Flexible Ultrasonic Generator

Abstract

To provide a flexible ultrasonic generation device capable of improving operability in the case of executing a surgery.SOLUTION: A flexible ultrasonic generation device 2 is inserted in a flexible tube 10 having flexibility, and an inductor 15, a discharge resistance 21, an FET 22, and an SBD 23 constituting a drive circuit 25 are mounted on first to third flexible boards 11 to 13. An actuator 14 is connected to a distal end of the flexible ultrasonic generation device 2. An active blade 70 is attached to the actuator 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible ultrasonic generator. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, surgery using a freely bending endoscope has been widely performed. The endoscope allows various types of forceps to be inserted from an inlet and protrude from a distal end surface of the endoscope to perform treatment using the forceps.

[0003] Also known is an ultrasonic scalpel that uses ultrasonic vibrations to perform surgical operations (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This ultrasonic scalpel has a bendable tip (the base of the scalpel portion). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-268549 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The ultrasonic scalpel described in Patent Document 1 has poor operability because only the tip portion can be bent and therefore the scalpel cannot be inserted into a desired position inside the body.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and has an object to provide an ultrasonic generator that can improve operability when performing surgery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] The flexible ultrasonic generator of the present invention is a bendable flexible ultrasonic generator, characterized in that it comprises an actuator that generates ultrasonic waves, a flexible substrate, and a drive circuit having a plurality of electronic components mounted on the flexible substrate and driving the actuator.

[0008] According to the flexible ultrasonic generator of the present invention, since a plurality of electronic components constituting the drive circuit are mounted on a flexible substrate and the drive circuit is bendable, a bendable flexible ultrasonic generator can be constructed, thereby improving the operability when performing surgery using the flexible ultrasonic generator.

[0009] [2] It is preferable that the drive circuit generates a voltage in a pulse form.

[0010] According to the above configuration, ultrasonic waves can be generated reliably and stably.

[0011] [3] It is preferable that the drive circuit comprises an inductor, an input-side field-effect transistor, an output-side field-effect transistor, a Schottky barrier diode, and a discharge resistor, and that the inductor, the input-side field-effect transistor, the Schottky barrier diode, the output-side field-effect transistor, and the discharge resistor are arranged in this order.

[0012] According to the above configuration, even if the drive circuit is small and bendable, ultrasonic waves can be reliably generated.

[0013] [4] It is preferable that the actuator vibrates ultrasonically.

[0014] According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve operability when performing surgery by using ultrasonic vibrations with a flexible ultrasonic generator.

[0015] [5] A flexible tube having flexibility into which the actuator and the drive circuit are inserted, the actuator having: For Ultrasound It is preferable that a treatment tool is attached.

[0016] According to the above configuration, the ultrasonic generator is bendable, so that even when the ultrasonic generator is inserted into the body, the ultrasonic generator can be bent to follow the curvature of the body, allowing surgery to be performed using a treatment tool.

[0017] [6] It is preferable that the endoscope has a flexible tube into which the actuator and the drive circuit are inserted, the flexible tube is inserted through the inside of the endoscope from a forceps inlet of the endoscope, and an endoscopic treatment tool is attached to the actuator.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the ultrasonic generator is bendable, so that even when the ultrasonic generator is inserted into an endoscope, the ultrasonic generator can be bent in accordance with the curvature of the endoscope, and surgery can be performed using the ultrasonic generator inserted into the endoscope. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flexible ultrasonic generator. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a flexible ultrasonic generator. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an active blade is attached to a flexible ultrasonic generator. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an endoscope system. [Diagram 5] FIG.

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] First, an example of a flexible ultrasonic generator 2 according to the present invention will be described.

[0022] The flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is inserted into, for example, a transparent flexible tube 10 having a small diameter (for example, a diameter of 3 mm) and various electronic components are mounted on the first to third flexible substrates 11 to 13. An actuator 14 is connected to the tip end of the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 (the tip end of the third flexible substrate 13). In this embodiment, the actuator 14 is composed of, for example, a ceramic piezoelectric element such as PZT.

[0023] In this embodiment, a plurality of inductors 15 are mounted on first and second flexible substrates 11 and 12, and first flexible substrate 11 and second flexible substrate 12 are connected by wires.

[0024] On the third flexible substrate 13, a discharge resistor 21, a FET (Field Effect Transistor) 22, and an SBD (Schottky diode) 23 are mounted.

[0025] The FET 22 on the inductor 15 side of the SBD 23 is the input-side FET 22, and the FET 22 on the discharge resistor 21 side of the SBD 23 is the output-side FET 22. The electronic components 15, 21-23 constituting the drive circuit 25 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are mounted on first, second and third flexible substrates 11-13.

[0026] SBD23 is a unipolar device that obtains rectification characteristics through a Schottky junction that brings a metal and a semiconductor into contact. When a forward voltage is applied from the outside, the energy barrier seen from the semiconductor side becomes smaller, and electrons can flow from the n-type semiconductor to the metal by overcoming the lowered barrier.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a flexible ultrasonic generator 2, in which an inductor 15 has a resistance of r L and L, T1 is the input side FET 22, T2 is the output side FET 22, D is the SBD 23, R is the discharge resistor 21, and DE is the actuator 14 which is regarded as a capacitor.

[0028] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 configured as above. In detail, a case will be described in which the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is used to perform treatment (surgery) on an affected area that requires treatment after an examination using a laparoscope (not shown).

[0029] First, laparoscopic examination will be described. Laparoscopic examination is well known and a detailed description thereof will be simplified. For example, a small hole (e.g., 5mm to 12mm) is made in the patient's abdomen, and a tubular instrument called a port is inserted through the hole. Carbon dioxide is then pumped through the port to inflate the abdomen and make it easier to observe the inside of the abdomen. Then, the laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen through the port, and the organs such as the stomach, large intestine, and gallbladder are displayed on a monitor and the examination is performed. If an affected area that requires treatment is found during this examination, the laparoscope is removed.

[0030] 3, a treatment tool suitable for treating the affected area, for example, an active blade 30 (treatment tool), is attached to the actuator 14 of the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 and inserted into the vicinity of the affected area inside the body via a port. At this time, the active blade 30 may be inserted in a state housed in the flexible tube 10.

[0031] Next, a voltage is applied to the flexible ultrasonic generator 2, and the actuator 14 is vibrated by the drive circuit 25. The vibration of the actuator 14 vibrates the active blade 30, and the affected area can be treated by ultrasonic vibration. In this embodiment, the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is configured to vibrate with ultrasonic waves of, for example, 20 kHz or more. After the affected area has been treated, the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is removed from the body.

[0032] In this embodiment, the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is inserted into a flexible tube 10, and the electronic components 15, 21 to 23 constituting the drive circuit 25 are mounted on the first to third flexible boards 11 to 13. This allows the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 to be configured to be bendable, and the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 can be bent to fit the curved shape inside the body.

[0033] In addition, since the driving circuit 25 is composed of the inductor 15, the discharge resistor 21, the FET 22, and the SBD 23, it is possible to obtain a driving force for ultrasonically vibrating the actuator 14 while still allowing bending. Furthermore, since the driving circuit 25 generates a voltage in a pulse form, it is possible to reliably cause the actuator 14 to ultrasonically vibrate.

[0034] Furthermore, since the voltage is increased by the drive circuit 25 (each of the electronic components 15, 21 to 23) in the flexible tube 10, the voltage in the flexible tube 10 before the drive circuit 25 is low, and therefore safety is high.

[0035] In addition, since no expensive Ti alloy is used, costs can be reduced compared to those using Ti alloys.

[0036] The flexible ultrasonic generator 2 can also be inserted into an endoscope 51 for use.

[0037] 4 and 5, an endoscope system 50 includes an endoscope 51, a flexible ultrasonic generator 2 inserted into the endoscope 51, a light source device 53 connected to the endoscope 51 and sending light to the endoscope 51, and a control device 54. The light source device 53 has a built-in well-known air / liquid supply device (not shown) that sends gas (air, gas, etc.) and liquid (cleaning water, etc.) to the endoscope 51.

[0038] The endoscope 51 is well known and a detailed description thereof will be simplified, but it comprises an insertion portion 56 that is inserted into the body, and an operation portion 57 connected to the base portion of the insertion portion 56 .

[0039] The insertion section 56 includes a tip section 56a and a bendable bending section 56b, and a camera for photographing the inside of a body is built into the tip section 56a. An objective lens 61 for photographing the inside of a body, a nozzle 62, a forceps outlet 63, and a light guide 64 for irradiating the surgical field with light from the light source device 53 are provided on the tip surface of the tip section 56a.

[0040] A control device 54 that performs overall control of the operation of the endoscope system 50 is connected to the light source device 53. This control device 54 controls the driving of the camera via a connection cable (not shown) that passes through the inside of the endoscope 51. Image data captured by the camera is sent to the control device 54 via the connection cable and displayed on a display (not shown).

[0041] The operation section 57 is provided with a forceps inlet 71, an operation button 72 that is operated when sending air and liquid, and a bending operation knob 73. When the bending operation knob 73 is operated, the wire inserted in the insertion section 56 is pushed and pulled, so that the bending section 56b of the insertion section 56 bends in the up, down, left and right directions. This allows the tip section 56a to be oriented in a desired direction inside the body.

[0042] When the operation button 72 is operated, gas and liquid are sent to the nozzle 62 provided on the tip surface of the insertion portion 56 through a delivery pipe (not shown) provided inside the endoscope 51. The nozzle 62 ejects the gas and liquid toward the tip surface of the endoscope 51.

[0043] The forceps inlet 71 is connected to a forceps outlet 63 provided on the distal end surface of the insertion section 56 via a forceps channel (not shown) provided inside the endoscope 51. This allows forceps (e.g., the flexible ultrasonic generator 2) inserted from the forceps inlet 71 to protrude from the forceps outlet 63 through the forceps channel.

[0044] Next, the operation of the endoscope 51 configured as above will be described. The insertion section 56 is inserted into the body, for example, into the intestinal tract, from the anus. Light from the light source device 53 is irradiated to the front of the insertion section 56 of the endoscope 51 through a cable or the like. Image data captured by a camera provided at the tip 56a of the insertion section 56 is sent to the control device 54 via a connection cable and displayed on a display.

[0045] If an affected area is found during observation of the intestinal tract, a treatment tool suitable for treating the affected area, for example, a flexible actuator having an active blade 30 (endoscopic treatment tool) attached to the actuator 14, is used. Ru The acoustic wave generator 2 is inserted into the forceps inlet 71 of the endoscope 51 to cause the active blade 30 to protrude from the forceps outlet 63 .

[0046] Next, a voltage is applied to the flexible ultrasonic generator 2, and the actuator 14 is vibrated by the drive circuit 25. The vibration of the actuator 14 vibrates the active brake 300, and the affected area can be treated by ultrasonic vibration. In this embodiment, it is configured to vibrate with ultrasonic waves of, for example, 20 kHz or more. Then, after the affected area has been treated, the insertion portion 56 is removed from the body.

[0047] In this embodiment, the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 is inserted into a flexible tube 10, and each electronic component 15,21~23 are mounted on the first to third flexible substrates 11 to 13. This allows the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 to be configured to be bendable, and when the bending portion 56b of the insertion portion 56 is bent, the flexible ultrasonic generator 2 can be bent accordingly.

[0048] The present invention has been described above with reference to its preferred embodiments. However, as will be easily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0049] For example, although the active blade 30 is attached to the actuator 14, various treatment tools can be attached thereto.

[0050] The actuator 14 is not limited to a ceramic piezoelectric element, but may be made of, for example, a dielectric elastomer containing silicone resin, and may not generate ultrasonic vibrations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 2...flexible ultrasonic generator, 10...flexible tube, 11-13...first to third flexible boards, 14...actuator, 15...inductor, 21...discharge resistor, 22...FET, 23...SBD, 25...drive circuit, 30...active blade (treatment tool, endoscopic treatment tool), 50...endoscopic system, 51...endoscope.

Claims

1. A bendable flexible ultrasonic generator, An actuator that generates ultrasonic waves; A flexible substrate; a drive circuit having a plurality of electronic components mounted on the flexible substrate and configured to drive the actuator; a flexible tube into which the actuator and the drive circuit are inserted, A flexible ultrasonic generator characterized in that an ultrasonic treatment tool is attached to the actuator.

2. 2. The flexible ultrasonic generator according to claim 1, A flexible ultrasonic generator characterized in that the drive circuit generates a pulsed voltage.

3. 3. The flexible ultrasonic generator according to claim 1, The drive circuit includes: An inductor; A field effect transistor on the input side; An output field effect transistor; A Schottky barrier diode; A discharge resistor; Equipped with A flexible ultrasonic generator characterized in that the inductor, the input side field effect transistor, the Schottky barrier diode, the output side field effect transistor, and the discharge resistor are arranged in this order.

4. The flexible ultrasonic generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A flexible ultrasonic generator, characterized in that the actuator generates ultrasonic vibrations. 。

5. The flexible ultrasonic generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a flexible tube into which the actuator and the drive circuit are inserted, The flexible tube is inserted through the inside of the endoscope from a forceps inlet of the endoscope, A flexible ultrasonic generating device, characterized in that an endoscopic treatment tool is attached to the actuator.

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