Ultrasonic Transmission Tip Structure for Uniform 360° Wave Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic imaging techniques using small-diameter instruments like catheters face challenges in uniformly transmitting ultrasonic waves due to materials with significantly different acoustic impedances, leading to blocked or attenuated signals, especially when the instrument is made of metal.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic transmission instrument is designed with a light transmission member at its emission end, surrounded by a light-absorbing material, ensuring uniform ultrasonic wave propagation in all directions around the instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an instrument made of metal or material with significantly different acoustic impedance is used, then the instrument structure is simple and strong, but the ultrasonic wave is blocked or significantly attenuated when getting out of the instrument
Solution Approach 1:
An ultrasonic transmission member made of acoustically transparent material is introduced as an intermediary between the metal instrument and the surrounding tissue. This member has acoustic impedance matching the surrounding tissue, allowing ultrasonic waves to pass through uniformly in all directions without being blocked by the metal instrument body.
2Measurement precision
If an ultrasonic generation source is disposed inside a small-diameter instrument, then the instrument can be positioned precisely, but the ultrasonic wave does not propagate in a specific direction when the instrument is made of metal
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustically transparent ultrasonic transmission member serves as a mediator that enables uniform ultrasonic wave propagation in all directions. The light absorbing material converts laser light to ultrasonic waves, and the transparent member ensures these waves propagate uniformly without being blocked by the metal instrument structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument combines multiple materials with different properties: metal for structural strength, acoustically transparent material for uniform ultrasonic transmission, and light absorbing material for ultrasonic generation. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between strength and ultrasonic propagation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a light absorbing material is attached to the tip end of an optical fiber to generate ultrasonic waves, then the ultrasonic wave can be generated, but the wave is blocked by metal members and significantly attenuated
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transmission member made of acoustically transparent material acts as a mediator between the light absorbing material and the surrounding tissue. It enables the ultrasonic waves generated by the light absorbing material to propagate uniformly in all directions without being blocked by metal members.
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 solution allows for precise positioning and angle detection of the instrument tip end, even when made of materials that typically block ultrasonic waves, enhancing the accuracy of ultrasonic imaging guidance.
Implementation Method 1
a technique of generating an ultrasonic wave by using an optical fiber having a diameter of several hundred μm or less and a light absorbing material attached to a tip end portion of the optical fiber based on a photo-acoustic effect is promising as an ultrasonic generation source. The photo-acoustic effect is an effect in which a short pulse laser is emitted to a light absorbing material to cause a local rapid temperature rise, and an ultrasonic wave is generated by thermal expansion caused by the temperature rise.
Implementation Method 2
a light transmission member through which light can be transmitted is disposed in the small-diameter instrument, and a light absorber for generating the photo-acoustic signal is disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the light transmission member
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an ultrasonic transmission instrument that can uniformly transmit ultrasonic waves in each direction around the instrument, even when the instrument is made of a material through which the ultrasonic waves cannot be transmitted. In an ultrasonic transmission instrument according to the invention, a light transmission member is disposed at an emission end of an optical waveguide, and an outer peripheral member covers an outer periphery of the light transmission member and is made of a light absorbing material.