Focused ultrasound treatment device having replaceable head

Abstract

Disclosed is a focused ultrasound treatment device having a replaceable head. A focused ultrasound treatment device according to one embodiment comprises a main body connected to an ultrasound head. The main body comprises: a control unit for controlling the driving of a transducer in the ultrasound head; and a main body connector electrically connected to the control unit. The main body connector can be selectively connected to a first ultrasound head and a second ultrasound head. Therefore, the main body connector, when connected to the first ultrasound head, can be detached from the first ultrasound head and connected to the second ultrasound head to replace the first ultrasound head with the second ultrasound head.

Description

Head-replaceable focused ultrasound processing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a focused ultrasound (FUS) processing device technology, and more specifically, to a technology for connecting the main body and the head of a focused ultrasound processing device.

[0002] Ultrasound signals can be used to treat biological tissues such as cancer, tumors, and lesions. Ultrasound therapy is a method of treating lesions by outputting ultrasound signals to the lesion in the human body. Compared to general surgical procedures or chemotherapy, ultrasound therapy causes less trauma to the patient and enables non-invasive treatment. Its applications are diverse, including liver cancer, bone sarcoma, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, soft tissue tumors, and pelvic tumors. Focused ultrasound (FUS) signals can be used to treat tissues such as cancer, tumors, and lesions.

[0003] Focused ultrasound processing devices, excluding skin treatments with a treatment depth of 10 mm or less, generally have fixed ultrasound heads. In particular, for focused ultrasound with a treatment depth of 20 mm or more, there is no case where ultrasound heads are changed to match parameters such as depth and ultrasound intensity.

[0004] According to one embodiment, a focused ultrasonic processing device is proposed in which the head connected to the main body can be replaced.

[0005] A focused ultrasonic processing device according to one embodiment includes a main body connected to an ultrasonic head, wherein the main body includes a control unit that controls the operation of a transducer within the ultrasonic head and a main body connector that is electrically connected to the control unit, and as the main body connector can be selectively connected to a first ultrasonic head and a second ultrasonic head, the ultrasonic head can be replaced in such a manner that it is connected to the first ultrasonic head and then disconnected and connected to the second ultrasonic head.

[0006] The first ultrasonic head and the second ultrasonic head may have different focusing depths.

[0007] The control unit includes a focused ultrasound pulse generator that generates a pulse-shaped driving signal for transmitting a focused ultrasound signal of a focused ultrasound transducer of an ultrasound head, and the main body connector may include a focused ultrasound signal connector for connecting the focused ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound head and the focused ultrasound pulse generator of the main body.

[0008] The focused ultrasound signal connector can transmit a signal by being connected to the main body connector of the ultrasound head through the first cable.

[0009] The control unit may further include a matching unit for impedance matching between the focused ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound head and the focused ultrasound pulse generator of the main body.

[0010] The control unit includes an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image from an ultrasonic signal received from an image transducer, and the main body connector may include an image ultrasonic signal connector for connecting the image transducer of the ultrasonic head and the image generation unit of the main body.

[0011] The video ultrasonic signal connector can transmit a signal by being connected to the main body connector of the ultrasonic head through a second cable.

[0012] The main body connector may further include a sensor connector for connection with a sensor.

[0013] The control unit may further include a head type determination unit that determines the type of the connected ultrasonic head.

[0014] The control unit may further include a connection test unit that tests and checks the connection status between the head connector of the ultrasonic head connected to the main body connector when a predetermined ultrasonic head is connected.

[0015] According to the present invention, a head connected to the main body can be replaced. For example, a first ultrasound head with a focused treatment depth of 10 mm or less can be replaced with a second ultrasound head with a focused treatment depth of 10 mm or more using a connector.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an example of replacing the head of a focused ultrasonic processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a focused ultrasound processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of the main body (10) of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but can be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components.

[0020] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined to reflect the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intentions or conventions of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention exemplified below may be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an example of replacing the head of a focused ultrasonic processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the focused ultrasonic processing device (10) can be electrically connected to an ultrasonic head (20a or 20b) and a main body (10). The main body (10) can replace the ultrasonic head that is electrically connected. For example, when the first ultrasonic head (20) and the main body (10) are electrically connected, when replacing the ultrasonic head, the first ultrasonic head (20) connected to the main body (10) is disconnected, and the main body (10) and the second ultrasonic head (20) are electrically connected.

[0024] The first ultrasonic head (20) may have a focusing depth of 10 mm or less, and the second ultrasonic head (20) may have a focusing depth of 10 mm or more. When the focusing depth of the treatment area is 10 mm or more, an ultrasonic transducer suitable for the treatment parameters (frequency, intensity, time, etc.) suitable for the treatment area must be used. Accordingly, the present invention allows the ultrasonic head to be replaced with the second ultrasonic head (20) when the focusing depth of the treatment area is 10 mm or more.

[0025] The electrical connection between the main body (10) and the ultrasonic heads (20a, 20b) can be wired via a cable (30) or wirelessly.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a focused ultrasound processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the focused ultrasonic processing device (1) includes a main body (10) and an ultrasonic head (20).

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the ultrasound head (20) includes a transducer and a head connector (23). The transducer may include a focused ultrasound transducer (21) and an imaging transducer (22).

[0029] The focused ultrasound transducer (21) converts an electrical waveform, which is a driving signal received from the focused ultrasound pulse generator (111), into focused ultrasound and outputs the converted focused ultrasound to the tissue. The focused ultrasound transducer (21) may have a shape having a focused ultrasound radiation surface. The focused ultrasound transducer (21) generates focused ultrasound and focuses it on the treatment area. The focused ultrasound transducer (21) may be a multi-channel array structure composed of multiple units, wherein the multi-channel array structure may be an annular array in which multiple treatment transducers are arranged in an annular shape, or a random array arranged in a random shape.

[0030] The image transducer (22) outputs an image ultrasound signal into the tissue and receives an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the tissue in accordance with an electrical signal of a short pulse, which is a driving signal received from the image ultrasound pulse generator (112). The image transducer (22) receives the ultrasound echo signal until the next pulse is generated. The image transducer (22) may be configured with a piezoelectric element, etc., embedded in a cylindrical casing. The image transducer (22) may be a phased array imaging transducer.

[0031] The ultrasound head (20) may have a structure in which an image transducer (22) is located in the center and a focused ultrasound transducer (21) is arranged in the periphery. However, the structure of the focused ultrasound transducer (21) and the image transducer (22) is not limited to this and can be modified in various ways.

[0032] The head connector (23) is electrically connected to the focused ultrasound transducer (21) and the image transducer (22), and is also electrically connected to the main body connector (12) of the main body (10).

[0033] Meanwhile, the main body (10) includes a control unit (11) and a main body connector (12).

[0034] The main body connector (12) and the head connector (23) may have any shape as long as they are terminals that can be connected to each other.

[0035] The main body connector (12) is connected to the head connector (23) when the ultrasonic head (20) is connected to the main body (10). The main body connector (12) is electrically connected to the control unit (11).

[0036] The main body connector (12) is connected to the head connector (23) to supply power for ultrasonic transmission and reception of the ultrasonic head (20) and performs the function of transmitting ultrasonic signals, including focused ultrasonic signals and image ultrasonic signals, to the ultrasonic head (20).

[0037] The main body connector (12) and the head connector (23) can be connected via a cable. The cable may include a first cable for transmitting a signal to a focused ultrasound transducer (21) of the ultrasound head (20) and a second cable for transmitting a signal to an image transducer (22).

[0038] The control unit (11) controls the ultrasonic head (20) through the connection of the main body connector (12) and the head connector (23).

[0039] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the detailed configuration of the main body (10) of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, the main body (10) includes a control unit (11) and a main body connector (12).

[0041] The control unit (11) includes a focused ultrasound pulse generation unit (111), an image ultrasound pulse generation unit (112), an image generation unit (113), a matching unit (114), a sensor (115), a head type determination unit (116), and a connection test unit (117).

[0042] The focused ultrasound pulse generation unit (111) generates a pulse-shaped driving signal for the transmission of a focused ultrasound signal of the focused ultrasound transducer (21) of the ultrasound head (20) and transmits it to the focused ultrasound transducer (21).

[0043] The image ultrasonic pulse generation unit (112) generates a pulse-shaped driving signal for transmitting an image ultrasonic signal of the image transducer (22) of the ultrasonic head (20) and transmits it to the image transducer (22).

[0044] The image generation unit (113) processes the ultrasonic echo signal received from the image transducer (22) and generates an ultrasonic image based on the processed received signal. The generated ultrasonic image can be displayed on a screen through a display. For signal processing, the image generation unit (113) may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

[0045] The matching unit (114) performs impedance matching between the focused ultrasound transducer (21) of the ultrasound head (20) and the focused ultrasound pulse generator (111) of the main body (10). In FIG. 3, the matching unit (114) is provided in the main body (10), but it may also be provided in the ultrasound head (20).

[0046] The sensor (115) includes a cavitation sensor, a temperature sensor, etc.

[0047] The head type determination unit (116) determines the type of the ultrasonic head (20) connected to the main body (10). For example, the head type determination unit (116) determines whether the first ultrasonic head (20a in FIG. 1) is connected to the main body (10) or whether the second ultrasonic head (20b in FIG. 1) is connected. The head type determination unit (116) can determine the type of the ultrasonic head (20) using capacitance, impedance, etc. Depending on the determined type of the ultrasonic head (20), the driving method of the focused ultrasonic transducer (21) and the image transducer (22) within the ultrasonic head (20) can be controlled.

[0048] The connection test unit (117) tests and checks the connection status between the main body connector (12) and the head connector (23) when the main body (10) is connected to a predetermined ultrasonic head (20). The connection test unit (117) can test the connection status between the main body connector (12) and the head connector (23) of the ultrasonic head (20) using capacitance, impedance, etc.

[0049] Meanwhile, the main body connector (12) may include a focused ultrasound signal connector (121), an image ultrasound signal connector (122), a matching medium input / output connector (113), and a sensor connector (124).

[0050] The focused ultrasound signal connector (121) is connected to the main body connector (12) of the ultrasound head (20) and handles the connection between the focused ultrasound transducer (21) of the ultrasound head (20) and the focused ultrasound pulse generator (111) of the main body (10). The focused ultrasound signal connector (121) can be connected to the main body connector (12) of the ultrasound head (20) via a first cable.

[0051] The image ultrasonic signal connector (122) is connected to the main body connector (12) of the ultrasonic head (20) and handles the connection between the image transducer (22) of the ultrasonic head (20) and the image generating unit (113) of the main body (10). The image ultrasonic signal connector (122) can be connected to the main body connector (12) of the ultrasonic head (20) via a second cable.

[0052] The ultrasonic head (20) is configured such that, for impedance matching between the focused ultrasonic transducer (21) and the human body, a matching medium (water, oil, etc.) is filled into the ultrasonic head (20) and a membrane is wrapped around it. At this time, the matching medium input / output connector (113) serves as a connection connector for injecting or discharging the matching medium.

[0053] The sensor connector (124) serves as a connector for connecting with the sensor (115). The sensor includes a cavitation sensor, a temperature sensor, etc.

[0054] The present invention has been described above with reference to its embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be implemented in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, not by the foregoing description, and all variations within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being included in the invention.

Claims

1. A main body connected to an ultrasonic head; including, The above main body is A control unit for controlling the driving of a transducer within the above-mentioned ultrasonic head; and A main body connector electrically connected to the above-mentioned control unit; comprising, The above main body connector is A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by being able to selectively connect to a first ultrasound head and a second ultrasound head, and having an ultrasound head that is connected to the first ultrasound head and then separated to be connected to the second ultrasound head.

2. In Paragraph 1, A focused ultrasound processing device characterized in that the first ultrasound head and the second ultrasound head have different focusing depths.

3. In claim 1, the control unit A focused ultrasound pulse generation unit that generates a pulse-shaped driving signal for transmitting a focused ultrasound signal of a focused ultrasound transducer of the above-mentioned ultrasound head; Includes, The above main body connector is A focused ultrasound signal connector for connecting the focused ultrasound transducer of the above-mentioned ultrasound head and the focused ultrasound pulse generating unit of the above-mentioned main body; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by including 4. In claim 3, the focused ultrasound signal connector A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by transmitting a signal through a first cable connected to the main body connector of an ultrasonic head.

5. In claim 4, the control unit A matching unit for impedance matching between the focused ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound head and the focused ultrasound pulse generator of the main body; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by further including 6. In claim 1, the control unit An image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image from an ultrasonic signal received from an image transducer; Includes, The above main body connector is An image ultrasonic signal connector for connecting the image transducer of the above-mentioned ultrasonic head and the image generating unit of the above-mentioned main body; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by including 7. In claim 6, the image ultrasound signal connector A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by transmitting a signal through a second cable connected to the main body connector of the ultrasound head.

8. In claim 1, the main body connector Sensor connector for connection with the sensor; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by further including 9. In claim 1, the control unit Head type determination unit for determining the type of connected ultrasonic head; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by further including 10. In claim 1, the control unit A connection test unit that tests and checks the connection status between the head connector of the ultrasonic head connected to the main body connector when a predetermined ultrasonic head is connected; A focused ultrasound processing device characterized by further including

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