High-intensity focused ultrasonic generator using insulating materials

Abstract

In the present invention, a plurality of transducers are individually mounted on an ultrasonic radiation frame by transducer holders, at least a part of the transducer holders is constituted by electrodes formed of a conductive material, the front surface of the transducer is in contact with and electrically connected to the transducer holder, and the back surface of the transducer is electrically connected via electrode wires, so that it is not necessary to solder the electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of water leakage due to the soldering structure, and the manufacturing becomes easier. Further, the transducer is configured to be seated on the support protrusions of the transducer holder, so that the electrode wires coupled to the lower surface of the transducer are prevented from contacting the transducer holder, short-circuit phenomena can be prevented, the structure of the electrodes is stabilized, and the effect of vibration waves can be enhanced.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator using an insulating material, and more particularly to a high-intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator using an insulating material, in which a plurality of transducers are individually mounted on an ultrasonic wave emitting frame by transducer holders, and at least a portion of the ultrasonic wave emitting frame is made of an insulating material, thereby improving durability and insulation. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) generator is a device that can treat an affected area without surgery by focusing ultrasound waves generated from a transducer to generate high-intensity ultrasonic energy, which is then irradiated onto the affected area of ​​a patient to raise the temperature of the affected area.

[0003] In the case of using tens or hundreds of transducers in a conventional high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator, the transducers are mounted on the front surface of an ultrasonic wave emitting frame, and then the entire front surface of the ultrasonic wave emitting frame is coated with glue to form a waterproof layer, thereby fixing the transducers in place and preventing water leakage.

[0004] However, since the ultrasonic energy generated forward from the transducers is absorbed by the waterproof layer, there is a problem that the input voltage must be increased to compensate for this. In addition, there is a problem that the ultrasonic emitting frame must be replaced if any one of the multiple transducers breaks down. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator that allows easy replacement and repair of transducers and uses insulating materials that ensure durability and insulation properties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a high intensity focused ultrasound generator using an insulating material, comprising: an ultrasound emitting frame having a concave front surface and a plurality of coupling holes; a plurality of transducer holders inserted into the plurality of coupling holes from the front of the ultrasound emitting frame and detachably coupled to the ultrasound emitting frame through the plurality of coupling holes; and a plurality of transducers mounted on the plurality of transducer holders so that their front surfaces are exposed. The ultrasound emitting frame is made of an insulating material, and the transducer holders are electrodes made of a conductive material or electrodes whose surfaces are coated with a conductive material. At least one of the front and side surfaces of the transducers is in contact with and electrically connected to the electrodes. The rear surfaces of the transducers are coupled to a current supply unit inserted through a current supply hole formed at the rear of the transducer holder, and current is supplied to the transducers by a potential difference applied between the electrodes and the current supply unit.

[0007] The ultrasonic wave radiation frame is made of silver, resin, or a carbon composite material, which is an insulating material obtained by mixing a carbon material with the resin at a predetermined ratio.

[0008] The ultrasound radiation frame includes a frame body formed of metal and an insulating layer formed by anodizing the surface of the frame body.

[0009] The surface of the ultrasonic radiation frame includes an insulating layer coated with an insulating material.

[0010] The transducer holder includes a head portion mounted on the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame and having a mounting groove formed therein into which the transducer is inserted and mounted, and a body portion extending rearward from the head portion, passing through the coupling hole, and being coupled to the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame by a fastening member.

[0011] The body of the transducer holder is formed with a current supply hole through which the current supply part can pass and be pulled out to the rear of the ultrasound emission frame, and the space between the current supply part and the current supply hole is sealed with waterproof glue.

[0012] The head portion of the transducer holder is formed such that at least a portion of the side surface of the seating groove is open.

[0013] The head portion of the transducer holder is formed with at least one support protrusion that protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating groove to support the lower surface of the transducer and form a space between the transducer and the bottom surface.

[0014] The head portion of the transducer holder is formed with a locking protrusion that protrudes from the bottom surface of the seating groove and has a tip that is bent inward to prevent the transducer inserted into the seating groove from falling out.

[0015] The body portion of the transducer holder includes a shaft portion extending rearward from the head portion and press-fitted into the coupling hole, and a screw portion extending rearward from the shaft portion, passing through the coupling hole, and then coupled to the fastening member at the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame.

[0016] The support protrusions are made of a non-conductive material.

[0017] The sides and back of the transducer are coated with at least one of a waterproof material and a non-conductive material.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasound using an insulating material, the apparatus comprising: an ultrasound emitting frame having a probe disposed at the center of a front surface thereof and having a plurality of coupling holes formed around the probe; a plurality of transducer holders inserted into the plurality of coupling holes from the front of the ultrasound emitting frame, passing through the ultrasound emitting frame, and detachably coupled to a rear surface of the ultrasound emitting frame; and a plurality of transducers mounted on at least some of the open front surfaces of the plurality of transducer holders, the ultrasound emitting frame being made of an insulating material; a head portion seated on the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame and having seating grooves into which the transducers are inserted and seated; and a fastening member extending rearward from the head portion, passing through the seating holes, and coupled to a rear surface of the ultrasound emitting frame. and a body part connected to the head part by a pair of supporting protrusions formed on the head part, the supporting protrusions protruding from the bottom of the seating groove to support the underside of the transducer and form a gap between the transducer and the bottom part. The transducer holder is an electrode made of a conductive material or an electrode whose surface is coated with a conductive material, and at least one of the front and side surfaces of the transducer contacts the electrode, and the back surface of the transducer is connected to an electrode wire inserted through an electrode wire hole formed in the body part. The ultrasonic wave emitting frame further includes an RF board to which the plurality of transducers are electrically connected and which supplies RF power to the transducers.

[0019] The current supply unit includes a plurality of electrode wires respectively connected to the plurality of transducers, and the RF board includes a plurality of board connectors respectively corresponding to the electrode wires and to which the electrode wires are detachably coupled.

[0020] The plurality of board connectors are detachably coupled to the RF board.

[0021] The RF board further includes a monitoring sensor for detecting a power supply state of an electrode wire connected to each of the transducers to independently monitor an operating state of the transducers.

[0022] The RF board further includes an insulating cover formed to cover the outside of the RF board.

[0023] The RF board further includes a power supply device for supplying the RF power to the RF board, and a power cable connecting the RF board and the power supply device and detachably coupled to the RF board.

[0024] It further includes a probe coupled to the center of the ultrasound emitting frame.

[0025] The RF board is provided on the remaining portion of the rear surface of the ultrasound radiation frame except for a coupling portion to which the probe is coupled.

[0026] At least one of the rear surface and the side surface of the transducer is bonded to the transducer holder by an adhesive member, the transducer is sealed inside the transducer holder so as to be able to vibrate, and the transducer holder and the ultrasound radiation frame are sealed by a sealing member.

[0027] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high intensity focused ultrasound generator using an insulating material, comprising: an ultrasound emitting frame having a probe disposed at the center of a front surface thereof and a plurality of coupling holes formed around the probe; a plurality of transducer holders inserted into the plurality of coupling holes from the front of the ultrasound emitting frame, passing through the ultrasound emitting frame, and detachably coupled to a rear surface of the ultrasound emitting frame; and a plurality of transducer holders attached to at least some of the open front surfaces of the plurality of transducer holders, respectively, wherein the ultrasound emitting frame is made of an insulating material, and the transducer holders are conductive. The transducer may be an electrode formed of a conductive material or an electrode whose surface is coated with a conductive material, and the transducer may further include an RF board provided on the ultrasound emission frame for supplying RF power to the transducers, a plurality of electrode wires connected to the plurality of transducers respectively, a plurality of board connectors provided on the RF board corresponding to the electrode wires respectively and to which the electrode wires are detachably coupled, and a monitoring sensor provided on the RF board for sensing a power supply state of the electrode wires connected to the transducers respectively and independently monitoring an operating state of the transducers.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator using an insulating material, the generator comprising: an ultrasonic wave emitting frame having a concave front surface and a plurality of coupling holes; a plurality of transducer holders inserted into the plurality of coupling holes at a front portion of the ultrasonic wave emitting frame and detachably coupled to the ultrasonic wave emitting frame through the plurality of coupling holes; and a plurality of transducers mounted on the plurality of transducer holders such that their front surfaces are exposed, the ultrasonic wave emitting frame being made of an insulating material;

[0029] The transducer holder is an electrode made of a conductive material or an electrode whose surface is coated with a conductive material, and is provided on the ultrasound emitting frame. The transducer holder includes: an RF board to which the plurality of transducers are electrically connected and which supplies RF power to the transducers; a plurality of electrode wires connected to the plurality of transducers, respectively; a plurality of board connectors provided on the RF board corresponding to the electrode wires, and to which the electrode wires are detachably coupled; a monitoring sensor provided on the RF board and monitoring the operating state of the transducers; and an insulating cover formed to cover the outside of the RF board. The transducer holder includes: a head portion mounted on the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame and having mounting grooves into which the transducers are inserted and mounted; and a body portion extending rearward from the head portion, passing through the mounting holes, and coupled to the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame by a fastening member. The body portion of the transducer holder has electrode wire holes formed therein so that the electrode wires can pass and be drawn out to the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator according to the present invention has an ultrasonic radiation frame made of an insulating material containing resin, which improves moldability and corrosion resistance, and not only ensures electrical insulation but also reduces the weight and volume of the device, thereby offering the advantage of cost savings.

[0031] In addition, the ultrasonic wave emitting frame is made of an insulating carbon composite material, which is a mixture of resin and carbon material, which improves moldability, corrosion resistance, and durability, and ensures electrical insulation. It also has the advantage of reducing the weight and volume of the device, thereby reducing costs.

[0032] Furthermore, the ultrasonic radiation frame includes a frame body formed of a metal such as aluminum and an insulating layer formed by anodizing the surface of the frame body, which has the advantage of ensuring durability and electrical insulation.

[0033] In the present invention, a plurality of transducers are individually mounted on an ultrasound emitting frame by means of transducer holders, and at least a portion of the transducer holder is composed of an electrode formed of a conductive material, so that the front surface of the transducer is in contact with the transducer holder and electrically connected, and the back surface of the transducer is electrically connected via an electrode wire. This eliminates the need to solder electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer, thereby preventing water leakage due to the soldered structure and making manufacturing easier.

[0034] In addition, the transducer is configured to be seated on the support protrusion of the transducer holder, which prevents the electrode wires connected to the underside of the transducer from coming into contact with the transducer holder, thereby preventing short circuits and stabilizing the electrode structure, thereby strengthening the effect of the vibration waves.

[0035] Furthermore, since an RF board for applying RF power is provided on the back of the ultrasound emission frame, multiple transducers are individually connected to the RF board via board connectors, so that if some of the multiple transducers need to be repaired or replaced, it is easy to repair or replace only the relevant transducers.

[0036] Furthermore, by providing monitoring sensors on the RF board, the status of multiple transducers can be monitored individually, which has the advantage of making it easier to identify transducers that need repair or replacement and allowing for prompt action. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a head module of a high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure between an ultrasound emitting frame and a transducer holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between an ultrasound emitting frame and a transducer holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 1 is a front perspective view of a transducer holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the transducer holder shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of an electrode using a transducer holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing an ultrasound emitting frame and an RF board according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] A high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) generator using an insulating material according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The HIFU generator includes a transducer array in which tens or hundreds of transducers are radially arranged, and can be used not only to treat affected areas of patients with tumors, but also to stimulate the brain to treat Alzheimer's disease, depression, etc., and to apply heat to specific areas to enhance immunity.

[0040] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a head module of a high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure of an ultrasonic wave emitting frame and a transducer holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the head module of the high intensity focused ultrasound generator includes an ultrasound radiation frame 10, a plurality of transducers 20, and a plurality of transducer holders 100.

[0042] The ultrasound emission frame 10 is made of an insulating material. That is, the ultrasound emission frame 10 may be formed of resin alone, or may be formed of a carbon composite insulating material obtained by mixing a carbon material with the resin at a predetermined ratio. Here, the resin may include at least one of polyamide resin, acetal resin, polycarbonate, and polyphenylene oxide. The carbon material may include carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene, etc. The predetermined ratio is set to limit the amount of the carbon material added so that the carbon composite does not become conductive. The predetermined ratio may be set in advance through experiments, etc.

[0043] The ultrasound emitting frame 10 has a probe 11 connected to the center of its front surface 10a, and a plurality of connection holes 12 arranged radially around the probe 11. The ultrasound emitting frame 10 has a dish-like shape with a concave front surface so that ultrasound waves radiated from the plurality of transducers 20 can be focused and radiated to one point.

[0044] The plurality of coupling holes 12 are through holes spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals. The number of the coupling holes 12 is determined according to the number of the transducers 20.

[0045] The plurality of transducers 20 may include piezoelectric elements. The transducers 20 generate ultrasonic waves when a voltage is applied. The transducers 20 are described below as being formed in a disk shape. Dozens or hundreds of the transducers 20 are radially arranged to form a transducer array. The number of the transducers 20 can be determined depending on the ultrasonic energy to be emitted.

[0046] Each surface of the transducer 20 is coated with an electrode material, which is a conductive material, that is, each of the transducers 20 is made of a piezoelectric material inside and coated with an electrode material on the surface.

[0047] The transducer holder 100 will be described as being formed to have electrical conductivity. In this embodiment, the transducer holder 100 will be described as being molded from a non-conductive material and then coated with a conductive material on each surface. The transducer holder 100 will be described as being molded from a resin material and then coated with the conductive material on each surface. Furthermore, the transducer holder 100 may be coated with a conductive material only on the inside of the head portion 110 (described later) or on the surface excluding the support protrusions 110b (described later). If the entire surface of the transducer holder 100 is coated with the conductive material, at least a portion of the side and rear of the transducer 20 may be coated with a non-conductive material to prevent short circuits. Furthermore, if at least a portion of the side and rear of the transducer 20 is coated with a waterproof material, corrosion and fluctuations in output value due to water intrusion can be prevented.

[0048] The conductive material may include at least one of chromium, nickel, cadmium, iron, copper, platinum, gold, silver, lead, and alloys, but is not limited thereto and any electrically conductive material may be used.

[0049] In this embodiment, a chromium coating layer is formed on the surface of the transducer holder 100 to form the electrode 170. As shown in FIG.

[0050] The transducer holders 100 are detachably coupled to the respective coupling holes 12. The transducers 20 are coupled to the transducer holders 100, respectively.

[0051] 3 to 6, the transducer holder 100 includes a head portion 110 having a seating groove 110a formed therein into which the transducer 20 is inserted and seated, and a body portion 120 extending rearward from the head portion 110 and coupled to the coupling hole 12.

[0052] The head part 110 has a diameter larger than that of the coupling hole 12 so as to be mounted on the front surface 10a of the ultrasound emission frame 10. The head part 110 has the mounting groove 110a, the support protrusion 110b, the locking protrusion 110c, and the opening 110d.

[0053] The seating groove 110a is formed in the front of the head part 110 so as to open to the front, and is a groove formed so that the transducer 20 can be seated therein.

[0054] The support protrusion 110b is formed to protrude forward from the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a by a predetermined height and is a step formed to support the bottom surface of the transducer 20. The support protrusion 110b forms a gap S between the bottom surface of the transducer 20 and the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a, forming a path through which the electrode wire 180 connected to the transducer 20 passes, thereby stably implementing the electrode structure and enabling the transducer 20 to vibrate, thereby maximizing the vibration wave energy of the transducer 20. In the following description, a plurality of support protrusions 110b are formed at predetermined intervals. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one support protrusion 110b may be provided at the center of the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a. Also, the support protrusion 110b can be formed integrally with the head portion 110, or can be formed by applying a non-conductive material, such as glue, to the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a.

[0055] The locking protrusions 110c protrude from the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a and have their tips bent inward to prevent the transducer 20 inserted in the seating groove 110a from coming off. The tips of the locking protrusions 110c can be changed to any shape, such as a hook shape, as long as they can prevent the transducer 20 from coming off. The locking protrusions 110c are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which some of the locking protrusions 110c protrude from the support protrusions 110b.

[0056] The opening 110d is a cutout formed on the side of the seating groove 110a. The opening 110d has the advantage of facilitating assembly. In addition, the opening 110d allows the transducer 20 to vibrate within the seating groove 110a, maximizing the vibration wave energy of the transducer 20.

[0057] The body part 120 preferably extends rearward from the head part 110 and passes through the coupling hole 12. The body part 120 has a diameter smaller than that of the head part 110. A current supply hole is formed at the center of the body part 120 so that a current supply part (described later) can pass through.

[0058] The body portion 120 includes a shaft portion 121 and a screw portion 122 .

[0059] The shaft portion 121 extends rearward from the head portion 110 and is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to be press-fitted into the coupling hole 12 .

[0060] The screw portion 122 extends rearward from the shaft portion 121 and has a screw thread formed on its outer circumferential surface so as to be fastened by a fastening member 150 .

[0061] The fastening member 150 is preferably a nut, but is not limited thereto.

[0062] Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between an ultrasound emitting frame and a transducer holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] The adhesive member will be described by taking a flexible glue as an example. A flexible glue layer 200 made of the flexible glue is formed between at least one of the rear and side surfaces of the transducer 20 and the head part 110. The flexible glue may be a silicone or epoxy-based glue, and any flexible material may be used.

[0064] In this embodiment, the flexible glue layer 200 is formed between the rear surface of the transducer 20 and the support protrusion 110b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the flexible glue layer 200 may also be formed between the side surface of the transducer 20 and the inner surface of the locking protrusion 110c. In other words, the flexible glue layer 200 can be applied to any position as long as it does not block the front surface of the transducer 20.

[0065] Since the transducer 20 is adhered and fixed to the transducer holder 100 by the flexible glue, the transducer 20 can vibrate while the position of the transducer 20 is fixed inside the transducer holder 100, thereby minimizing loss of vibration wave energy of the transducer 20. Furthermore, since no glue is applied to the front surface of the transducer 20, loss of ultrasonic energy radiated forward from the transducer 20 can be prevented. That is, since the flexible glue layer 200 is formed only on the rear or side surface of the transducer 20 and does not cover the front surface of the transducer 20, there is no restriction on the radiation of ultrasonic energy through the front surface.

[0066] The transducer holder 100 and the ultrasound radiation frame 10 are sealed with a sealing member.

[0067] The sealing member includes a first sealing member 210 that seals between the head portion 110 of the transducer holder 100 and the front surface 10a of the ultrasound emitting frame 10, and a second sealing member 220 that seals between the body portion 120 and the rear surface 10b of the ultrasound emitting frame 10.

[0068] The first sealing member 210 will be described as including two first and second O-rings 211 and 212 inserted and coupled to the rear surface of the head part 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this and the number of first sealing members 210 may be varied. In addition, the first sealing member 210 may be made of various materials such as silicon and rubber other than O-rings, and any material having a sealing structure may be used.

[0069] The first O-ring 211 and the second O-ring 212 preferably have different diameters. The first O-ring 211 and the second O-ring 212 are inserted into a ring-shaped groove 110e formed on the rear surface of the head part 110 and closely contact the front surface 10a of the ultrasound emission frame 10 to form a seal.

[0070] The second sealing member 220 includes a third O-ring 221 that is fitted onto the shaft portion 121 of the body portion 120, and an O-ring pressure member 222 that is fitted onto the shaft portion 121 from behind the third O-ring 221 to tightly contact the rear surface 10b of the ultrasound emission frame 10.

[0071] The O-ring pressing member 222 is formed in a ring shape, and has an inclined surface 222a on its front surface so that a part of the third O-ring 221 can be seated thereon.

[0072] The second sealing member 220 may further include a washer 223 provided between the O-ring pressing member 222 and the fastening member 150. The washer 223 is not an essential component of the second sealing member 220 and may be included as an additional component. The washer 223 serves to seal the third O-ring 221 and the O-ring pressing member 222 and to hold the transducer holder 100.

[0073] The second sealing member 220 may be made of various materials such as silicon, rubber, etc., in addition to an O-ring or washer, and any material having a sealing structure may be used.

[0074] Furthermore, a waterproof glue layer 250 made of waterproof glue is formed between the electrode wire hole 120a of the transducer holder 100 and the electrode wire 180 described below. The waterproof glue can be the same as the flexible glue. Furthermore, the waterproof glue layer 250 can also be formed so that the entire gap S is filled with the waterproof glue.

[0075] Meanwhile, the structure of an electrode using the transducer holder 100 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0076] The surface of the transducer holder 100 is coated with a conductive material to form an electrode 170, and the inside of the transducer holder 100 is formed of a non-conductive material.

[0077] The electrode 170 is a coating layer formed by coating the entire surface of the transducer holder 100 with the conductive material and is grounded. However, without being limited thereto, the electrode 170 may be formed by coating only a portion of the surface of the transducer holder 100, including the portion that contacts the transducer 20, with the conductive material. The entire surface of the transducer holder 100 may be coated with the conductive material, or only the surface excluding the inside of the head portion 110 or the support protrusion 110b may be coated with the conductive material. If the entire surface of the transducer holder 100 is coated with the conductive material, at least a portion of the side and rear of the transducer 20 may be coated with a non-conductive material to prevent short circuits. Furthermore, if at least a portion of the side and rear of the transducer 20 is coated with a waterproof material, corrosion and fluctuations in output value due to water intrusion can be prevented.

[0078] The conductive material may be any material that can be used as an electrode, such as a metal like silver, and the non-conductive material will be described as a plastic material.

[0079] Therefore, the front and side surfaces of the transducer 20 are in contact with the electrode 170 and are grounded, and the rear surface of the transducer 20 is connected to a current supply unit.

[0080] The current supply unit will be described by taking the electrode wire 180 as an example, but is not limited thereto, and any device that can supply current, such as a pin or a connector, can be used.

[0081] The electrode wire 180 is connected to the center of the rear surface of the transducer 20 by soldering, and is an electric wire for supplying current to the transducer 20 .

[0082] The electrode wire 180 is disposed to pass through a current supply hole of the transducer holder 100. The current supply hole will be described as an example in which the electrode wire hole 120a is formed so that the electrode wire 180 passes through.

[0083] The electrode wires 180 are led out to the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 through the electrode wire holes 120a and connected to a separate circuit board.

[0084] Here, the electrode 170 may be set to either a positive electrode or a negative electrode, and the electrode wire 180 may be set to the other of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, so that a current flows through the transducer 20 due to a potential difference applied between the electrode 170 and the electrode wire 180. For example, the electrode 170 may be set to a positive electrode and the electrode wire 170 may be set to a ground electrode, or the electrode 170 may be set to a ground electrode and the electrode wire 180 may be set to a positive electrode.

[0085] The transducer 20 is seated on the support protrusion 110b, and the space S is formed between the transducer 20 and the bottom surface of the seating groove 110a of the transducer holder 100, thereby preventing the electrode wire 180 from contacting the electrode 170, which is the surface of the transducer holder 100, and therefore preventing a short circuit.

[0086] Therefore, since there is no need to solder electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer 20, it is possible to prevent water leakage due to the soldered structure at the front surface of the transducer 20. That is, it is possible to prevent water leakage from the front surface of the transducer 20, which is exposed to the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 and comes into contact with liquid, to the inside.

[0087] Furthermore, since there is no need to solder electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer 20, the electrode structure is simplified and there are advantages in that damage to the transducer 20 can be prevented.

[0088] Furthermore, in the high intensity focused ultrasound generator configured as described above, a plurality of transducers 20 are mounted on the ultrasound emitting frame 10 using the transducer holder 100, and the transducers 20 and the transducer holder 100 are bonded and sealed with the flexible glue, thereby preventing water leakage from the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 to the inside, even if the entire surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 is not completely coated with glue.

[0089] In addition, since glue is not applied to the entire front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10, the entire front surface of the transducer 20 is exposed, thereby preventing loss of ultrasonic energy radiated forward from the transducer 20. When the front surface of the transducer 20 is covered with a glue layer as in the conventional case, there is a problem that ultrasonic energy is absorbed by the glue layer, but in the present invention, since the entire front surface of the transducer 20 is exposed, this problem can be prevented.

[0090] Furthermore, since the transducer 20 is bonded to the inside of the transducer holder 100 with the flexible glue, the position of the transducer 20 is fixed and gaps are prevented, but the transducer 20 can still vibrate, thereby reducing loss of vibration wave energy of the transducer 20.

[0091] In addition, since the multiple transducers 20 are individually mounted via the transducer holder 100, and the transducer holder 100 is detachably connected to the ultrasound emission frame 10, there is an advantage that the transducers 20 can be repaired and replaced individually.

[0092] Furthermore, since the plurality of transducers 20 are individually mounted via the transducer holder 100, there is an advantage that the capacitances of at least some of the plurality of transducers 20 can be configured to be different. For example, it is possible to increase the capacitance of the transducers arranged in the center of the ultrasound emission frame 10, and it is also possible to control the voltages applied to the plurality of transducers 20 to be different from each other.

[0093] In addition, the space between the transducer holder 100 and the ultrasonic emitting frame 10 is sealed with a sealing member such as an O-ring, which not only prevents water leakage from the front to the rear of the ultrasonic emitting frame 10 but also makes it easy to attach and detach the transducer holder from the ultrasonic emitting frame.

[0094] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, all of the transducers 20 are coupled to the coupling holes 12 of the ultrasound emission frame 10. However, this is not limiting, and the transducers 20 may be provided in only some of the coupling holes 12 depending on the capacity of the high-intensity focused ultrasound generator. When the transducers 20 are provided in only some of the coupling holes 12, the transducer holders 100 may be coupled to all of the coupling holes 12, and a holder cover (not shown) for covering the open front surface may be detachably coupled to some of the transducer holders 100 to which the transducers 20 are not coupled. The holder cover (not shown) may be made of a different material and have the same shape as the transducers 20 and may be attached to the transducers 20 by glue. Therefore, the number of transducers 20 to be mounted can be adjusted, and the energy capacity of the high-intensity focused ultrasound generator can be adjusted.

[0095] In addition, in the above embodiment, the ultrasonic wave emitting frame 10 is made of an insulating material such as a resin or a carbon composite material, thereby ensuring the insulation of the ultrasonic wave emitting frame 10. Furthermore, since there is no need to perform an additional step to prevent the ultrasonic wave emitting frame and the transducer holder from coming into contact with each other, the number of processes can be reduced, and costs can also be reduced.

[0096] Furthermore, when the ultrasound emitting frame 10 is molded using a resin or carbon composite material, it is possible to perform precise molding, improving moldability, and it is advantageous in that the weight and volume of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 can be reduced compared to when it is made using other materials such as metal. When the weight of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 is reduced, the durability of the device for assembling the ultrasound emitting frame 10 can also be improved.

[0097] Furthermore, the insulating material may be a material that is easy to process and has high impact resistance, such as polyamide resin, acetal resin, polycarbonate, or polyphenylene oxide, thereby ensuring corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance.

[0098] On the other hand, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of an electrode using a transducer holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 7, the structure of the electrode using the transducer holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that the entire transducer holder 300 is an electrode made of a conductive material. The remaining configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment, so a detailed description of the similar configurations will be omitted and the differences will be focused on.

[0100] The transducer holder 300 is an electrode itself made of the conductive material, and its structure and shape are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0101] The conductive material may be any material that can be used as an electrode, such as a metal like silver.

[0102] The front and side surfaces of the transducer 20 are in contact with the electrodes and are grounded, and an electrode wire 180 is connected to the rear surface of the transducer 20 .

[0103] The electrode wire 180 is connected to the center of the rear surface of the transducer 20 by soldering and is an electric wire for supplying current to the transducer 20. The electrode wire 180 is arranged to pass through an electrode wire hole 120a of the transducer holder 100. The electrode wire 180 is pulled out to the rear of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 through the electrode wire hole 120a and connected to a separate circuit board.

[0104] Here, the transducer holder 300, i.e., the electrode, is set to either a positive or negative electrode, and the electrode wire 180 is set to the other of the positive and negative electrodes, so that a current flows through the transducer 20 due to a potential difference applied between the electrode and the electrode wire 180. Of course, the electrode can also be set to a ground electrode, and the electrode wire 180 can be set to a positive electrode.

[0105] The transducer 20 is seated on the support protrusions 110b, and the space S is formed between the transducer 20 and the bottom surface of the seating groove of the transducer holder 100, thereby preventing the electrode wires 180 from contacting the surface of the transducer holder 300 and preventing short circuits. In addition, the support protrusions 110b may be coated with or made of a non-conductive material.

[0106] Therefore, since there is no need to solder electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer 20, it is possible to prevent water leakage due to the soldered structure at the front surface of the transducer 20. That is, it is possible to prevent water leakage from the front surface of the transducer 20, which is exposed to the front surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 and comes into contact with liquid, to the inside.

[0107] In addition, since there is no need to solder electrode wires to the front surface of the transducer 20, there are advantages in that the electrode structure is simplified and damage to the transducer 20 can be prevented. Furthermore, at least a portion of the side and rear surface of the transducer 20 is coated with a non-conductive material to prevent short circuits. In addition, at least a portion of the side and rear surface of the transducer 20 is coated with a waterproof material to prevent corrosion or fluctuations in output value due to water penetration.

[0108] Meanwhile, the high intensity focused ultrasound generator according to the third embodiment of the present invention differs from the first and second embodiments in that the ultrasound emission frame 10 includes a frame body (not shown) made of metal and an insulating layer (not shown) formed by anodizing the surface of the frame body. The remaining configurations and functions are the same as those of the first and second embodiments. Therefore, detailed descriptions of similar configurations will be omitted below, and differences will be mainly described in detail.

[0109] Here, the metal will be described as aluminum, for example.

[0110] The insulating layer (not shown) is an oxide film formed by anodizing the aluminum, and therefore can improve not only the insulating function of the ultrasound radiation frame 10 but also the corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance.

[0111] The insulating layer (not shown) may be formed to a predetermined thickness or greater, which is set to a thickness that prevents current from passing through.

[0112] Meanwhile, without being limited to the above embodiment, the frame body (not shown) of the ultrasound emitting frame 10 may be formed of a material lighter than metal, and the insulating layer (not shown) may be a coating layer formed by coating the surface of the frame body with an insulating material.

[0113] 8 is a rear view showing an ultrasound emitting frame and an RF board according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0114] 8 and 9, the high intensity focused ultrasound generator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention differs from the first, second and third embodiments in that it further includes an RF board 260 which is provided on the ultrasound emission frame 10, electrically connects the plurality of transducers 20 to each other and supplies RF power to the transducers 20. However, the remaining configurations and functions are similar, so the following description will focus on the different configurations and omit detailed descriptions of the similar configurations.

[0115] The transducer holder 100 and the transducer 20 are in contact with each other and electrically connected to form an integrated electrode, which is connected to the RF board 260 and receives RF power.

[0116] An example will be described in which the transducer holder 100 is connected to the negative electrode of the RF board 260 and is grounded, and the transducer 20 is connected to the positive electrode of the RF board 260 and receives the RF power.

[0117] The transducer holder 100 and the transducer 20 are connected to the board connector 261 of the RF board 260 via the electrode wires, respectively.

[0118] The electrode wires include a first electrode wire (not shown) that connects the transducer holder 100 and the board connector 261 , and a second electrode wire 180 that connects the transducer 20 and the board connector 261 .

[0119] The second electrode wire 180 is connected to the center of the rear surface of the transducer 20 by soldering and is an electric wire for supplying RF power to the transducer 20. The second electrode wire 180 is disposed to pass through an electrode wire hole 120a of the transducer holder 100. The second electrode wire 180 is pulled out to the rear of the ultrasound emission frame 10 through the electrode wire hole 120a and connected to the RF board 260.

[0120] The RF board 260 is detachably connected to the rear surface of the ultrasound emitting frame 10, and is connected to a plurality of first electrode wires (not shown) respectively connected to the plurality of transducer holders 100 and a plurality of second electrode wires 180 respectively connected to the plurality of transducers 20.

[0121] The RF board 260 is disposed at the rear of the ultrasound transmitting frame 10, excluding the center, to prevent interference with the probe 11 when the probe 11 is coupled thereto. The RF board 260 may be formed in a plurality of shapes. In this embodiment, four RF boards 260 are arc-shaped and connected to each other to form a ring. When a plurality of RF boards 260 are provided, the RF boards 260 may be connected to each other or spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance. The number and shape of the RF boards 260 may be varied as long as they prevent interference with the probe 11. That is, the RF boards 260 may be varied as long as they are disposed at the remaining part of the ultrasound transmitting frame 10, excluding the center, where the probe 11 is coupled. For example, one or more RF boards 260 may be disposed in a rectangular, triangular, or crescent shape at the remaining part of the ultrasound transmitting frame 10, excluding the center.

[0122] Also, when there are n RF boards 260, the transducers 20 may be grouped into n bundles according to their positions, and the transducers 20 may be connected to the n RF boards 260 for each bundle, respectively. Therefore, the RF boards 260 may be individually replaceable and repairable.

[0123] The RF board 260 is provided with a plurality of board connectors 261 .

[0124] The board connector 261 is provided on the RF board 260 and is a connector to which the first and second electrode wires 180 are detachably coupled. The board connectors 261 are formed to correspond to the number of the transducers 20 so that the transducers 20 can be independently connected. However, without being limited thereto, at least two or more transducers 20 may be coupled to one board connector 261, and the number of the board connectors 261 may be greater than the number of the transducers 20. The board connector 261 may be integrally provided on the RF board 260, or may be detachably coupled to the RF board 260.

[0125] The RF board 260 further includes a monitoring sensor (not shown).

[0126] The monitoring sensor (not shown) is provided on the RF board 260 and is a sensor for independently monitoring the operating state of the transducer 20. In this embodiment, the monitoring sensor (not shown) will be described as detecting the power supply state of the second electrode wires 180 connected to the transducers 20 and detecting normal or abnormal operation of the transducers 20. For example, the monitoring sensor (not shown) will be described as a current sensor or a voltage sensor that detects overcurrent, overvoltage, or current interruption of the electrode wires 180. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any sensor that can detect an abnormal state of the transducer 20, such as a temperature sensor, may be used.

[0127] An insulating cover 270 is provided on the outer surface of the RF board 260 .

[0128] The insulating cover 270 is provided to cover the outer surface of the RF board 260 and serves to provide insulation. In this embodiment, the insulating cover 270 is described as being made of a polyimide film, but is not limited thereto and any insulating material may be used. The insulating cover 270 may be coupled to the RF board 260 using a fastening member or attached to the RF board 260 using a separate adhesive member.

[0129] Meanwhile, the RF board 260 is connected to a power supply (not shown) for supplying the RF power.

[0130] The RF board 260 and the power supply (not shown) may be connected to a plurality of power cables (not shown) detachably coupled to the RF board 260. The power cables (not shown) are exemplified as BNC cables having BNC (Bayonet Neil-Concelman) connectors, but are not limited thereto and may be variously applied.

[0131] As described above, in this embodiment, the transducer 20 is connected to the RF board 260 and receives the RF power supply through the RF board 260 .

[0132] Since the plurality of transducers 20 are connected to the board connectors 261 of the RF board 260, if any one of the plurality of transducers 20 is damaged or needs to be replaced, it is possible to repair or replace only that transducer 20. That is, if the plurality of electrode wires connected to the transducers 20 are connected together to a separate power supply, there is a problem that it is not possible to check the state of the transducers individually, and it is also not possible to repair or replace them individually. On the other hand, in the present invention, the RF board 260 is provided between the transducers 20 and the power supply (not shown), and the second electrode wires 180 connected to the plurality of transducers 20 are configured to be connected to the RF board 260 individually through board connectors, respectively, so that the transducers 20 can be repaired or replaced individually.

[0133] In addition, the status of the plurality of transducers 20 can be individually monitored using a monitoring sensor (not shown) provided on the RF board 260, so that only the transducers 20 that require repair or replacement can be identified more easily and quickly, and a prompt response can be taken.

[0134] Therefore, the plurality of transducers 20 can be independently monitored and repaired, which may facilitate maintenance and repair.

[0135] Moreover, since the RF board 260 can be interchangeable with the probe 11, it is easy to treat various kinds of lesions.

[0136] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the transducer holder 100 is grounded and RF power is applied only to the transducer 20. However, without being limited thereto, it is also possible that the transducer holder 100 is connected to the negative electrode of the RF board 260 and the transducer 20 is connected to the positive electrode of the RF board 260, so that there is a potential difference between the transducer holder 100 and the transducer 20.

[0137] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the surface of the transducer holder 100 is coated with a conductive material, or the entire transducer holder 100 is formed of a conductive material, and the transducer holder 100 and the transducer 20 function as an integrated electrode. However, without being limited thereto, the transducer holder 100 can also be formed of a non-conductive material, i.e., an insulating material. When the transducer holder 100 is formed of an insulating material, first and second electrode wires (not shown) are connected to the upper and lower parts of the transducer 20, respectively, and the first and second electrode wires (not shown) are connected to the RF board 260.

[0138] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, these are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0139] According to the present invention, a high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator can be manufactured using an insulating material that can improve durability and insulating properties.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic wave emitting frame having a coupling hole formed therein; a transducer holder inserted into the coupling hole and detachably coupled thereto; a transducer mounted in the transducer holder; The ultrasonic wave radiation frame is made of an insulating material, The transducer holder is an electrode made of a conductive material or an electrode whose surface is coated with a conductive material; At least one of the front and side surfaces of the transducer is in contact with and electrically connected to the electrode; The rear surface of the transducer is connected to a current supply inserted through a current supply hole formed at the rear of the transducer holder, A high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator using an insulating material, in which a current is supplied to the transducer by a potential difference applied between the electrode and the current supply unit.

2. 2. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic radiation frame is molded from a resin or a carbon composite material which is an insulating material obtained by mixing a carbon material with the resin at a predetermined ratio.

3. The ultrasonic radiation frame is a frame main body formed of metal; an insulating layer formed by anodizing the surface of the frame body; 2. A high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator using the insulating material according to claim 1, comprising:

4. 2. The apparatus for generating high intensity focused ultrasonic waves using an insulating material according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the ultrasonic radiation frame includes an insulating layer coated with an insulating material.

5. The transducer holder includes: a head portion that is mounted on the ultrasound radiation frame and has a mounting groove formed therein into which the transducer is inserted and mounted; a body portion extending rearward from the head portion, passing through the coupling hole, and being coupled to a rear portion of the ultrasound radiation frame by a fastening member; 2. A high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator using the insulating material according to claim 1, comprising:

6. The body of the transducer holder includes: The current supply hole is formed so that the current supply part can pass through and be drawn out to the rear of the ultrasound emission frame, 6. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 5, wherein the current supply part and the current supply hole are sealed with waterproof glue.

7. The head of the transducer holder comprises:

6. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the side of the seating groove is formed to be open.

8. The head of the transducer holder includes:

6. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 5, wherein at least one support protrusion is formed from the bottom surface of the seating groove to support the lower surface of the transducer and form a space between the transducer and the bottom surface.

9. The head of the transducer holder includes:

6. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 5, wherein a locking protrusion is formed, the locking protrusion being formed to protrude from the bottom surface of the seating groove and having a tip bent inward, to prevent the transducer inserted into the seating groove from coming off.

10. The body portion of the transducer holder includes: a shaft portion extending rearward from the head portion and press-fitted into the coupling hole; a screw portion extending rearward from the shaft portion, passing through the coupling hole, and then coupled to the fastening member at the rear of the ultrasound radiation frame; 6. A high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using the insulating material according to claim 5, comprising:

11. 9. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using insulating material according to claim 8, wherein the support protrusions are made of a non-conductive material.

12. 2. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 1, wherein the side and rear surfaces of the transducer are coated with at least one of a waterproof material and a non-conductive material.

13. A high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material as described in claim 1, characterized in that the transducers consist of multiple transducers, the multiple transducers are electrically connected to each other, and the high-intensity focused ultrasonic generator further includes an RF board that supplies RF power to the transducers.

14. the current supply unit includes a plurality of electrode wires connected to the plurality of transducers, respectively; 14. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 13, wherein the RF board further comprises a plurality of board connectors provided to correspond to the electrode wires, respectively, and to which the electrode wires are detachably coupled.

15. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of board connectors are detachably coupled to the RF board.

16. 14. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 13, further comprising a monitoring sensor provided on the RF board for detecting a power supply state of electrode wires connected to the transducers, respectively, to independently monitor an operating state of the transducers.

17. 14. The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 13, further comprising an insulating cover formed to cover the outside of the RF board.

18. a power supply device for supplying the RF power to the RF board; The high intensity focused ultrasonic generator using an insulating material according to claim 13, further comprising a power cable connecting the RF board and the power supply, the power cable being detachably coupled to the RF board.

19. further comprising a probe coupled to a center of the ultrasound emitting frame; 14. The high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator according to claim 13, wherein the RF board is provided on the remaining portion of the rear surface of the ultrasonic wave radiation frame except for a coupling portion to which the probe is coupled.

20. At least one of a rear surface and a side surface of the transducer is bonded to the transducer holder by an adhesive member, and the transducer is sealed inside the transducer holder so as to be capable of vibrating; 14. The high intensity focused ultrasonic wave generator using an insulating material according to claim 13, wherein a sealing member is used to seal the gap between the transducer holder and the ultrasonic wave radiation frame.

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