Ultrasonic Device with Subsurface Illumination for Vein Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating superficial veins and other skin irregularities with ultrasonic waves face challenges in precise focusing and detection, particularly for small veins with low blood flow rates, due to the hiding of the treatment device on the skin and the instability of the cavitation zone, which limits the effectiveness and accuracy of treatments like varicose veins, spider veins, acne, wrinkles, and other conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device with multiple ultrasonic sources focused at a common point, combined with distributed lighting means for subsurface illumination and a video camera aligned on the central axis, allowing precise visualization and stabilization of the cavitation zone without the need for expensive imaging equipment, enabling effective treatment of veins and other skin irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a treatment device is placed on the skin to treat veins, then the ultrasonic waves can be focused on the vein, but the device hides the vein so that the practitioner cannot accurately orientate and move the device to precisely focus ultrasonic waves on the vein along its path
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into separate functional components: ultrasonic transducers for treatment and a video camera for visualization. The video camera is positioned to view the treatment area independently from the ultrasonic focal point, allowing the practitioner to see the vein path while applying treatment at the correct location without the treatment device blocking the view.
Solution Approach 2:
A video camera acts as an intermediary between the practitioner and the treatment area. It captures real-time images of the vein beneath the skin and displays them, allowing the practitioner to visually track the vein path and accurately position the ultrasonic device without the device itself blocking the view.
2Reliability
If a single ultrasound transducer is used for HIFU treatment, then the device construction is simple, but the cavitation zone obtained at its focal point is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The single ultrasonic source is divided into multiple separate transducers (at least two, preferably three or more). Each transducer contributes to forming the cavitation zone at a common focal point. This segmentation stabilizes the cavitation zone by distributing the acoustic energy across multiple sources that interfere constructively at the focal point, creating a more reliable and stable treatment zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple ultrasonic beams from separate transducers are combined at a common focal point to create a stable cavitation zone. The acoustic fields from each transducer merge and interfere constructively at the focal point, producing a reinforced and stable cavitation region that is more reliable than a single transducer could achieve alone.
3Measurement precision
If expensive ultrasound imaging equipment is used to detect small veins with low blood flow rates, then detection accuracy is improved, but the cost and complexity of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using expensive specialized ultrasound imaging equipment to detect veins, the system uses a video camera to capture optical images of the treatment area. The video camera provides sufficient visualization for accurate device positioning without requiring costly Doppler or high-resolution B-mode ultrasound imaging systems, significantly reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining adequate detection capability for small veins.
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 device allows for precise focusing and stabilization of ultrasonic waves, improving treatment accuracy and ease of use by providing clear imaging of subsurface structures, reducing the need for costly equipment and enhancing the detection and treatment of small veins and other skin issues.
Implementation Method 1
at least two ultrasonic sources, preferably three ultrasonic sources, mounted on a body of the device and focused at a common focal point in the target zone
Implementation Method 2
A cavitation phenomenon can also be used. For instance, for the treatment of varicose veins, cavitation bubbles are created in order to generate local shock waves when they collapse
Implementation Method 3
lighting means, for enlightening a zone of the soft solid via subsurface scattering
Implementation Method 4
a video camera, for capturing images in the zone enlightened by the lighting means
Data Source
AI summary
This device (2) for generating ultrasonic waves in a target region of a soft solid, includes at least two ultrasound sources (32), light sources (40) distributed around a central axis (X2) of the device (2), for enlightening a zone of the soft solid via subsurface scattering, and a video camera (50), for capturing images of the zone enlightened by the lighting means. The ultrasound source (32), the light sources (40) and the video camera (50) are mounted on a body of the device (20) and oriented toward a common target zone which includes a focal point of the ultrasound sources (32). A boresight of the video camera is aligned on the central axis (X2).