JP2000201942A - Ultrasound therapy equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To prevent excessive cauterization of a lesion and inadvertent rise in temperature of surrounding tissues, and to treat a wide area in a short time. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic generating source (not shown) is mounted on four worm wheels, and when the worm gear rotates and the four worm wheels rotate, each ultrasonic generating source rotates. Since the source is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of each worm wheel, the focal point of the ultrasonic waves generated from each ultrasonic source moves in a circular shape. Accordingly, the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at each focal point can be reduced by an amount corresponding to the increase in the number of focal points. Further, since each focal point is constantly moving, it is possible to prevent the specific point from being excessively cauterized. In addition, even if the intensity of ultrasound at each focal point is reduced, the number of focal points is large, and these focal points move so that they do not overlap each other, so that a wide range of lesions can be cauterized in a short time can do.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment apparatus for irradiating and cauterizing a lesion such as a tumor existing in a living body with an ultrasonic wave.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic treatment apparatus irradiates a lesion such as a tumor with ultrasonic waves, and heats and ablates the lesion to a temperature higher than a heat denaturation temperature to treat the lesion. .

[0003] In such an ultrasonic therapy apparatus, in order to avoid the influence of movement of the lesion due to respiration of the patient, the intensity of the ultrasonic wave applied to the lesion is increased, so that the ablation treatment can be performed in as short a time as possible. It is required to do.
For this reason, the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at the focal point is increased by focusing the ultrasonic waves, and the lesion near the focal point is heated to a heat denaturation temperature or higher.

[0004] The above-mentioned ultrasonic therapy apparatus is of a thermal type. In the case of an impact type, an ultrasonic pulse is intermittently focused on a calculus and the calculus is crushed by the impact force (sound pressure). .

[0005]

In the above conventional ultrasonic therapy apparatus, if the ultrasonic intensity at the focal point is too strong,
There is a problem that the tissue at the lesion is overheated, and the temperature of the surrounding tissue is carelessly increased.

[0006] In addition, since the desired therapeutic effect cannot be obtained unless the convergence rate of the ultrasonic waves is high to some extent, the convergence area becomes small, and when performing a wide range of treatment, the ultrasonic waves must be repeatedly irradiated. Therefore, there is a problem that the treatment time becomes longer. The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, and the object is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic treatment apparatus capable of avoiding excessive cauterization of a lesion and an inadvertent increase in temperature of surrounding tissues, and capable of treating a wide range of lesions in a short time.

[0007]

A feature of the first aspect of the present invention is an ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a plurality of focal points of the ultrasonic waves to be irradiated, and to move each of the plurality of focal points.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the number of convergence points is increased, the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at each convergence point can be reduced, and each convergence point is constantly moving. ,
Long-term concentration of ultrasonic energy at a specific location can be eliminated, and excessive cauterization of the specific location and inadvertent temperature rise of surrounding tissue can be avoided. In addition, even if the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at each convergence point is reduced, the number of convergence points is large, and the convergence points are moved so as not to overlap each other, for example, keeping a certain distance. Thus, a wide range of lesions can be cauterized in a short time.

The movement of the plurality of focal points according to the second aspect of the present invention is periodic.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body. A rotating mechanism for rotating the sound wave source, and a tilt mechanism for tilting each ultrasonic source with respect to the rotation axis thereof, wherein each of the ultrasonic sources is tilted with respect to the rotation axis by the tilt mechanism. In this state, the convergence points of the ultrasonic waves generated from these ultrasonic generation sources are moved in a circle by rotating each ultrasonic generation source by the rotation mechanism.

A feature of the invention according to claim 4 is that it comprises a moving range control means for controlling the size of the moving range of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually.

The moving range control means of the present invention controls the moving range so that the convergence points of the ultrasonic waves do not overlap each other.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a speed control means for controlling the moving speed of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually.

A seventh feature of the invention resides in that an ultrasonic control means for controlling the intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually is provided.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is directed to an ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body. A rotating mechanism for rotating the sound wave source, a tilting mechanism for tilting each ultrasonic source with respect to its rotation axis, and changing the tilt angle by the tilting mechanism to set a moving range of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves. Moving range control means for controlling the size collectively or individually; and speed control for controlling the moving speed of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually by changing the rotational speed of the ultrasonic wave generating source by the rotating mechanism. Means, and ultrasonic control means for controlling collectively or individually the intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic generation source, and the tilting mechanism controls each ultrasonic generation source by its rotation axis. Inclined against In a state, by rotating each ultrasonic transducer by the rotation mechanism is to move the converging point of the ultrasonic waves generated from these ultrasonic wave generation source in a circular motion.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-order control means for individually and cooperatively controlling the moving range control means, the speed control means, and the ultrasonic control means.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the ultrasonic therapy apparatus according to the present invention. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus controls the ultrasonic controller 2, the focal point moving amount controller 3, and the focal point moving speed controller 4, and also controls a system controller 1 that controls the entire apparatus, an ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 that controls a vibrator driving circuit 5, A focus moving controller 3 for controlling a motor 6 for turning a cam 8 for adjusting the radius of rotation of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 and a focus moving speed controller 4 for controlling a motor 7 for rotating a worm gear 9 for rotating the ultrasonic vibrator 11 A vibrator drive circuit 5 for supplying drive power for generating ultrasonic waves to the ultrasonic vibrator 11, a motor 6 for rotating the cam 8,
Worm gear 9 and cam 8 for rotating ultrasonic vibrator 11
And an ultrasonic vibrator 11 for generating ultrasonic waves.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coupling portion accommodating the ultrasonic transducer 11 described above. Coupling part 2
0, four ultrasonic transducers 11 are housed, and a worm wheel 13 is provided on the axis of each ultrasonic transducer 11.
The worm gear 9 is engaged with the worm wheel 13.

Therefore, when the worm gear 9 is rotated by the single motor 7 shown in FIG. 1, the four worm wheels 13 rotate simultaneously at the center of each sound source, and are connected to the respective worm wheels 13. The ultrasonic transducer 11 that is not rotated is configured to rotate. FIG. 3 shows the ultrasonic transducer 11.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the rotation mechanism of FIG. 1, showing a structure in which the ultrasonic transducer 11 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the worm wheel 13 by the cam 8. A support (base) 14 is fixed to the worm wheel 13, and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is rotatably connected to the support 14 via a support shaft 15. The upper portion of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 on the cam 8 side is pulled by the spring 16 toward the support portion 15.

In the drawing, P is a convergence point (hereinafter, referred to as a focal point) of an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic transducer 11, and L indicates an amount of movement of the focal point. When the cam 8 is rotated by the motor 6, the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis 50 of the worm wheel 13. For example, a micromotor is used as the motor 6 and is stored in the support unit 14.
Therefore, there are four motors 6 for each of the four cams 8, for a total of four motors.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The system controller 1 controls each of an ultrasonic irradiation controller 2, a focal point (focus point) moving amount controller 3, and a focal point moving speed controller 4.

The system controller 1 instructs the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 on the intensity, irradiation time and irradiation timing of the ultrasonic wave. In response to this, the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 activates the vibrator driving circuit 5 at the above timing and sets the intensity of the ultrasonic wave in the vibrator driving circuit 5. The vibrator drive circuit 5 supplies driving power to the ultrasonic vibrator 11 such that an ultrasonic wave having a set intensity is generated. For this reason, the ultrasonic waves having the above intensity are generated from the ultrasonic transducer 11. When the irradiation time has elapsed, the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 sends the ultrasonic vibrator 1
Then, the supply of the driving power to 1 is stopped, and the generation of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer 11 is stopped. The ultrasonic drive circuit 5 can control the intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves generated from the four ultrasonic transducers 11 collectively or individually.

It is assumed that the system controller 1 can instruct the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 for the ultrasonic intensity, the irradiation time, and the irradiation timing for each ultrasonic transducer 11, and the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 follows this instruction. 4
The vibrator driving circuits 5 corresponding to the four ultrasonic vibrators 11 are collectively or individually controlled, so that the intensity of ultrasonic waves generated from the four ultrasonic vibrators 11 can be controlled collectively or individually. .

The system controller 1 instructs the focal point moving amount controller 3 of the moving amount L of the focal point P of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic transducer 11. In response to this, the focus movement amount controller 3 rotates the motor 6 to
Is rotated by an amount corresponding to the movement amount L of the focal point. The cam 8 is rotated by the motor 6 so that the ultrasonic vibrator 1
By pressing the support (base) 14 holding 1, the focusing direction of the ultrasonic wave is changed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation of the cam 8 causes the ultrasonic vibrator 11 to incline with respect to the rotation axis 50 of the worm wheel 13, and the rotation of the worm wheel 13 shifts the focal point P of the ultrasonic wave to the worm wheel. 13 rotating shafts 50
The lens is rotated around, and the focus movement amount L at this time is set to the above indicated value.

That is, since the focal point P is not on the rotation axis 50 of the worm wheel, the rotation of the worm wheel 13 can rotate the focal point P around the rotation axis 50 of the worm wheel. It is assumed that the focus movement amount controller 3 can control the inclination angles of the four ultrasonic transducers 11 collectively or individually.

At this time, the focus shift amount detecting sensor 10 attached to the support shaft 15 detects the focus shift amount L, and notifies the system controller 1 of this. The system controller 1 obtains an ablation area based on the set focal shift amount L, and instructs the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 on the appropriate ultrasonic intensity and irradiation time corresponding to the area as described above. Accordingly, the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 controls the vibrator driving circuit 5 based on the specified ultrasonic intensity and irradiation time. In addition, since the appropriate intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the obtained ablation region change depending on the moving speed of the focal point of the ultrasonic transducer 11 described below,
The appropriate ultrasonic intensity and irradiation time are determined by the ultrasonic transducer 11.
Is determined comprehensively by the system controller 1 in consideration of the moving speed of the focal point.

The system controller 1 instructs the moving speed (rotation speed) of the ultrasonic transducer 11 to the focal point moving speed controller 4. As a result, the focus moving speed controller 4 rotates the motor 7 so as to reach the instructed moving speed. The rotation of the motor 7 causes the worm gear 9 shown in FIG. 2 to rotate, and this rotation causes the four worm wheels 13 to rotate, thereby rotating the ultrasonic vibrator 11 fixed to each worm wheel 13. At this time, the focal points P of the four ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic vibrator 11 rotate as shown in FIG. At this time, the focus movement amount controller 3 adjusts the trajectories of the focal points of the ultrasonic waves generated from the four ultrasonic transducers 11 so as not to overlap or cross each other.

According to the present embodiment, the number of ultrasonic transducers 11 as the ultrasonic wave generating sources is four and the focal point of the ultrasonic waves is four. It is not necessary to increase the intensity of the ultrasonic waves, and the focal points of the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic transducers 11 move in a predetermined range in a circle so that the focal points do not overlap. It is no longer possible to concentrate on a particular location, and it is possible to prevent a specific location from being excessively cauterized. Thus, it is possible to prevent the tissue at the lesion from being overheated or to carelessly overheat the surrounding tissue, and to perform safe treatment. Moreover, although the intensity of each ultrasonic wave is weaker than that of the conventional example, since there are four of them, they move, so that the treatment area per unit time can be increased, and a wide range of lesions can be treated in a short time without spots. it can.

When the ultrasonic transducers 11 can be individually moved using an ultrasonic motor or the like, the convergence point of each ultrasonic wave is controlled by the warm focal point moving speed controller 3 to a predetermined distance or less. Control can be performed so as not to approach, or control can be performed so as to keep a constant interval, and the same effect is obtained.

In the above embodiment, each ultrasonic transducer 11 is rotated by one motor 7 using the worm gear 9 and the worm wheel 13. Rotation may be performed directly using an acoustic wave motor or the like. In this case, since the rotational speed of each ultrasonic transducer 11 can be individually controlled, the focus moving speed can be more skillfully controlled.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ultrasonic vibrator 11
There are four, but the number is not limited as long as there is a plurality, and the same effect can be obtained even if the source of the ultrasonic wave is one and there are a plurality of focal points of the ultrasonic wave.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic therapy apparatus according to the present invention. In this example, there is no system controller, the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2, the focus moving amount controller 3, and the focus moving speed controller 4
Controls the oscillator driving circuit 5, the motor 6, and the motor 7, thereby controlling the intensity of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic oscillator 11 and the irradiation time thereof, and changing the angle of the ultrasonic oscillator 11 respectively. The moving amount of the ultrasonic focus is controlled by controlling the moving amount of the ultrasonic wave, and the rotational speed of the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is controlled by changing the rotational speed of the worm gear 9 to control the moving speed of the ultrasonic focal point.

Accordingly, each of the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2, the focal point moving amount controller 3, and the focal point moving speed controller 4 is provided with a CPU for individually performing the processing performed by the system controller 1 of the first embodiment. Or a part of these controllers 2, 3, 4, in which case each controller has a bus (not shown) so that some of the CPUs perform the processing part of the remaining controllers. And so on. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, the operation and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but since there is no system controller, the control system (2, 3, 4) and the mechanical system (6 , 7,
8, 9) and the ultrasonic vibrator 11 can be easily stored in one case, and the operability when the operator holds this case to perform treatment can be improved.

The ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 obtains an ablation area based on the focal length L detected by the focal length detection sensor 10, and determines an appropriate intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic wave corresponding thereto. The appropriate intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic wave vary depending on the moving speed of the focal point of the ultrasonic transducer 11. For this reason, the ultrasonic irradiation controller 2 transmits the ultrasonic transducer 1 from the focus moving speed controller 4.
The moving speed information of one focal point is obtained, and finally the appropriate intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic wave are determined.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the ultrasonic therapy apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to avoid excessive cauterization of a lesion and an inadvertent rise in temperature of surrounding tissues, and a wide range of lesions. The department can also be treated in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic therapy apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coupling unit accommodating the ultrasonic transducer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a driving mechanism of the ultrasonic transducer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a moving state of a focal point of an ultrasonic wave generated from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic therapy apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System controller 2 Ultrasonic irradiation controller 3 Focus moving amount controller 4 Focus moving speed controller 5 Transducer drive circuit 6, 7 Motor 8 Cam 9 Worm gear 10 Focus moving amount detection sensor 11 Ultrasonic transducer 13 Worm wheel 14 Support 15 Support Shaft 16 Spring

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body, wherein a plurality of focal points of the ultrasonic waves to be irradiated are provided, and the plurality of focal points are determined. An ultrasonic therapy apparatus characterized by moving independently. 2. The ultrasonic therapy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the plurality of focal points is periodic. 3. An ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body, comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic sources; and a rotation for rotating the ultrasonic sources. A mechanism and a tilt mechanism for tilting each ultrasonic source with respect to the rotation axis thereof.In a state where each ultrasonic source is tilted with respect to the rotation axis by the tilt mechanism, An ultrasonic therapy apparatus characterized in that the convergence points of the ultrasonic waves generated from these ultrasonic sources are moved in a circle by rotating each ultrasonic source. 4. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving range control means for controlling the size of the moving range of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually. 5. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving range control means controls the moving range so that the convergence points of the ultrasonic waves do not overlap each other. 6. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a speed control unit that controls the moving speed of each of the convergence points of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually. 7. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic control unit that controls the intensity and the irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually. 8. An ultrasonic treatment apparatus for cauterizing a lesion by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to converge on the lesion in a living body, comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic sources; and a rotation for rotating these ultrasonic sources. A mechanism, a tilting mechanism for tilting each ultrasonic generator with respect to its rotation axis, and changing the tilt angle by the tilting mechanism to collectively or individually change the moving range of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves. Moving range control means for controlling; speed control means for changing the rotation speed of the ultrasonic wave generating source by the rotating mechanism to control the moving speed of each convergence point of the ultrasonic waves collectively or individually; and Ultrasonic control means for controlling the intensity and irradiation time of the ultrasonic waves generated from the source collectively or individually, and wherein each ultrasonic generating source is tilted with respect to its rotation axis by the tilting mechanism. In the times By rotating each ultrasonic transducer by a mechanism, ultrasonic treatment apparatus characterized by moving the converging point of the ultrasonic waves generated from these ultrasonic wave generation source in a circular motion. 9. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a higher-level control unit that individually and cooperatively controls the moving range control unit, the speed control unit, and the ultrasonic control unit. .