Cylindrical Ultrasound Transducer for Uniform 360° Tissue Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasound transducers for renal artery ablation suffer from uneven heating due to thick welding points and inefficient ablation length, leading to repeated ablation and increased clinical risk.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical piezoelectric material layer with a through hole and support structure, combined with a conductive layer divided by an isolation strip into positive and negative electrode parts, ensures even vibrations and radial sound wave emission for uniform heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If direct wire welding is used on the ultrasound transducer, then the connection strength is improved, but the welding points become thick causing uneven heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidheating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the welding operation from the transducer tail end and relocates it to the inner side of the through hole. This removes the source of thick welding points that caused uneven heating, while maintaining strong electrical connection through the support structure that extends into the through hole.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure serves as an intermediary element that provides both mechanical support and electrical connection. It mediates between the wire and the piezoelectric material layer, enabling strong connection without creating thick welding points on the external surface that would cause heating issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If ordinary electrode design is used, then the manufacturing is simplified, but about 20-30% of the transducer region cannot undergo piezoelectric effect resulting in insufficient ablation length

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidablation length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from conventional planar electrode design to a three-dimensional configuration where electrodes are positioned on the inner surface of the through hole. This dimensional change allows the piezoelectric effect to occur throughout the entire volume of the piezoelectric material layer, maximizing ablation length while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode design is segmented into positive and negative electrode parts positioned on opposite sides of the through hole. This segmentation allows electrical fields to penetrate the entire piezoelectric material layer, enabling complete utilization of the material for piezoelectric effect and maximizing effective ablation length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the transducer delivers position is adjusted multiple times, then the ablation coverage is improved, but repeated or prolonged ablation on non-lesion areas increases clinical risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation coverageVSAvoidclinical safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous and uniform piezoelectric action throughout the entire transducer surface. The optimized electrode configuration ensures that the entire piezoelectric material layer generates ultrasonic waves simultaneously, providing continuous effective ablation coverage without needing repeated positioning adjustments, thereby improving clinical safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for complete piezoelectric effect along the axial direction, achieving 360° simultaneous ablation with improved efficiency and reduced clinical risk.

Implementation Method 1

An ultrasound transducer, when excited by a matching frequency signal, produces vibrations based on the piezoelectric effect and emits a 360° ultrasound wave field radially

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a conductive layer is disposed on two sides of the piezoelectric material layer, an isolation strip is disposed on the piezoelectric material layer, the isolation strip divides the conductive layer into a positive electrode part and a negative electrode part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

emits a 360° ultrasound wave field radially, where ultrasound waves are absorbed by external tissue to heat up, achieving 360° ablation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic absorption and heating: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12397319B2Evenly heating transducer and preparation method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 SHANGHAI HANTONG MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present application discloses an evenly heating transducer and a preparation method therefor. The transducer includes a piezoelectric material layer; where the piezoelectric material layer is cylindrical and has a through hole in the middle, a support structure is disposed on an inner side of the through hole, and the piezoelectric material layer and an external device are connected via the support structure. A conductive layer is disposed on a surface of the piezoelectric material layer and an isolation strip is disposed on the conductive layer.