Therapeutic Endocavity Probe Window Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endocavity probes face challenges in integrating imaging and therapy transducers due to size constraints and alignment issues, leading to suboptimal image quality and treatment performance, with existing solutions either compromising therapeutic performance or causing undesirable secondary lesions.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic endocavity probe design with a therapy transducer component having a spherical front face and a window for an imaging transducer, where the ratio of the window surface area to the active surface area is less than 0.45, allowing for real-time imaging and effective treatment without degrading therapeutic performance, and featuring a specific geometry to minimize secondary lesions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an imaging transducer is integrated within a therapy transducer, then real-time imaging capability is achieved, but the active surface area of the therapy transducer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging transducer is integrated within the therapy transducer by creating a window in the front face of the therapy transducer. The imaging transducer is positioned inside the therapy transducer housing, with its active face aligned with the window opening. This nesting arrangement allows the imaging transducer to be housed within the therapy transducer structure without requiring separate external mounting, thereby achieving real-time imaging capability while minimizing the reduction of the therapy transducer's active surface area.
2Measurement precision
If the window surface area is increased to accommodate the imaging transducer, then imaging quality is improved, but therapeutic performance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges to optimize the balance between imaging quality and therapeutic performance. The window surface area is constrained to be between 0.25 and 0.45 times the active surface area of the therapy transducer. The first diameter (transverse) is specified to be smaller than the second diameter (longitudinal), creating an elliptical window geometry. These parameter changes ensure that the imaging transducer receives sufficient acoustic energy for quality imaging while the therapy transducer maintains adequate active surface area for effective treatment.
3Ease of operation
If the probe size is reduced for endocavity use, then ease of operation is improved, but image quality and treatment performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical front face geometry for the therapy transducer, which allows the active surface area to be distributed in three dimensions. The window is positioned on this spherical surface, and the imaging transducer is oriented with its active face parallel to the tangent plane of the sphere at the window location. This dimensional arrangement allows the probe to maintain a compact size suitable for endocavity insertion while preserving sufficient active surface area for both quality imaging and effective therapy delivery.
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 probe achieves effective tissue treatment with real-time imaging and reduced risk of secondary lesions by optimizing the geometry and positioning of the transducers, ensuring equivalent therapeutic performance to a probe without an imaging transducer while controlling acoustic energy dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
treating tissues by emission of focused ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 2
emitting focused ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 3
real-time follow-up of the tissues
Implementation Method 4
Vaezy et al. in 'Real-time visualization of high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment using ultrasound imaging'
Implementation Method 5
therapy transducer component with an active surface emitting focused ultrasonic waves and having a spherical front face
Implementation Method 6
degradation of the therapeutic performance is accompanied by dispersion of acoustic energy, capable of generating undesirable secondary lesions
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic endocavity probe for treating tissues in particular of the prostate by emission of focused ultrasonic waves, including a support forming a guide tube extended by a mounting head for at least one therapy transducer component with an active surface emitting focused ultrasonic waves and having a spherical front of a total surface area in which a surface window is laid out for mounting an imaging transducer. According to the invention, the therapy transducer component has a front face having a total surface area equal to the sum of the active surface area equal to 1,500 mm2±200 mm2, and of the surface area of the window for letting through the imaging transducer, the ratio of the surface area of the window over the active surface area of the therapy transducer component being less than or equal to 0.45.