An ultrasound coupling patch and ultrasound therapy device

Abstract

This invention provides an ultrasonic coupling patch and an ultrasonic therapy device. The ultrasonic coupling patch includes a first sealing membrane, a rigid connector, a flexible connector, and a second sealing membrane connected in sequence to form a cavity for accommodating a coupling agent. The rigid connector and the second sealing membrane are spaced apart to increase the depth of the cavity. The rigid connector has a connection structure on the side facing the first sealing membrane for detachable connection with an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer extends into the cavity through the connection structure, which helps to maintain the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the affected skin, thereby establishing stable acoustic coupling. Furthermore, the ultrasonic transducer can move towards or away from the second sealing membrane, thereby adjusting the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the affected skin to meet the needs of different treatment plans for the affected area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ultrasound therapy technology, and in particular to an ultrasound coupling patch and an ultrasound therapy device. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasound therapy technology is widely used in the medical field, effectively modulating the biological responses of human tissues through ultrasound waves of different frequencies and intensities. For low-intensity rehabilitation applications, whether in medical-grade ultrasound therapy equipment or portable home-use ultrasound therapy devices, the continuous output of ultrasound waves places demands on the sustained stability of acoustic coupling.

[0003] Because the output of ultrasonic energy depends on the sound propagation medium, the presence of air or other contaminants in the propagation path causes strong attenuation and scattering of the ultrasonic energy. Therefore, before ultrasonic treatment, a coupling agent such as acoustic coupling gel needs to be applied to the skin surface and ensure full contact between the gel and the ultrasonic treatment head to establish good acoustic coupling between the ultrasound waves and the skin, achieving good sound energy transmission. However, this process relies heavily on the operator's experience and technique, making it difficult to guarantee the consistency and completeness of the coupling layer thickness, easily leading to missed areas or uneven application. Furthermore, during treatment, as the ultrasonic treatment head moves, the coupling agent is pushed out and relative displacement occurs between it and the head, resulting in less coupling agent and more air bubbles, thus reducing the quality of acoustic coupling and affecting the efficiency of sound wave transmission and the stability of the treatment effect. In severe cases, poor acoustic coupling can lead to excessively high local skin temperature, and even adverse events such as probing and stinging.

[0004] Therefore, a new solution is needed to address the aforementioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention provides an ultrasonic coupling patch and an ultrasonic therapy device to solve the technical problem of how to construct a stable acoustic coupling.

[0006] This utility model provides an ultrasonic coupling patch, which includes a first sealing membrane, a rigid connector, a flexible connector, and a second sealing membrane connected in sequence to form a accommodating cavity for accommodating a coupling agent. The rigid connector and the second sealing membrane are spaced apart, and the rigid connector has a connection structure for detachably connecting to an ultrasonic transducer on the side facing the first sealing membrane. The ultrasonic transducer extends into the accommodating cavity through the connection structure, and the ultrasonic transducer can move in a direction close to the second sealing membrane or in a direction away from the second sealing membrane.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible connector includes a first connecting portion, a transition section, and a second connecting portion connected together. The first connecting portion is closedly connected to the rigid connector, and the second connecting portion is closedly connected to the second sealing membrane.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transition section gradually extends outward along the direction from the first sealing film to the second sealing film.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rigid connector has a raised edge on the side facing the second sealing film, and the first connecting portion is attached to the raised edge; the second connecting portion is attached to the second sealing film, and the outer periphery of the second sealing film protrudes beyond the outer periphery of the second connecting portion.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, a permeable membrane is provided on the side of the second sealing membrane facing the flexible connector, and an adhesive layer is provided on the permeable membrane to adhere to the second sealing membrane.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rigid connector is provided with a connecting segment on the side facing the first sealing membrane, and the connecting segment is provided with a through hole in the middle, which connects the first sealing membrane and the flexible connector, and the connecting structure is disposed in the through hole.

[0012] In one embodiment of this utility model, the connecting structure is configured as an internal thread.

[0013] This utility model also provides an ultrasound therapy device, which includes an ultrasound transducer and the aforementioned ultrasound coupling patch. The rigid connector of the ultrasound coupling patch is detachably connected to the ultrasound transducer through a connection structure, and the ultrasound transducer adjusts the distance between itself and the second sealing membrane of the ultrasound coupling patch through the connection structure. In one embodiment of this utility model, the connecting structure is configured with an internal thread, and the ultrasonic transducer is configured with an external thread that mates with the internal thread.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model proposes an ultrasonic coupling patch and an ultrasonic therapy device. The ultrasonic coupling patch, by sequentially connecting a first sealing membrane, a rigid connector, a flexible connector, and a second sealing membrane, forms a cavity for accommodating the coupling agent. The rigid connector and the second sealing membrane are spaced apart, increasing the depth of the cavity. Furthermore, a connecting structure is provided on the side of the rigid connector facing the first sealing membrane. This connecting structure is used for detachable connection with an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer extends into the cavity through this connecting structure to fully contact the coupling agent. Under the pressure inside the cavity, it helps to maintain the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the affected skin, thereby establishing stable acoustic coupling. Further, the ultrasonic transducer can move along the direction of approaching or moving away from the second sealing membrane via the connecting structure. When treating a human affected area, the second sealing membrane is attached to the affected area. As the ultrasonic transducer approaches or moves away from the second sealing membrane, the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the affected area can be adjusted to meet different treatment needs. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0016] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an ultrasonic coupling patch provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic coupling patch provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A in the middle; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a flexible connector provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a rigid connector provided in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1-First sealing film; 11-Tearable section; 2- Rigid connector; 21- Protruding edge; 22- Connecting section; 23- Through hole; 3-Flexible connector; 31-First connecting part; 32-Transition section; 33-Second connecting part; 4-Second sealing membrane; 5-Cavity; 6-Permeable membrane; 7- Adhesive layer. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. This utility model can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. Various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0019] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. The drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components. In actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0020] In the following description, numerous details are explored to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other embodiments, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Please see Figure 1 An embodiment of this utility model provides an ultrasonic coupling patch, comprising a first sealing membrane 1, a rigid connector 2, a flexible connector 3, and a second sealing membrane 4. These structural components are sequentially connected to form a receiving cavity 5, which is used to contain a coupling agent. Exemplarily, the coupling agent filled in the receiving cavity 5 is flush with the end face of the rigid connector 2 facing the first sealing membrane 1.

[0022] It should be noted that the rigid connector 2 and the second sealing membrane 4 are spaced apart and connected by the flexible connector 3. This arrangement increases the depth of the accommodating cavity 5 along the direction from the first sealing membrane 1 to the second sealing membrane 4.

[0023] Furthermore, a connecting structure is provided on the side of the rigid connector 2 facing the first sealing membrane 1. Before using the ultrasonic coupling patch with the ultrasonic transducer, the first sealing membrane 1 needs to be removed, and then the rigid connector 2 is sealed to the ultrasonic transducer through the connecting structure. At this time, the ultrasonic transducer extends into the accommodating cavity 5 and comes into complete contact with the coupling agent, so that the coupling agent becomes the sound propagation medium of the ultrasonic transducer. At the same time, under the above configuration without external force and without changing the relative position between the ultrasonic transducer and the rigid connector 2, the ultrasonic transducer can maintain a constant distance from the second sealing membrane 4 under the pressure inside the accommodating cavity 5, which helps to ensure the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the skin of the affected area, thereby establishing stable acoustic coupling.

[0024] Furthermore, to implement different treatment plans for the same affected area at different time periods, the ultrasound transducer can be moved along the direction of approaching or moving away from the second sealing membrane 4 via the connecting structure to adjust the distance between the ultrasound transducer and the skin of the affected area to be treated. For example, to meet the above requirements, the ultrasound transducer can be a focused transducer. It should be noted that the connecting structure is detachably connected to the ultrasound transducer so that the ultrasound transducer can be reused, which helps reduce treatment costs.

[0025] It should be noted that when the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the rigid connector 2, the ultrasonic transducer extends deep into the receiving cavity 5, causing the ultrasonic transducer to squeeze the coupling agent into the receiving cavity 5. At this time, because the flexible connector 3 has a certain elasticity, the flexible connector 3 expands outward, thereby preventing the coupling agent from seeping out from the connection between the rigid connector 2 and the ultrasonic transducer.

[0026] In one example, to facilitate the removal of the first sealing film 1, a tear-off portion 11 protruding from the rigid connector 2 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the first sealing film 1. An operator can tear off the first sealing film 1 attached to the rigid connector 2 by grasping the tear-off portion 11. Exemplarily, the tear-off portion 11 is a structure protruding from the outer periphery of the first sealing film 1, and the specific shape of the tear-off portion 11 is not limited, and can be set as an arc structure, etc.

[0027] For example, the coupling agent filled in the cavity 5 can be a hydrogel with both fluidity and adhesion to prevent the coupling agent from flowing out of the cavity 5 when the first sealing film 1 is removed. Furthermore, the coupling agent can be classified as basic type, composite matching type, functionalized type, and long-lasting wear type.

[0028] The basic type includes glycerin, polyethylene glycol (PEG), hyaluronic acid solution, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and carbomer gel to ensure the coupling effect of the coupling agent. The composite matching type introduces nanofillers (such as SiO2, Al2O3, BaTiO3, carbon nanotubes, etc.) into the hydrogel matrix to form a composite matching layer, allowing the acoustic impedance of the coupling agent to be adjusted between 1.5–5 MRayl, adapting to transducers of different frequencies and human tissues. The functionalized type introduces sustained-release drugs (such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and angiogenesis-promoting drugs), essential oils, nanoliposomes, bubble / microbubble contrast agents, and magnetic / optical responsive nanoparticles into the hydrogel matrix, not only achieving sound propagation of the coupling agent but also enabling drug penetration to promote therapeutic effects. The long-lasting wearable type adds moisturizers (such as glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, etc.), antibacterial agents (such as silver ions, chitosan, etc.), and antioxidants (such as vitamin E, glutathione, etc.) to the hydrogel matrix to ensure that the skin does not dry out or become infected.

[0029] In some embodiments, to facilitate complete adhesion of the ultrasound coupling patch to the skin of the affected area, a permeable membrane 6 is provided on the side of the second sealing membrane 4 facing the flexible connector 3, and an adhesive layer 7 is provided on the permeable membrane 6 to adhere to the second sealing membrane 4. After the ultrasound coupling patch is connected to the ultrasound transducer, the second sealing membrane 4 is peeled off to expose the permeable membrane 6 with the adhesive layer 7. Subsequently, the permeable membrane 6 is completely adhered to the skin through the adhesive layer 7. At the same time, the permeable membrane 6 can allow small molecules in the coupling agent to permeate out and act on the skin, which is beneficial to the auxiliary physical therapy effect.

[0030] For example, in order for the second sealing membrane 4 to block the permeation of the permeation membrane 6 and to seal the accommodating cavity 5, the material of the second sealing membrane 4 can be polyethylene or the like.

[0031] In one example, the flexible connector 3 can be made of a highly biocompatible polymer material, such as medical-grade silicone rubber, polyurethane (PU), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), thermoplastic elastomer (SEBS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, polyacrylamide (PVC) hydrogel, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) elastomer, etc. Furthermore, the material of the flexible connector 3 should have good heat dissipation characteristics to ensure that the heat generated by the coupling agent and the human body surface can be quickly dissipated under continuous ultrasound action.

[0032] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the flexible connector 3 includes a first connecting portion 31, a transition section 32, and a second connecting portion 33 connected together. The first connecting portion 31 is closedly connected to the rigid connector 2, and the second connecting portion 33 is closedly connected to the second sealing membrane 4 to ensure the sealing of the accommodating cavity 5 and prevent the coupling agent from seeping out of the accommodating cavity 5.

[0033] For example, the transition section 32 gradually extends outward along the direction from the first sealing membrane 1 to the second sealing membrane 4, so that the outer periphery of the transition section 32 gradually increases. When the coupling agent is squeezed into the accommodating cavity 5 by the ultrasonic transducer, the above-mentioned structure helps to reduce the force acting on the flexible connector 3 and helps to improve the service life of the flexible connector 3.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In one example, the rigid connector 2 has a raised edge 21 on the side facing the second sealing membrane 4, and the first connecting portion 31 is attached to the raised edge 21. Exemplarily, the first connecting portion 31 is attached to the upper surface of the raised edge 21 facing the first sealing membrane 1, or the first connecting portion 31 is attached to the lower surface of the raised edge 21 facing the second sealing membrane 4. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 31 is attached to the upper surface of the raised edge 21, which helps to improve the stability of the connection between the first connecting portion 31 and the rigid connector 2.

[0035] The second connecting portion 33 is attached to the second sealing membrane 4, and the outer periphery of the second sealing membrane 4 protrudes beyond the outer periphery of the second connecting portion 33, which helps to improve the stability of the connection between the second connecting portion 33 and the second sealing membrane 4. Furthermore, this arrangement increases the contact area between the ultrasound coupling patch and the affected skin, which helps to improve the stability of the connection between the ultrasound coupling patch and the skin.

[0036] For example, the second sealing membrane 4 has the same shape as the permeation membrane 6. The shape of the permeation membrane 6, which completely adheres to the skin, can be customized according to different treatment sites, such as discs, triangles, irregular shapes, etc., to facilitate adherence to the treatment site. The shape of the second connecting portion 33 can be adapted to the shape of the permeation membrane 6.

[0037] In some embodiments, the rigid connector 2 has a connecting section 22 on the side facing the first sealing membrane 1. A through hole 23 is provided in the middle of the connecting section 22, connecting the first sealing membrane 1 and the flexible connector 3, so that the through hole 23 forms part of the accommodating cavity 5. When filling the accommodating cavity 5 with coupling agent, the coupling agent can be injected into the accommodating cavity 5 through the opening of the through hole 23 facing the first sealing membrane 1. Furthermore, the connecting structure is disposed within the through hole 23 so that the ultrasonic transducer can extend into the accommodating cavity 5 and fully contact the coupling agent.

[0038] Please see Figure 5In one example, the rigid connector 2 includes a connecting segment 22 and a protruding edge 21 connected together, and a through hole 23 passes through the connecting segment 22 and the protruding edge 21. Exemplarily, the shape of the connecting segment 22 can be set as a cylinder, a triangular prism, etc. The shape of the protruding edge 21 is adapted to the shape of the connecting segment 22, and the shape of the first connecting portion 31 is adapted to the shape of the protruding edge 21.

[0039] For example, the connection structure can be configured as an internal thread.

[0040] One embodiment of this application also provides an ultrasound therapy device, including an ultrasound transducer and the aforementioned ultrasound coupling patch. The rigid connector 2 of the ultrasound coupling patch is detachably connected to the ultrasound transducer via a connecting structure, and the ultrasound transducer can adjust the distance between itself and the second sealing membrane 4 of the ultrasound coupling patch through the connecting structure, thereby achieving different treatment plans.

[0041] In one example, when the connection structure is an internal thread on the rigid connector 2, the ultrasonic transducer is provided with an external thread that matches the internal thread, so as to achieve a detachable connection between the rigid connector 2 and the ultrasonic transducer.

[0042] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this utility model should still be covered by the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic coupling patch, characterized in that: It includes a first sealing membrane, a rigid connector, a flexible connector, and a second sealing membrane connected in sequence to form a accommodating cavity for receiving coupling agent, wherein, The rigid connector and the second sealing membrane are spaced apart, and the rigid connector is provided with a connection structure for detachably connecting to the ultrasonic transducer on the side facing the first sealing membrane. The ultrasonic transducer extends into the accommodating cavity through the connection structure, and the ultrasonic transducer can move in a direction close to the second sealing membrane or in a direction away from the second sealing membrane.

2. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible connector includes a first connecting part, a transition section, and a second connecting part that are connected to each other. The first connecting part is closedly connected to the rigid connector, and the second connecting part is closedly connected to the second sealing membrane.

3. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transition section gradually extends outward along the direction from the first sealing film to the second sealing film.

4. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rigid connector has a raised edge on the side facing the second sealing membrane, and the first connecting part is attached to the raised edge; the second connecting part is attached to the second sealing membrane, and the outer periphery of the second sealing membrane protrudes beyond the outer periphery of the second connecting part.

5. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second sealing membrane has a permeable membrane on the side facing the flexible connector, and the permeable membrane has an adhesive layer that adheres to the second sealing membrane.

6. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid connector has a connecting section on the side facing the first sealing membrane, and the connecting section has a through hole in the middle that connects the first sealing membrane and the flexible connector. The connecting structure is disposed in the through hole.

7. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to claim 6, characterized in that: The connection structure is configured with internal threads.

8. The ultrasonic coupling patch according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The first sealing film has a tear-off portion protruding from the rigid connector on its circumferential outer side.

9. An ultrasound therapy device, characterized in that, include: Ultrasonic transducer; The ultrasonic coupling patch as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the rigid connector of the ultrasonic coupling patch is detachably connected to the ultrasonic transducer via a connection structure, and the ultrasonic transducer adjusts the distance between itself and the second sealing membrane of the ultrasonic coupling patch via the connection structure.

10. The ultrasound therapy device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The connection structure is configured with an internal thread, and the ultrasonic transducer is configured with an external thread that mates with the internal thread.

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