Ultrasonic Probe Tube Member Node Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ultrasonic treatment devices, the adhesion of living tissue and liquid to the vibration transmitting section, including the ultrasonic probe, leads to deterioration of ultrasonic vibration transmission and suction properties due to increased temperature and protein coagulation, causing hardened tissue to remain in the suction path, which obstructs the passage of tissue and liquid.

Innovation Solution

The ultrasonic treatment device design includes a vibration transmitting section with a groove-shaped portion and a hole-shaped portion defined by a hole defining portion, where the tube member is connected at a node position of the ultrasonic vibration, reducing the contact area between the tube member and the vibration transmitting section, thereby preventing adhesion and maintaining efficient suction and vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tube member is connected at a position distal to the horn (amplitude enlarging section), then the suction path is established, but the living tissue and liquid adhere to the inner peripheral portions of the ultrasonic probe and horn, causing deterioration of ultrasonic vibration transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveultrasonic vibration transmissionVSAvoidtissue adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful interaction between the suction path and the vibration transmitting section by introducing a separate tube member that runs through the hollow portion. This separates the suction function from the ultrasonic vibration transmission function, preventing tissue adhesion to the vibrating surfaces while maintaining effective suction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tube member acts as an intermediary structure that provides a dedicated suction pathway through the ultrasonic probe. By positioning the tube member's distal end at a specific location and extending it through the hollow portion, it mediates between the need for effective suction and the need to prevent tissue adhesion to the vibrating horn and probe surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the living tissue passes through the hole-shaped portion in the region distal to the horn, then suction is achieved, but the temperature increases and protein coagulation occurs, causing hardened tissue to remain in the suction path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoidtissue temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the suction path from the ultrasonic vibration transmission path by introducing a separate tube member. This segmentation allows the suction function to be performed independently through the tube member's lumen, preventing the harmful thermal effects and protein coagulation that occur when tissue contacts the heated outer surface in the conventional single-path design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful thermal interaction is extracted by routing the suction path through the internal hollow portion via the tube member, separating it from the external surface where temperature increase and protein coagulation occur. This extraction prevents hardened tissue formation while maintaining suction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design effectively prevents the adhesion of living tissue and liquid to the ultrasonic probe, maintaining the integrity of ultrasonic vibration transmission and suction properties, ensuring efficient tissue resection and collection.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic vibrator (ultrasonic oscillator) configured to generate ultrasonic vibration... The ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibrator is transmitted to a distal end of the ultrasonic probe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a pressure periodically fluctuates in a vicinity of the distal surface of the ultrasonic probe... micro bubbles (cavities) are generated in a liquid... The generated bubbles disappear owing to a force which acts when the pressure in the vicinity of the distal surface increases... By impact energy at the disappearance of the bubbles, a living tissue... is shattered (crushed) and emulsified

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 3

the living tissue shattered and emulsified by the cavitation passes through the region (part) of the hole-shaped portion... and the inside of the tube member, from an opening of the hole-liked portion at the distal end of the ultrasonic probe, and the living tissue is suctioned (sucked)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2692305B1Ultrasound therapy device
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP2692305B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2692305B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2692305B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ultrasonic treatment device includes a vibration transmitting section which includes an amplitude enlarging section provided to a distal direction side of an ultrasonic vibrator and configured to enlarge an amplitude of an ultrasonic vibration, and an ultrasonic probe extended to the distal direction side of the amplitude enlarging section along a longitudinal axis, and which is configured to transmit the ultrasonic vibration to a distal end of the ultrasonic probe, and a hole defining portion which is extended toward a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis from a distal end portion of the vibration transmitting section, and which defines a hole-shaped portion inside the vibration transmitting section. The ultrasonic treatment device includes a tube member which is inserted into an inside of the vibration transmitting section from an outside of the vibration transmitting section, a tube distal end of the tube member being connected to the hole defining portion of the vibration transmitting section at a node position of the ultrasonic vibration to the distal direction side of the amplitude enlarging section.