the gas pressure G is within the normal range, the refrigerant in the cooling tank 1 can flow in through the first flow path 140, thereby filling the refrigerant chamber 150 with a suitable liquid level W of refrigerant. The refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 150 will be transferred to the machine head 20 via the second flow path 180 under the control of the control unit 12, thereby being used for cooling the treatment area, etc.

[0106] exist Figure 4 In example (b), the gas pressure G is at a high pressure. Because the pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150 is much higher than the pressure in the cooling tank 1, the refrigerant in the cooling tank 1 will have difficulty flowing in. Therefore, the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 150 will gradually be depleted, making it impossible to transfer the refrigerant required for cooling to the compressor head 20.

[0107] Therefore, under the circumstances described above, it is necessary to reduce the gas pressure G by venting the gas inside the refrigerant chamber 150. Next, we will refer to... Figure 5 Let's continue with a detailed explanation.

[0108] See Figure 5 The control unit 12 measures the pressure (i.e., gas pressure) of the refrigerant chamber 150 and the refrigerant pressure using the second pressure sensor 160 and / or the level sensor 170. Furthermore, based on the measured values, it determines whether the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber 150 have been met. Specific examples of gas discharge from the refrigerant chamber 150 will be provided below. Figure 7 A detailed explanation will be provided, so related details will be omitted here.

[0109] When the gas discharge conditions in the refrigerant chamber 150 are met, the control unit 12 can output a gas discharge alarm, allowing the user to directly start the gas discharge operation, or control the gas discharge unit 192 to automatically start the gas discharge operation of the gas discharge unit 192. For the sake of simplicity, the explanation will assume that the gas discharge operation of the gas discharge unit 192 is started automatically by the control unit 12.

[0110] When the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber 50 are met, the control unit 12 controls the gas discharge section 192 to open the third valve. When the third valve is open, the gas in the refrigerant chamber 150 will reach the gas discharge port 192 through the third flow path 190 and then be discharged to the outside of the equipment. As the gas in the refrigerant chamber 150 is discharged to the outside, the gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber 150 will gradually decrease. When the gas pressure reaches the normal range, the refrigerant in the cooling tank 1 will flow in through the first flow path 140, thereby filling the refrigerant chamber 150 with refrigerant.

[0111] Figure 6 This is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for managing a cooling tank for a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The working method described in the embodiments can be achieved through... Figure 1 The control unit 12 executes the procedure. Next, if the execution entity in the following steps is omitted, the control unit 12 will be assumed to be the execution entity. In order to avoid repetition during the description of this embodiment, the above description will be repeated. Figures 1 to 5 The same content in the description may be omitted.

[0112] In step S110, the cooling tank is installed into the cooling tank bracket.

[0113] In step S120, the first valve is opened. The opening or closing of the first valve can be electronically controlled by the control unit 12.

[0114] In step S130, the refrigerant in the cooling tank will move to the refrigerant chamber through the first flow path.

[0115] In step S140, the first pressure value of the cooling tank will be measured by the first pressure sensor.

[0116] In step S150, it is confirmed whether the first pressure value has reached or exceeded a first reference value (e.g., a no-can reference value). The first reference value is a pre-set reference value used to determine whether a cooling can is installed or whether the refrigerant in the cooling can is depleted.

[0117] When the first pressure value is less than the first reference value, it indicates that no cooling tank is installed or the refrigerant in the cooling tank is depleted. Therefore, this embodiment performs step S160 and outputs a cooling tank replacement alarm (i.e., NoCan alarm) through the display screen or speaker to facilitate the user to replace the cooling tank.

[0118] When the first pressure value reaches or exceeds the first reference value, this embodiment executes step S170.

[0119] In step S170, it is confirmed whether the first pressure value has reached or exceeded the second reference value (e.g., the heating reference value). The second reference value refers to the reference value that is preset to trigger the operation of the heater.

[0120] When the first pressure value is less than the second reference value, it indicates that the pressure of the cooling tank is low. Therefore, in this embodiment, step S180 is performed to heat the cooling tank by running the heater, thereby increasing the pressure of the cooling tank.

[0121] When the first pressure value reaches or exceeds the second reference value, it indicates that the pressure of the cooling tank is within the appropriate range, and therefore this embodiment will end without performing any additional embodiments.

[0122] Figure 7 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an operating method for refrigerant chamber pressure management in a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The working method described in the embodiments can be achieved through... Figure 1 The control unit 12 executes the procedure. Next, if the execution entity in the following steps is omitted, the control unit 12 will be assumed to be the execution entity. In order to avoid repetition during the description of this embodiment, the above description will be repeated. Figures 1 to 5 The same content in the description may be omitted.

[0123] In step S210, the second pressure value of the second pressure sensor and / or the refrigerant level value of the level sensor will be measured.

[0124] In step S220, it is confirmed that the refrigerant level has reached or exceeded the third reference value (e.g., the low reference value).

[0125] The third reference value is a set reference liquid level value used to determine the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber. For example, it could be... Figure 3 The first refrigerant level L1 in the system.

[0126] When the refrigerant level reaches or exceeds the third reference value, it indicates that there is a certain level of refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber. Therefore, step S230 is performed in this embodiment.

[0127] In step S230, the remaining refrigerant amount corresponding to the refrigerant level is displayed on the screen based on the refrigerant level value.

[0128] In step S240, the machine head begins to move and perform skin treatment, and the second valve is opened to cool the treatment area or the machine head.

[0129] In step S250, refrigerant is output to the compressor head through the second flow path according to the refrigerant output signal input from the control unit or the compressor head.

[0130] Furthermore, returning to step S220, when the refrigerant level is less than the third reference value, it indicates that the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber has been exhausted. Therefore, in order to determine whether the gas discharge conditions are met, this embodiment executes step S260.

[0131] In step S260, it is confirmed whether the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value (e.g., the heating reference value).

[0132] The fourth reference value refers to the reference pressure value that is set in advance to determine the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber.

[0133] When the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value, it can be inferred that the refrigerant cannot flow into the refrigerant chamber due to excessively high gas pressure. In the case described above, this embodiment executes step S270, thereby allowing the gas in the refrigerant chamber to be discharged to the outside of the equipment under the control of the control unit, or enabling the user to directly initiate the gas discharge operation by outputting a gas discharge alarm.

[0134] When the second pressure value is lower than the fourth reference value, the reason for the refrigerant depletion in the refrigerant chamber is not due to gas pressure. It can be inferred that the refrigerant depletion is due to insufficient refrigerant remaining in the cooling tank. Therefore, this embodiment executes step S280 and outputs a refrigerant low alarm or cooling tank replacement alarm via a display screen or speaker to facilitate user replacement of the cooling tank.

[0135] In addition, Figure 7 In the embodiments, the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber are illustrated by simultaneously satisfying i) the refrigerant liquid level value is less than the third reference value and ii) the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0136] For example, the gas discharge conditions of the refrigerant chamber may only include the case where the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value. That is, when the second pressure value reaches a certain level, it can be considered that a refrigerant inflow obstruction has occurred, and gas discharge begins regardless of the refrigerant liquid level.

[0137] In the case described above, a second pressure value can be received from the second pressure sensor, and a gas discharge alarm can be output or the gas discharge unit can be started when the second pressure value is higher than the fourth reference value.

[0138] Figure 8 It is against the general Figure 7A more specific embodiment of step S270 is illustrated in the sequence diagram.

[0139] In step S271, a gas exhaust alarm is displayed on the screen.

[0140] In step S272, the third valve is opened to allow gas to escape. At this time, the first valve can be closed to prevent the fresh refrigerant flowing in from the cooling tank from vaporizing and being discharged through the third valve.

[0141] In step S273, the gas inside the refrigerant chamber is discharged to the outside of the equipment through the third flow path.

[0142] In step S274, it is confirmed whether the second pressure value has dropped to a predetermined value (e.g., the fourth reference value).

[0143] If the second pressure value does not drop below the predetermined value, it indicates that the gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber has not dropped sufficiently, so the process returns to step S273 and continues gas discharge.

[0144] When the second pressure value drops below the preset value, it indicates that the gas pressure in the refrigerant chamber has dropped sufficiently. Therefore, step S275 is executed to close the third valve and thereby stop the gas discharge.

[0145] In step S276, the display shows that the gas venting has been completed, and the first valve is reopened in order to supply refrigerant from the cooling tank.

[0146] Figure 9 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an overall operating method related to the cooling function of a medical device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 For the above as described above Figure 6 working methods and Figure 7 An embodiment of the continuous connection of the working method is illustrated. Therefore, Figure 9 Some steps in it can be compared with Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 The steps are essentially the same; however, in the case described above, the explanation of each step can be replaced with... Figure 6 or Figure 7 The description in the document is omitted here, so the detailed descriptions related to it will be omitted.

[0147] In step S301, the cooling tank is installed into the cooling tank bracket.

[0148] In step S302, the first valve is opened, allowing the refrigerant in the cooling tank to move into the refrigerant chamber through the first flow path.

[0149] In step S303, the first pressure value of the first pressure sensor, the second pressure value of the second pressure sensor, and / or the refrigerant level value of the level sensor are confirmed.

[0150] In step S304, it is confirmed whether the first pressure value has reached or exceeded the first reference value (e.g., the NoCan reference value).

[0151] If the first pressure value is less than the first reference value, step S305 is executed, and a coolant replacement alarm (i.e., NoCan alarm) is output through the display screen or speaker to facilitate the user to replace the coolant.

[0152] When the first pressure value reaches or exceeds the first reference value, step S306 is executed to confirm whether the first pressure value has reached or exceeded the second reference value (e.g., the heating reference value).

[0153] When the first pressure value is insufficient for the second reference value, this embodiment executes step S307, and the control unit heats the cooling tank by operating the heater.

[0154] When the first pressure value reaches or exceeds the first reference value, step S308 will be executed in this embodiment.

[0155] In step S308, confirm whether the refrigerant level has reached or exceeded the third reference value (e.g., the low reference value).

[0156] When the refrigerant level reaches or exceeds the third reference value, this embodiment executes step S309 and displays the corresponding remaining refrigerant amount on the display screen based on the refrigerant level.

[0157] In step S310, the second valve is opened to cool the treatment area or the machine head.

[0158] In step S311, refrigerant is output to the compressor head through the second flow path according to the refrigerant output signal input from the control unit or the compressor head.

[0159] Furthermore, returning to step S308, in order to determine whether the gas discharge conditions are met when the refrigerant level is less than the third reference value, this embodiment executes step S312.

[0160] In step S312, it is confirmed whether the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value (e.g., the heating reference value).

[0161] When the second pressure value reaches or exceeds the fourth reference value, this embodiment executes step S313, thereby venting the gas in the refrigerant chamber to the outside of the equipment, or causing the user to directly start the gas venting action by outputting a gas venting alarm.

[0162] When the second pressure value is less than the fourth reference value, this embodiment executes step S314 and outputs a refrigerant low alarm or coolant tank replacement alarm through the display screen or speaker, so that the user can replace the coolant tank.

[0163] Figure 10 This is a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary computing device for implementing a cooling system operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0164] Next, please refer to Figure 10 An exemplary computing device 500 for implementing the working methods described in several embodiments of the present invention will be described. For example, Figure 10 The computing device 500 in the middle can be Figure 1 Medical devices 1000.

[0165] Figure 10 This is an exemplary hardware configuration diagram illustrating a computing device 500.

[0166] like Figure 10 As shown, the computing device 500 may include one or more processors 510, a bus 550, a communication interface 570, a memory 530 for loading a computer program 591 executed by the processor 510, and a storage device 590 for storing the computer program 591. However, in Figure 10 Only the constituent elements relevant to embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. Therefore, those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains should understand that, in addition to Figure 10 In addition to the constituent elements shown in the diagram, other general constituent elements may also be included.

[0167] Processor 510 controls the overall operation of the various components of computing device 500. Processor 510 may include at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or any type of processor known in the art. Furthermore, processor 510 may perform operations related to at least one application or program for executing methods / actions according to various embodiments of the present invention. Computing device 500 may be equipped with more than one processor.

[0168] The memory 530 stores various data, instructions, and / or information. The memory 530 can load more than one program 591 from the storage device 590 to run methods / actions according to various embodiments of the present invention. The memory 530 may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), but is not limited thereto.

[0169] Bus 550 provides communication functionality between the components of computing device 500. Bus 550 can be implemented using various types of buses, such as address bus, data bus, and control bus.

[0170] The communication interface 570 supports wired and wireless internet communication of the computing device 500. In addition to internet communication, the communication interface 570 can also support various other communication methods. Therefore, the communication interface 570 can include communication modules known in the technical field of this invention.

[0171] Storage device 590 can non-temporarily store one or more computer programs 591. Storage device 590 may include non-volatile memory such as read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory, as well as hard disk, portable hard disk, or any form of computer-readable storage medium known in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0172] Computer program 591 may include one or more instructions for implementing methods / actions according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0173] For example, computer program 591 may include instructions for performing actions such as confirming a first pressure value of the cooling tank, confirming a refrigerant level value in the refrigerant chamber when the first pressure value reaches or exceeds a first reference value and a second reference value, confirming a second pressure value in the refrigerant chamber when the refrigerant level value is below a third reference value, and outputting a gas discharge alarm or initiating a gas discharge operation when the refrigerant level value is below the third reference value and the second pressure value is above a fourth reference value.

[0174] At this time, the action of confirming the first pressure value of the cooling tank may include outputting an alarm indicating that no cooling tank is installed in the cooling tank bracket when the first pressure value is lower than the first reference value, and operating a heater to heat the cooling tank when the first pressure value is higher than the first reference value and lower than the second reference value.

[0175] In addition, the action of confirming the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber may include the action of displaying the remaining refrigerant on the display screen based on the refrigerant level when the refrigerant level is higher than the third reference value.

[0176] Furthermore, the action of confirming the second pressure value of the refrigerant chamber may include outputting a refrigerant shortage alarm or a coolant tank replacement alarm when the refrigerant level is lower than the third reference value and the second pressure value is lower than the fourth reference value.

[0177] Furthermore, the action of outputting a gas discharge alarm or initiating the discharge action of the gas discharge unit may include displaying a gas discharge alarm on a screen, closing the first valve connected to the cooling tank and opening the third valve connected to the gas discharge unit, confirming whether the pressure value of the refrigerant chamber is below a preset value after the gas inside the refrigerant chamber is discharged through the gas discharge unit, closing the third valve when the pressure value of the refrigerant chamber is confirmed to be below the preset value, and reopening the first valve.

[0178] When computer program 591 is loaded into memory 530, processor 510 can instruct methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present invention by executing one or more instructions.

[0179] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains should understand that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood in all respects as exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of protection of this invention should be interpreted through the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the same scope should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the claims that define the technical concepts of this invention.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising: Cooling tank bracket, used to install the cooling tank; A refrigerant chamber for containing refrigerant flowing in from the cooling tank; A refrigerant delivery unit is used to deliver the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant chamber to the compressor head; One or more sensors are used to measure the pressure or refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber; and, The control unit outputs a gas discharge alarm or initiates the gas discharge operation of the gas discharge unit based on the measured values ​​of the pressure or refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising: The first pressure sensor measures the pressure in the cooling tank; When the first pressure value of the cooling tank measured by the first pressure sensor is lower than the first reference value, the control unit outputs an alarm indicating that no cooling tank is installed in the cooling tank bracket.

3. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein, The control unit operates the heater for heating the cooling tank when the first pressure value is higher than the first reference value and lower than the second reference value.

4. The medical device according to claim 3, wherein, The heater has an annular or curved shape surrounding at least a portion of the cooling tank. Continue operating until the pressure in the cooling tank reaches a predetermined pressure value, or the temperature in the cooling tank reaches a predetermined temperature value.

5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more sensors include: One or more level sensors are used to measure the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber; and, The second pressure sensor measures the pressure in the refrigerant chamber; When the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber, as measured by one or more level sensors, is lower than a third reference value, and the second pressure in the refrigerant chamber, as measured by the second pressure sensor, is higher than a fourth reference value, the control unit outputs a gas discharge alarm or initiates the discharge action of the gas discharge unit.

6. The medical device according to claim 5, wherein, The one or more liquid level sensors include: Multiple liquid level sensors, each corresponding to a different refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber; The control unit determines the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber based on whether the plurality of liquid level sensors are on or off, and determines that the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber is lower than a third reference value when all of the plurality of liquid level sensors are off.

7. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more sensors include: The second pressure sensor measures the pressure in the refrigerant chamber; When the second pressure value of the refrigerant chamber measured by the second pressure sensor is higher than the fourth reference value, the control unit outputs a gas discharge alarm or starts the discharge action of the gas discharge unit.

8. The medical device according to claim 6, wherein, When the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber is lower than the third reference value and the second pressure value is lower than the fourth reference value, the control unit outputs a refrigerant shortage alarm or a coolant tank replacement alarm.

9. The medical device according to claim 6, wherein, The control unit displays the remaining refrigerant on the display screen based on the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber measured by the one or more level sensors.

10. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein, The gas discharge section is connected to the refrigerant chamber via a third flow path. The third flow path is equipped with a high-pressure protector that can force the gas in the refrigerant chamber to be discharged even when the gas discharge section has not started its discharge operation.

11. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising: Water hammer preventer is used to mitigate water hammer caused by refrigerant flow. The water hammer preventer is attached to one side of the refrigerant chamber.

12. A method of operating a medical device, as a method of operating a medical device executed by a computing device, comprising: The steps for confirming the initial pressure value of the cooling tank; The step of confirming the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber when the first pressure value reaches or exceeds the first reference value and the second reference value; The step of confirming the second pressure value of the refrigerant chamber when the refrigerant level is lower than the third reference value; as well as, When the refrigerant level is lower than the third reference value and the second pressure value is higher than the fourth reference value, a gas discharge alarm is output or the gas discharge unit is started to discharge.

13. The method of operating the medical device according to claim 12, wherein, The step of confirming the first pressure value of the cooling tank includes: When the first pressure value is lower than the first reference value, an alarm is output to indicate that no cooling tank is installed in the cooling tank support, and when the first pressure value is higher than the first reference value and lower than the second reference value, a heater for heating the cooling tank is activated.

14. The method of operating the medical device according to claim 12, wherein, The step of confirming the refrigerant level in the refrigerant chamber includes: The step of displaying the remaining refrigerant on a display screen based on the refrigerant level value.

15. The method of operating the medical device according to claim 12, wherein, The step of confirming the second pressure value of the refrigerant chamber includes: The step of outputting a refrigerant shortage alarm or a coolant tank replacement alarm when the refrigerant level is lower than the third reference value and the second pressure is lower than the fourth reference value.

16. The method of operating the medical device according to claim 12, wherein, The steps for issuing the gas discharge alarm or initiating the gas discharge operation of the gas discharge unit include: Display the steps for the gas exhaust alarm on the screen; The steps are: closing the first valve connected to the cooling tank and opening the third valve connected to the gas discharge section; After discharging the gas inside the refrigerant chamber through the gas discharge section, the following steps are performed to confirm whether the pressure value of the refrigerant chamber is a preset value; The step of closing the third valve when the pressure in the refrigerant chamber is confirmed to be below a preset value; and... The step of reopening the first valve.

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