Therapy Head Actuation Assembly for Ultrasound Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy devices face challenges in maintaining steady positioning and scanning over treatment areas, as human operators struggle to hold devices still or scan at the required slow and precise rates, leading to inefficiencies and the need for complex, bulky computer-controlled systems.
Innovation Solution
A handheld medical device with an actuation assembly that allows for precise control of a directional energy applicator, such as an ultrasound transducer, enabling manipulation in two planes and facilitating uniform treatment by integrating a control arm and actuation mechanism within a compact, user-friendly design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a computer controlled motion device is used to scan the ultrasound beam at a precise rate, then the scanning precision and uniformity are improved, but the device size and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical computer-controlled motion device with an electronic phased array system that uses electronic beam steering to achieve precise scanning. The ultrasound beam is directed to different focal points by electronically adjusting the phase and amplitude of signals to individual transducer elements, eliminating the need for mechanical movement while maintaining scanning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the scanning function from the mechanical motion device and implements it separately through electronic beam steering. The computer-controlled system now only needs to control the electronic phased array parameters rather than physically moving a large mechanical apparatus, reducing device complexity while preserving scanning precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a computer controlled motion device is used to maintain steady positioning, then the positioning stability is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical positioning systems with electronic beam steering using phased array technology. The computer controls the phase and amplitude of each transducer element to electronically steer and focus the ultrasound beam at precise locations without mechanical movement, achieving positioning stability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional mechanical scanning to three-dimensional electronic beam steering by controlling multiple transducer elements independently. This allows precise positioning in multiple dimensions (depth, lateral, and elevation) through electronic phase manipulation rather than mechanical movement, improving positioning stability without increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If the ultrasound beam is scanned at a slow constant rate, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pulsed ultrasound delivery with periodic scanning patterns. The system delivers ultrasound energy in controlled pulses at each focal point rather than continuous scanning, allowing adequate treatment time for therapeutic effect while moving through multiple focal points systematically. This periodic action maintains therapeutic effectiveness while improving overall productivity compared to slow continuous scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary planning of the treatment volume and pre-calculates the optimal scanning path and focal points before treatment begins. This allows the computer to efficiently sequence the beam scanning through pre-determined locations, maintaining the required slow scanning rate for therapeutic effect while minimizing unnecessary movements and maximizing productivity.
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
Enables accurate and efficient delivery of therapeutic ultrasound energy over a treatment region, improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing the need for large, complex systems and allowing for real-time tracking of treated tissue volumes to prevent re-treatment.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer for transmitting ultrasound energy through a window
Implementation Method 2
directional energy applicator for transmitting energy
Implementation Method 3
The control arm is movable within the aperture while the aperture is sealed between the upper and lower compartments. The actuation assembly is coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes.
Data Source
AI summary
Therapy heads and related medical systems having an actuation assembly for controlling the position/orientation of a directional energy applicator in at least two planes are disclosed. A therapy head includes an enclosure, a partition separating a lower compartment from an upper compartment, an aperture in the partition, a control arm extending through the aperture, an actuation assembly positioned within the upper compartment, and a directional energy applicator positioned in the lower compartment for transmitting energy through a window. The control arm includes an upper end disposed within the upper compartment and a lower end disposed within the lower compartment. The actuation assembly is coupled with the upper end of the control arm such that the control arm is movable by the actuation assembly in at least two planes. The directional energy applicator is coupled with the lower end of the control arm.