Therapeutic Treatment Head Indirect Skin Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic tissue treatment faces challenges in controlling tissue absorption, maintaining acoustic contact, and detecting transducer malfunctions, which can lead to thermal damage, insufficient treatment, and inefficient energy emission.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic treatment head with two temperature sensors located outside the ultrasound propagation zone to measure temperature differentials, correlated with liquid flow and transducer heat dissipation, allowing for indirect determination of skin temperature and automatic control of the transducer's activation and deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is mounted on the membrane to directly measure the application surface temperature, then the temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but the sensor absorbs ultrasound energy and produces erroneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the acoustic coupling liquid as an intermediary medium to indirectly measure the application surface temperature. Instead of placing the sensor directly on the membrane where it would absorb ultrasound, the sensor measures the temperature of the coupling liquid, which thermally equilibrates with the application surface. This intermediary approach allows accurate temperature measurement without the sensor interfering with the ultrasound field.
2Reliability
If the membrane is not in good contact with the tissue, then the risk of transducer destruction is reduced, but the ultrasonic energy is reflected and treatment becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism using temperature sensors to monitor the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the acoustic coupling liquid. When poor contact occurs, the temperature profile changes, providing feedback that allows the system to detect and respond to contact quality issues, balancing transducer safety with treatment effectiveness.
3Productivity
If excessive heat is deposited on the skin, then the ultrasonic energy absorption is improved, but thermal damage such as blisters or burns occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensors continuously monitor the temperature of the acoustic coupling liquid, providing real-time feedback on the thermal state of the application surface. This feedback enables the system to adjust the ultrasonic energy delivery to maintain effective treatment while preventing excessive heat deposition that would cause thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary temperature monitoring and assessment before and during ultrasonic treatment. By measuring the temperature difference of the coupling liquid in advance and continuously, the system can prepare appropriate safety measures and adjust treatment parameters to prevent thermal damage before it occurs.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the transducer does not emit enough ultrasound, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the heat treatment is not carried out satisfactorily
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature monitoring system provides feedback on the thermal effect of the ultrasonic treatment. By analyzing the temperature difference of the acoustic coupling liquid, the system can determine whether the transducer is emitting sufficient ultrasound energy to achieve the desired heat treatment, allowing for real-time optimization of energy consumption versus treatment effectiveness.
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
This solution effectively prevents thermal damage, ensures optimal contact, and detects transducer malfunctions, ensuring safe and effective ultrasonic tissue treatment by continuously monitoring and adjusting the temperature of the application surface.
Implementation Method 1
The therapeutic ultrasound transducer is mounted on a head housing that forms a concave or dome-shaped configuration. The therapeutic ultrasound transducer is mounted in this concave dome and therefore also has a domed concave shape. The transducer is arranged on the housing so as to emit ultrasound, preferably focused, through a propagation zone of the chamber in the direction of the membrane.
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasounds are thus absorbed by the tissue, the absorbed power being a function of the absorption capacity of the tissue and of the intensity of the ultrasounds. This results in a rise in temperature of the tissue, which depends on the power absorbed, the heat capacity of the tissue and also heat losses
Implementation Method 3
Of course, the acoustic coupling liquid circulating inside the chamber makes it possible to evacuate part of the heat, which avoids burning the tissues.
Implementation Method 4
a first temperature sensor is arranged close to the inlet and a second temperature sensor is arranged close to the output, the sensors delivering signals representative of the temperatures. These signals can for example be used to establish a temperature differential of the coupling liquid in the chamber, this differential being used to indirectly determine the temperature of the application surface.
Data Source
AI summary
Therapeutic treatment head to treat live tissues (T), the head comprising a housing (1), an ultrasonic therapeutic transducer (2) mounted on the housing and a membrane (3) mounted on the housing (1), the membrane (3) intended to be in contact with an application surface (S) of the tissue (T), such as the skin, the membrane (3), the transducer (2) and the housing (1) defining a chamber (4) filled with an acoustic coupling liquid (L) which flows in the chamber between an opening (41) and an exit (42), the transducer being positioned so as to emit ultrasounds through a propagation zone (z) of the chamber in the direction of the membrane (3), characterized in that a first temperature sensor (51) is placed close to the opening (41) and a second temperature sensor (52) is placed close to the exit (42), the sensors (51, 52) delivering signals representative of the temperatures to establish a temperature difference (ΔT) of the coupling liquid in the chamber (4), this difference being used to indirectly determine the temperature(Ts) of the application surface (S).