Antenna device

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna device comprising: a body; a signal pin coupled to the body and transmitting a first signal to the inside of the body; a conductor disposed in a space formed inside the body and forming a second signal to be transmitted to the outside in response to the first signal; and an end part disposed on one end of the body, wherein the end part mediates the transmission of the second signal, and the conductor has a stepped shape.

Description

antenna device

[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna device.

[0002] Radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia focuses on raising the temperature of the target area to above 45°C. When the temperature reaches 45°C, collagen in the dermal layer is stimulated, tightening the skin.

[0003] Skin tightening technology focuses on generating heat in the dermis layer, approximately 2 to 4 mm deep.

[0004] However, most studies on RF hyperthermia have focused on tumor ablation or using electrodes to emit electromagnetic fields, which are highly ineffective.

[0005] The use of microwaves in skin tightening treatments has been shown to be effective in minimizing discomfort. However, the problem lies in their large effective area. Because microwaves spread widely, focusing on the target area becomes difficult, and there's a risk of unintended temperature increases.

[0006] Previous studies on RF hyperthermia technologies for skin tightening have used electrodes that generate electromagnetic fields. Electrodes for generating electromagnetic fields are advantageous for designing small, portable devices. However, many of these designs do not consider impedance matching, resulting in impedance mismatch issues that require higher power or longer treatment times to achieve the desired skin-tightening temperatures.

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an antenna device that can apply an electromagnetic field concentrated on a specific area and is miniaturized to enhance convenience in using thermal therapy.

[0008] In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides an antenna device including a body, a signal pin coupled to the body to transmit a first signal to the inside of the body, a conductor disposed in a space formed inside the body and forming a second signal transmitted to the outside in response to the first signal, and an end disposed at one end of the body, the end mediating transmission of the second signal, and the conductor being formed in a step shape.

[0009] The antenna device of the present invention may further include a dielectric material filled in a space formed inside the body.

[0010] The conductor may include a first conductive bar arranged on the bottom surface of the body, a second conductive bar arranged above the first conductive bar and having a shorter length than the first conductive bar, and a third conductive bar arranged above the second conductive bar and having a shorter length than the second conductive bar.

[0011] The first to third challenge bars may be formed in a hexahedron.

[0012] One side of the first to third challenge bars may be in contact with the inner side of the body.

[0013] The signal pin can be inserted through the bottom surface of the body into the inside of the body.

[0014] The other side of the first challenge bar can be in contact with one end of the signal pin.

[0015] The above dielectric can form the second signal together with the conductor.

[0016] The present invention has the effect of increasing convenience in using thermal therapy by miniaturizing the device while allowing an electromagnetic field to be applied concentrated to a specific area.

[0017] Figure 1 is an assembly diagram of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Fig. 4 shows a conductor as a part of the antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 compares an antenna device with a meta-structure filled in a waveguide (structure A), a structure filled only with a dielectric instead of a meta-structure (structure B), and a structure filled only with empty air without a meta-structure (structure C) at the same size.

[0022] Figure 6 shows the experimental results on the thermal performance by operation of an antenna device filled with a meta structure in a waveguide.

[0023] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and embodiments. Specific embodiments are illustrated and described in detail in the drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but rather to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0024] In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0026]

[0027] FIG. 1 is an assembly diagram of an antenna device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an antenna device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of an antenna device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 illustrates a conductor as a part of an antenna device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an antenna device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0029] An antenna device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a body (110), a coaxial connector (120), an internal structure, and an end (150).

[0030] The body (110) can form the outer surface, inner surface, and bottom surface of the antenna device (100), respectively.

[0031] The outer and inner surfaces of the body (110) have the outer surface shape of a square pillar, and the outer and inner surfaces can be connected to have a certain thickness.

[0032] The z-axis (length direction, upward direction in the drawing) of the body (110) has an opening. The opening and the inner space are defined as a space (111) defined by the body (110). The opening can be formed to have a size corresponding to the area of ​​the dielectric (131) placed in the space (111) described later.

[0033] The space (111) and the portion of the body (110) surrounding the space (111) can function as a waveguide.

[0034] A mounting portion (113) may be formed at one end of the z-axis of the body (110). The mounting portion (113) provides a space in which the end portion (150) can be mounted, and a portion of the body (110) surrounding the outside of the mounting portion (113) defines the horizontal plane position of the end portion (150).

[0035] A coaxial connector (120) can be coupled to the lower outer surface of the body (110).

[0036] The body (110) is formed of a metal material. For example, the body (110) may be formed of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), etc.

[0037] The coaxial connector (120) is for transmitting an electromagnetic signal and can be connected to the outer surface or lower surface of the body (110) via a bolt.

[0038] A coaxial connector (120) may be configured to include a signal pin (121), an insulator (122), and a housing (123).

[0039] Here, the signal pin (121) is placed inside the insulator (122), and one end can be exposed to the outside.

[0040] The signal pin (121) placed inside the insulator (122) is accommodated in the housing (123) and the end can be exposed to the outside.

[0041] The signal pin (121) can be inserted through the bottom surface of the body (110) into the inside of the body (110).

[0042] Accordingly, the signal pin (121) can transmit the first signal into the space (111). That is, the signal pin (121) can be inserted into the waveguide to transmit the first signal.

[0043] A conductor (140) may be placed in a space (111) formed inside the body (110). Here, the internal structure of the body (110) may be a structure in which the conductor (140) is placed in an empty space, or a structure in which a dielectric (131) fills the remaining space of the space (111) excluding the conductor (140).

[0044] Below, an example will be described in which the internal structure of the body (110) includes a conductor (140) and a dielectric (131).

[0045] A structure in which the remaining space (111) except for the conductor (140) is filled with a dielectric (131) can be said to be a waveguide filled with a meta structure formed inside the waveguide.

[0046] The conductor (140) may be formed of copper (Cu), but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0047] The conductor (140) may have a different central axis from the body (110). In addition, the conductor (140) may be formed in a step shape.

[0048] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the conductor (140) may be configured to include first to third conductive bars (141, 142, 143).

[0049] Here, the first conductive bar (141) is placed on the bottom surface of the body (110). Then, the second conductive bar (142) is placed on top of the first conductive bar (141) and has a shorter length than the first conductive bar (141). Then, the third conductive bar (143) is placed on top of the second conductive bar (142) and has a shorter length than the second conductive bar (142).

[0050] Additionally, the first to third conductive bars (141, 142, 143) may be formed as a hexahedron (e.g., a rectangular parallelepiped). In addition, one side of the first to third conductive bars (141, 142, 143) may be arranged to be in contact with the inner side of the body (110).

[0051] The dielectric (131) can form a second signal transmitted to the outside together with the conductor (140) in response to the first signal.

[0052] The dielectric (131) may be, for example, Tefron, but is not limited thereto.

[0053] The upper part of the dielectric (131) can be in contact with the end (150).

[0054] The coaxial connector (120) may be an SMA (Sub-Miniature version A) connector.

[0055] The signal pin (121) can be inserted through the bottom surface of the body (110) into the inside of the body (110).

[0056] Here, the other side of the first conductive bar (141) of the conductor (140) is in contact with one end of the signal pin (121), but the conductor (140) and the signal pin (121) are not placed on a coaxial line. Accordingly, the conductor (140) and the signal pin (121) can be electrically connected.

[0057] The end (150) is connected to one end of the body (110).

[0058] The end (150) is formed of a dielectric and mediates the transmission of electromagnetic wave signals.

[0059] For example, the end (150) may include a sapphire material.

[0060] A first signal injected into space (111) by a coaxial connector (120) forms a second signal transmitted to the outside by a waveguide formed by an internal structure (131, 140), and the second signal can be transmitted to the outside via an end (150).

[0061] Additionally, the end (150) can come into direct contact with human skin when the antenna device (100) of the present invention is used as a heating device.

[0062] Figure 5 compares an antenna device with a meta-structure filled in a waveguide (structure A), a structure filled only with a dielectric instead of a meta-structure (structure B), and a structure filled only with empty air without a meta-structure (structure C) at the same size.

[0063] In structure B, the dielectric is made of Teflon.

[0064] The C structure had a resonant frequency of about 12 GHz, the B structure had a resonant frequency of 6.4 GHz, and the A structure had a resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz. It can be seen that the antenna device (100) including the metastructure requires a smaller resonant frequency in the same size, or a smaller size to achieve the same resonant frequency.

[0065] Waveguides containing metastructures can be designed to be miniaturized by reducing their size by 98.8% compared to waveguides filled only with air to achieve the same resonant frequency.

[0066] This miniaturized design means that the antenna device (100) can be usefully applied in a realistic size to RF treatment or treatment systems, such as high-frequency thermal devices.

[0067] In addition, examining the electric field distribution of Fig. 5, Structure A exhibited a strong upward electric field distribution and a weak rearward electric field distribution in the near field. This means that when the present invention is used as a heating device, the heating effect is limited to one direction, ensuring not only the therapeutic effect but also the safety of the user or practitioner.

[0068] Figure 6 shows the experimental results on the thermal performance by operation of an antenna device filled with a meta structure in a waveguide.

[0069] Figure 6a shows the surface temperature of pork at various operating powers and times. The antenna device (100) was connected to an RF generator with a frequency of 2.45 GHz by a coaxial connector (120). The antenna device (100) was positioned 4 mm above the pork phantom, and the temperature sensor was positioned 4 mm below the pork skin surface, respectively. The effective area of ​​heating by microwaves in the pork phantom was found to be 18 mm × 14 mm, which is a very narrow and concentrated area.

[0070] Figure 6b compares the simulated and measured temperatures at a location 4 mm below the skin surface. The simulation was performed using the Sim4Life platform, applying a human face model, while the measured results were for pork, as described in Figure 13a. In the human model simulation, temperatures were increased by 35.4°C and 11.6°C, respectively, within 60 seconds using RF powers of 80 W and 20 W, respectively.

[0071] Figure 6c shows the results of thermal therapy using an antenna device (100) on a human face (top) and stomach (bottom). The subject was a 27-year-old male, and the antenna aperture was positioned 5 to 8 mm away from the face / stomach. The RF input was 2.45 GHz and 20 W. The face / stomach temperature before thermal therapy was approximately 32°C, but after 60 seconds, the temperature of the target area increased to approximately 45°C.

[0072] The temperature rise results for pork and human face / stomach were found to be similar.

[0073]

[0074] Classification Type Frequency (GHz) Invasiveness Power (W) Temperature increase (time required) Target Comparison Example 1 Monopole 2.45 Invasive 2.5 10 ℃ (1500 s) Deep irradiation Comparison Example 2 Dipole 0.434 Non-invasive 5 10 ℃ (3600 s) Shallow tumor Comparison Example 3 Electrode 0.448 Non-invasive 200 1 1.1 ℃ (600 s) Subcutaneous fat Comparison Example 4 Electrode 0.001 Non-invasive 65 10 ℃ (180 s) Skin tightening Example Metamaterial 2.45 Non-invasive 20 / 80 1 1.6 / 3 5.4 ℃ (60 s) Skin tightening

[0075]

[0076] [Table 1] compares thermal therapy using comparative examples and thermal therapy using the antenna device (100) of the present invention.

[0077] Referring to [Table 1], when 2.45 GHz and low power of 2.5 W were used for deep tumor treatment using an invasive method, a relatively long time of 1500 s was required for a temperature increase of 10 ℃ (Comparative Example 1), and a non-invasive method for shallow tumor treatment required more time (Comparative Example 2).

[0078] In the case of electrode hyperthermia therapy using a relatively high power of 200 W as a non-invasive method, the temperature could be raised by about 10°C in a relatively short time of 600 s (Comparative Example 3), and in the case of using 65 W of power, the temperature could be raised by about 10°C in 180 s (Comparative Example 4).

[0079] In comparison, the antenna device (100) of the present invention can raise the temperature of only a narrow target area by 11.6°C or 35.4°C within 60 seconds with a low power of 20 W or 80 W, and thus it can be seen that it has the fastest and most efficient heating performance compared to comparative examples.

[0080]

[0081] The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood to not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. Body; A signal pin coupled to the body and transmitting a first signal to the inside of the body; A conductor disposed in a space formed inside the body and forming a second signal transmitted to the outside in response to the first signal; and Including a section disposed at one end of the above body, The above-mentioned section mediates the transmission of the second signal, The above conductor The above body and center axis are different from each other Antenna device.

2. In paragraph 1, The above conductor is formed in the shape of steps. Antenna device.

3. In paragraph 1, Dielectric filled in the space formed inside the above body An antenna device further comprising:

4. In paragraph 1, The above conductor A first challenge bar arranged on the bottom surface of the above body; A second conductive bar positioned above the first conductive bar and having a shorter length than the first conductive bar; and A third conductive bar is disposed on top of the second conductive bar and has a shorter length than the second conductive bar. Antenna device.

5. In paragraph 4, The above first to third challenge bars are Consisting of hexahedrons Antenna device.

6. In paragraph 4, One side of the first to third challenge bars Contacting the inner side of the above body Antenna device.

7. In paragraph 6, The above signal pin is Penetratingly inserted into the inside of the body from the bottom surface of the body Antenna device.

8. In paragraph 7, The other side of the above first challenge bar is Contact with one end of the above signal pin Antenna device.

9. In paragraph 3, The above genome Forming the second signal together with the conductor Antenna device.

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