Tempered Stainless Steel Probes for Stable Ultrasonic Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stainless steel probes in ultrasonic treatment tools generate excessive heat during use, leading to changes in natural frequency and reduced amplitude, limiting their operational time and requiring temperature control mechanisms, which are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A probe made of stainless steel with a high-temperature tempered structure, including troostite and sorbite, is produced by quenching and tempering at specific temperatures to suppress heat generation, ensuring stable ultrasonic vibration without the need for temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If stainless steel is used for the probe, then cost is reduced compared to titanium alloy, but heat generation increases during ultrasonic vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat treatment parameters (quenching at 1010-1070°C followed by tempering at 350-700°C) to transform the stainless steel microstructure, changing its physical properties to reduce heat generation during ultrasonic vibration while maintaining the cost advantage of stainless steel over titanium alloy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite microstructure within the stainless steel consisting of multiple phases (austenite, martensite, troostite, and/or sorbite) through controlled heat treatment, combining the benefits of different microstructural characteristics to achieve both low heat generation and mechanical strength
2Device complexity
If stainless steel probe is used without temperature control, then device complexity is reduced, but operational time is limited due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs heat treatment (quenching and tempering) in advance during manufacturing to establish a microstructure that inherently resists heat generation during use, eliminating the need for complex temperature control mechanisms and enabling prolonged operational time without active temperature management
3Productivity
If stainless steel probe operates for extended time, then productivity increases, but natural frequency changes due to temperature, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the stainless steel microstructure through controlled heat treatment parameters to create a stable structure that maintains consistent natural frequency during prolonged operation, enabling extended productivity without frequency drift that would compromise treatment reliability
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 can maintain stable ultrasonic vibration for extended periods, up to 4 minutes, reducing heat generation and eliminating the need for costly temperature control mechanisms, making it suitable for single-use applications.
Implementation Method 1
a structure of the stainless steel including one or both of troostite and sorbite
Implementation Method 2
a second step of holding the substrate at a temperature of 1010° C. or higher and 1070° C. or lower and quenching at a cooling rate equal to or higher than a critical cooling rate; and a third step of tempering the substrate at a temperature of 350° C. or higher and 700° C. or lower
Implementation Method 3
a probe that transmits ultrasonic vibration to a biological tissue
Implementation Method 4
By resonating with the ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic transducer, the probe can efficiently transmit to the object ultrasonic vibration capable of treating the object
Data Source
AI summary
A probe for an ultrasonic treatment tool is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration to a biological tissue. The probe includes a substrate including a stainless steel, a structure of the stainless steel including one or both of troostite and sorbate.