Ultrasonic Therapeutic Applicator with Liquid Level Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ultrasonic therapeutic systems guided by imaging devices like MRI, changes in the level of couplant liquid interfere with imaging results, affecting diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of compensating units, such as flexible telescopic sleeves, arranged symmetrically on both sides of the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator and mechanical arm, ensures a stable couplant liquid level during movement, eliminating liquid level changes and maintaining imaging accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator moves within the target area during treatment, then the therapeutic coverage and effectiveness are improved, but the level of couplant liquid in the box varies, which interferes with MRI imaging results
Solution Approach 1:
A compensating unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the moving applicator and the couplant liquid. This compensating unit absorbs the volume changes caused by applicator movement, acting as a mediator that prevents direct transmission of displacement to the liquid level, thereby maintaining imaging accuracy while allowing therapeutic movement
Solution Approach 2:
The compensating unit changes its volume parameter in response to applicator movement. When the applicator moves into the box, the compensating unit expands to displace an equivalent volume of couplant liquid, maintaining a constant liquid level. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between movement and liquid level stability
2Manufacturing precision
If a mechanical arm is used to drive the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator to move, then the focal point can be positioned accurately at different locations, but the movement causes changes in couplant liquid level that affect diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating unit serves as an intermediary that decouples the mechanical arm's movement from the couplant liquid level. It absorbs the displacement effects, allowing the mechanical arm to achieve precise positioning without transmitting liquid level changes that would compromise diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into independent functional components: the mechanical arm for positioning, the compensating unit for volume compensation, and the couplant liquid for ultrasound transmission. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, with the compensating unit specifically addressing the liquid level stability issue
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 maintains a stable couplant liquid level, reducing interference with imaging results and enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic effectiveness by preventing liquid level changes during ultrasonic therapy.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible joining unit 8 sometimes adopts flexible telescopic sleeve
Implementation Method 2
When the mechanical arm 7 drives the focal point of ultrasonic therapeutic means to move within the target area, the level of couplant liquid in the box will vary accordingly
Implementation Method 3
the ultrasonic beams are focused accurately at the diseased part of a patient and the instantaneous high temperature caused by focusing at a focal spot can cause coagulation necrosis of tissue within the targeted location
Implementation Method 4
Focused ultrasound systems are described in US 5 762 066 and CN 1743026 A. The therapeutic principle of a focused ultrasonic therapeutic system is to employ ultrasonic waves that are capable of going through the physical tissue and being focused within the tissue
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6b
AI summary
An ultrasonic therapeutic means and an ultrasonic therapeutic system including the ultrasonic therapeutic means and guided by an imaging device are provided. The ultrasonic therapeutic means includes an ultrasonic therapeutic applicator (5) that comprises an ultrasonic transducer, a box (3) which contains the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator (5) and the couplant liquid, a moving unit (1) which drills through the wall of the box and connects the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator (5), and compensating units (2, 6) which set on the box (3) and holds the level of the liquid when the moving unit (1) drives the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator (5) to move. The compensating units (2, 6) are set on both sides of the box and incorporate with the box, and the moving unit (1) drills through both of the compensating units (2, 6). An ultrasonic therapeutic system including said ultrasonic therapeutic means and guided by an image device is provided. The ultrasonic therapeutic system of the present invention eliminates the phenomena of the level changing of the couplant liquid caused by the moving of the ultrasonic therapeutic applicator driven by the moving unit in the prior art, keeps the stabilization of the liquid level in the box, consequently decreases the interference to imaging results of an imaging device due to the level changing of the couplant liquid, and improves the diagnostic accuracy of the imaging device.