JPS622960A - Applicator for warming medical treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an applicator for heating therapy, and particularly to an applicator for heating therapy for heating a predetermined location of a living body using electromagnetic waves. [Conventional technology] In recent years, heating therapy

[Treatment methods using [hyperthermia The birth function of cancer cells! Research reports have been published one after another that show that it is possible to harm people and kill many of them at the same time (Ml measurement and control vol. 1.22.m1o). There are heating methods and local heating methods.Among these, methods using electromagnetic waves, methods using electromagnetic induction, methods using ultrasound, etc. have been proposed as local heating methods that selectively warm only the cancer tissue and its surroundings. On the other hand, the inventors have proposed and are conducting research on the effectiveness of using electromagnetic waves to treat cancers deep within the body rather than at the surface of the body. In order to heat the surface of a living body using an oscillator, and concentrate heating of a predetermined location inside a living body using electromagnetic waves, the inventors have conventionally equipped a radio wave lens due to the need to focus the energy of electromagnetic waves. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 18 to 19, the applicator l consists of a case main body 3 equipped with the functions of a waveguide and U2, and this case body 3. The main part is composed of an electromagnetic wave power supply section 2 provided in one end of the main body 3 and a radio wave lens section 4 provided in the other end. The device is equipped with a cooling plate 5 to prevent overheating of the surface of the living body, and at the same time, the cooling plate 5 can be cooled by cooling water W.The radio wave lens unit 4, As shown in FIG. 19, the metal plates 6A, 6A... In order to convert electromagnetic waves into plane waves, as shown in the figure, the electromagnetic wave arrival side is formed into a gentle concave shape as a whole, and in order to further focus the electromagnetic waves, a long groove is formed in the center of the electromagnetic wave sending side. Short metal plates are arranged and fixed so that the overall array on the electromagnetic wave sending side forms a concave shape. [Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in such a conventional example, The electromagnetic wave is reflected 4 times due to the impedance mismatch between the radio wave lens section 4, the cooling plate 5, and the heating section side ring c, which causes a fixed wave to be generated in the electromagnetic wave power supply section 2 and other indoor magnetic wave transmission systems. , 4't, the electromagnetic wave transmission system cover 11 heats up, causing a significant energy flow, and also causes a low output T' of the abrigator tie.Meanwhile, this disadvantage has been improved. Therefore, some attempts have been made to fill a matching member between the radio wave lens section 4 and the electromagnetic wave power supply section 2. However, since such an alignment member is fixed, it will correspond to the impedance change due to the shape change of the radio wave lens section 4 or the impedance change of the heating section when the heating section is changed. A problem arises in that impedance matching cannot be achieved in a sufficient manner. [Object of the Invention] The present invention improves the disadvantages of the conventional example 2, and in particular, achieves impedance matching between the electromagnetic wave power supply section and the radio wave lens section, thereby efficiently focusing electromagnetic waves on the surface of the living body or inside the living body. U7 The purpose is to propose a heating therapy applicator that can efficiently heat a predetermined location. [Means for solving the problem] Therefore, this book In the invention, a case body is provided which has an electromagnetic wave feeding section at one end and an electromagnetic wave lens section and an electromagnetic wave emitting end at the other end, and a case body is provided between the electromagnetic wave feeding section and the radio wave lens section of the case body. The system is equipped with an adjustable stub matching means to achieve the above objective. [Operation] Electromagnetic waves are emitted from the electromagnetic wave feeder by propagating inside the case body as a waveguide. For electromagnetic waves radiated to the outside from the end, reflected waves r are generated first from the radio wave lens section and then from the biological surface due to impedance mismatching.In this case, the electromagnetic waves are radiated by the adjustable stub matching means. A reflected wave r' is formed with respect to the power feeding section, and it is adjusted so that r' = -r (equal amplitude and opposite phase). In this way, these reflected waves cancel each other out, and the electromagnetic wave feeding section When viewed from the side, there is no reflection,
Ideal impedance matching to the load side is established. Therefore, there are almost no reflected waves, and the accompanying energy can be greatly reduced. [First Embodiment of the Invention] A first embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2 and 12. First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a case body having a function as a waveguide. , the second case body 10 is
As is clear from the figures and FIG. 4, it has a box shape, and an electromagnetic wave power feeding section 11 is provided at one end, a radio wave L/lens section 2 is provided at the other end, and this radio wave lens section 12 is provided at the other end.
The right side in FIG. 1 is opened [1 and the electromagnetic wave radiation end 1
4 is formed. In this embodiment, an adjustable stub matching means 13 is provided between the electromagnetic wave feeding section 11 and the radio wave lens section 12. The electromagnetic wave feeding section 11 includes:) a feeding section waveguide +OA forming the negative part of the base body 10; an excitation antenna IIA protruding from the center of the feeding section waveguide 10A; A coaxial connector 11BaJ for electromagnetic waves is connected to the excitation antenna IIA. Thereby, the electromagnetic waves sent through the coaxial connector 11B are efficiently introduced into the case body 10. In addition, in this embodiment, the stub alignment means 13 is screwed into a single stub bar 21 with screws l=J, and each stub bar 21 is screwed together, and the stub bar 21 is aligned along the propagation direction of electromagnetic waves. Reciprocating movement-1!1- Guide member 2
2, a guide frame 23 that guides the reciprocating movement of the guide 1 part shrine 22, and the guide part +4 on this guide frame 23.
Fixing adjustment screw 24 to fix '22 as necessary
It is composed of. Of these, the guide frame 23
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case body 10
It is fixed to +. IOK indicates an elongated hole for the stub bar 21 formed in the case body 1o. 25 also connects the guy 1ζ member 22 to the elongated hole 1 O of the case body 1o.
It shows elongated holes formed in the guide frame 23 for guiding +, +i along K and fixing as necessary. Therefore, in this stub matching means I3, the length of the stub that determines the reflectance can be set with high precision by the helical action of the stub bar 21, and the fixed position that determines the phase of the reflected wave at the stub bar 21 can be set with high accuracy. can be arbitrarily set by moving and adjusting the fixing adjustment screw 24. Further, in this embodiment, the lens portion 12 is formed into a box shape with two opposing sides open, as shown in FIGS. It is designed to be stored. To explain this in more detail, the radio wave lens section 12 includes a plurality of metal plates 40, 40... having the same dimensions, and a frame body that locks the lower end of each of the metal plates 40 in FIG. 41. Among these, each of the metal plates 40 has a dimensional width α at the center thereof, as shown in the figure. α1°α2. The metal plates 40 are arranged with a dimensional width of α3 (however, α0>α1>α2>α3), and as a result, each metal plate 40 as a whole has a predetermined lens effect in one direction for the incoming electromagnetic waves as shown by the dotted line in FIG. It is set up so that it can be demonstrated. Furthermore, each of the metal plates 40 described in ttii has a shape in which the center of the end of the electromagnetic wave power supply section 11 is cut into a bow shape, thereby preventing the same incoming electromagnetic waves as described above from occurring as shown in FIG. As shown in , the lens is set so that a predetermined lens effect can also be exerted in the other direction. FIG. 3 shows a right side view of FIG. 1 when the radio wave lens section 12 formed in this manner is housed in the case body 10. 12A indicates a set screw for the radio wave lens portion 12. In fact, several ten box-shaped radio wave 1 men's parts 12, which are detachably formed as shown in -1-, are prepared in advance according to the affected area, and are selected and used as appropriate. The applicator 48 for heating therapy in this example formed in this way has supporting parts 1tAlO on both sides.
G, + 01 (inverted U as shown in Figure 12 in the part)
Letter-shaped applicator holding means 51
, D, it is held so that it can be rotated up and down. This applicator holding means 51 is supported by a support mechanism (not shown) and is configured to be rotatable as shown by arrows E and F, so that it can take any posture suitable for the required heating section. ing. Next, the overall operation of the first embodiment will be explained. First, the input signal is input via coaxial connector IIB. The electromagnetic waves output from the excitation antenna IIA toward the inside of the case body 1o propagate inside the case body 1o and are sent to the radio wave lens section 12. And this radio wave lens section 12
In the process of propagating, the phase of the outer part advances than that of the central part,
Therefore, the j-men's effect is applied to the electromagnetic waves that have propagated at the time of being radiated from the radio wave lens section 12, and radiation and flux are simultaneously performed. That is, the electromagnetic waves given the 1/ns effect are multiplied by 71 body side - 1 x q 1, and a predetermined location on the surface of the living body is efficiently heated. On the other hand, the electromagnetic waves on the surface of the 4tg body are partially reflected by η・1, but this reflected wave is due to the difference in impedance of the electromagnetic wave transmission system, and this impedance change is also removed on the incident side of the radio wave lens section 12. ing. Therefore, when viewed from the excitation antenna 118 side, it is possible to detect the reflection of electromagnetic waves from both the aforementioned radio wave lens section 12 and the surface of the heating section. In this case, by appropriately moving and adjusting the stub matching means 13, it is possible to immediately achieve impedance matching for the radio wave lens section I2 and the heating section side that were previously installed, thereby suppressing the generation of reflected electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic energy is efficiently sent into the heating section. That is, for the electromagnetic waves that propagate from the electromagnetic wave feeding section within the case body as a waveguide and are radiated to the outside from the electromagnetic wave radiation end, the electromagnetic waves are first transmitted from the radio wave lens section 12 and then from the biological surface due to impedance mismatching. Based on this, a reflected wave r is generated. In this case, the adjustable stub matching means forms a reflected wave r' with respect to the electromagnetic wave feeding section, and adjusts it to r'--r (equal amplitude and opposite a phase). In this way, these reflected waves are canceled out, so that there is no reflection when viewed from the electromagnetic wave power supply side, and ideal impedance matching to the load side is established. Therefore, there are almost no reflected waves, and the accompanying energy can be greatly reduced. Here, the impedance matching by the stub tuner mechanism 13 specifically refers to the percentage of reflection displayed on the first stage of the reflected electromagnetic wave display (not shown) of the directional coupler used in conjunction with the coaxial connector 11. The ascent is carried out by the operator while checking. On the other hand, since the first embodiment uses the radio wave unit 12, it is possible to perform heating therapy efficiently even when using an oscillator with a small output. The lens part 12 has a horizontal position that can be replaced very easily.
Therefore, efficient heating therapy can be achieved by selectively using radio wave lens sections 12 with different degrees of convergence depending on the size of the heating section. In this case, the preparation work for switching can be accomplished more quickly, and the heating time can be set sufficiently for that purpose. On the other hand, since there is no need to prepare many applicators, the entire device can be It has the advantage of being available relatively cheaply. Furthermore, in this first embodiment, since each metal plate 40 forming the radio wave lens section 12 is of the same shape and is 7, the overall size including the frame body 41 can be reduced.
Therefore, there is an advantage that the entire straw applicator can be downsized without downsizing the case body 10. [Second Embodiment of the Invention] Next, a second embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 13 and 14. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above by moving the stub bar 21 of the LJ (see Fig. 1) and changing the protrusion length of the stub bar 21 inside the case body 10. In addition to achieving impedance matching, a plurality of stub fixing positions are provided at as narrow intervals as possible, and the stub bar 21 is configured so that one or two stub bars 21 can be used at the same time as necessary. significantly different. That is, in FIGS. 13 and 14, the stub alignment means 43 includes a stub bar 21 formed with threads, and a plurality of stub bars 21 formed so that the stub bar 21 can be freely screwed and fixed at required locations. Screw holes 15A, 15A,・
A fixing plate 15 having... and a tapped hole 15 at an arbitrary location.
A and a nand 21A for fixing the stub bar 21 screwed together. 10KI4 Projection/clamping of the stub bar 21 into the case body 10 11 shows an elongated hole formed in the case body 10 to enable reciprocating movement in the direction of propagation of electromagnetic waves. In this embodiment, the fixing plate 15 is formed so as to be screwed onto the case body 10 at four locations. In this case, each of the four through holes of the fixing plate 15 is a long hole provided parallel to the direction of propagation of the electric C wave, as shown in FIG. 1i of detailed alignment for stepwise selection of fixed positions
Th adjustment is now possible. The other configurations are the same as the first embodiment described above. Even in this case, in addition to having the same function and effect as the first embodiment described above, the structure of the stub matching means 43 can be adapted to Okinawa, and if necessary, the stubs of Niki-1 can be simultaneously installed. It has the advantage that it can be used. In this second embodiment, the fixing plate 15 has a movable structure, but if there is no particular need for it to be moved, it may be fixed to the case body 10 with a low hook or the like. In some cases, a method may be adopted in which the plurality of screw holes 15A, 15A, . . . are directly formed in the case body 10 described above. (Third Embodiment of the Invention) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. The same reference numerals are used for the same reference numbers.
While the embodiment is intended to heat the surface of a living body, the present embodiment differs significantly in that it is intended to intensively heat a predetermined location inside the living body. First, in FIG. 15, reference numeral 10 indicates the main body of the waveguide, which functions as a waveguide as in the case of the conventional example described above. As is clear from FIGS. 16 and 17, the case body 10 has a box shape, and has an electromagnetic wave power feeding section 11 at one end, a radio wave lens section 12 at the other end, and a box-like shape. A stub tuner mechanism 63 as a stub matching means for electromagnetic wave matching is provided in the intermediate portion. Furthermore, the right end of the radio wave lens section 12 in FIG.
A cooling mechanism 65 for cooling the body surface is installed at 2 so as to cover 4 from the side.The power feeding part waveguide 1.OA includes a location where the stub tuner mechanism 63 is installed. 10C is filled with insulating oil (10C or less, referred to as "oil") that has low attenuation of electromagnetic waves. 10I) is an oil enclosing plate made of a dielectric material for enclosing the oil 10C. shows. Further, the cooling mechanism 65 is formed into a flat shape in order to efficiently cool the surface of the heating section. To explain this in more detail, the cooling mechanism 65 includes a fixing board 30 integrally fixed to the case body 10, and a rectangular cooling liquid flow formed at the ends of the fixing board 30. An inlet 30A, and a correspondingly rectangular coolant outlet 30B formed at the other end of the anchoring board 30;
Waterproof insulating film prevention grooves 30C are carved to surround each of these coolant inflow and outflow ports 30A, 30B and the opening 810B of the electromagnetic wave radiation end 14, 130A and coolant outflow [130B
a flat insulating film member 33 disposed to cover substantially the entire surface of the electromagnetic wave emitting end 14; It is formed by a frame +IQ34 to which the retaining board 30G is removably attached with its surroundings waterproofed. Among these, the insulating film portion 4A334;t has a dish shape with a convex shape on the outside and an opening on the inside, and is made of a film-like dielectric material with low attenuation of electromagnetic waves. Then, the cooling water flowing in from the cooling liquid inflow IT 30A flows into the insulating film member 3.
3 and the coolant flows out as shown by the arrow f in Fig. 15 [
During this time, the surface of the living body can be efficiently cooled through the insulating film member 33. Furthermore, the electromagnetic wave power supply section 11 of the radio wave lens section 12
A piping 39 with a relatively small diameter is installed on the side as a bubble escape means that communicates with the cooling liquid guide 32 for cooling liquid outflow, so that air bubbles generated during treatment can escape from the negative pressure caused by the flow of the cooling liquid. The coolant is sucked out directly from the coolant guide 32 to the first part. In this embodiment, the stub tuner mechanism 63 uses three stub tuner mechanisms disposed on the same line at predetermined intervals. To explain this in more detail, each of these stub tuners 65A. Each of 63B and 63C includes a cylinder portion 71 with one end open 1-1, a waterproof piston member 72 that reciprocates within the cylinder portion 71, and a piston member 72 that is integrated with the piston member 72 and has a stub alignment function. A screw member 73 provided, a screw hole 74 into which the screw member 73 is screwed and inserted, and two or more through holes 75 that communicate the inside of the case body IO and the inside of the cylinder part 71. By rotating each screw member 73, the screw member 73 is appropriately projected into the case body 10, and necessary alignment can be achieved. In this case, the continuous IM through hole 75 is the piston member 7.
2 shows a flow port for the movement of the oil 10C that occurs as a result of the reciprocating movement of the oil 10C. In addition, in order to smoothly reciprocate the piston member 72 while the oil IOC flows, and to allow thermal expansion of the filled oil due to heating of the case body caused by continuous use, the above-mentioned An oil escape mechanism 16 is provided in a part of the power feeding section waveguide 10A. In this embodiment, this oil escape mechanism 16 is connected to the power supply part waveguide 10.
Through holes 1fi formed at 2° points of A at predetermined intervals
A. 16A, and each of these wire meshes 16I3 with a fine mesh for comparison are arranged and mounted so that the holes 16A are IW from the inside.
and guide tubes +6c, + connected to each of the through holes 16A.
6c, and relatively soft oil escape tubes 16D, 16D connected to each guide tube 16C and extending upward. A fluid guide means is formed by the guide tube 16c and the tube 16[].Here, the wire mesh 16[3] constitutes a part of the side wall of the electromagnetic wave power supply section 11. Therefore, as long as the function is equivalent to this, even if a plurality of small holes are provided directly on the inner wall of the electromagnetic wave power supply part II, it is also possible to use a plate metal part +4 having countless small holes. The other configurations are the same as the first embodiment described above. Next, the overall operation of this third embodiment will be explained. First, the input signal via the coaxial connector 1113 is The electromagnetic waves output from the excitation antenna IIA toward the inside of the case body 10 are sent as they are to the radio wave lens section 12 without being attenuated in the oil 10C. The phase of the outer side advances, so that a lens effect is applied to the electromagnetic waves propagating at the time of being emitted from the radio wave lens section 12, and the electromagnetic waves are radiated and focused at the same time.The electromagnetic waves with this lens effect After propagating inside the cooling mechanism 65, it is propagated from the surface to the living body side, but during this time, it is first partially reflected on the living body surface, and then the living body surface and deep part are heated.In this case, the living body surface is heated by the above-mentioned The cooling mechanism 65 provides efficient cooling.In addition, since the deep part is focused by the lens effect in all directions by the radio wave lens unit 12, the focal position at a predetermined depth and its surroundings can be efficiently heated. On the other hand, the reflected wave on the biological surface is due to the difference in impedance of the electromagnetic wave transmission system, and the sagging impedance change also occurs on the incident side of the radio wave lens section 12. Therefore, the excitation antenna 11A When viewed from the side, it is possible to detect the reflection of electromagnetic waves from both the aforementioned radio wave lens section 12 and the surface of the heating section.In this case, by appropriately adjusting the stub tuner mechanism 63, the aforementioned radio wave lens section 12 can be detected. Impedance matching with respect to the heating section side can be achieved, and since the generation of reflected electromagnetic waves is suppressed, electromagnetic energy is efficiently sent into the heating section.Apart from the impedance matching by the stub tuner mechanism 63, Inside the case body 10, a small amount of energy loss occurs due to the impedance of the electromagnetic wave transmission system, and this constantly heats the case body IO and the filling oil 10C due to continuous use of the applicator, causing thermal expansion of the filling oil IOC. The problem is how to deal with it. In this case, if left as it is, it will damage the oil-filled partition plate 10I, for example, but the oil escape m side 16 mentioned above will act against this, and the increase in the filled oil IOC increased due to thermal expansion will be removed from the outside. It can be easily sent to. On the other hand, the oil escape mechanism 16 has a function that allows it to be used as is even when the filled oil 100 is replaced, and also allows for smooth adjustment of the newly developed stub alignment means. It also has the function of tightening. In addition, since the radio wave lens part 12 has a structure that can be replaced extremely easily, efficient heating therapy can be achieved by selectively using the radio wave lens part 12 with a different focusing degree for the deep position. It can be done. Therefore, in this embodiment, when performing heating therapy on a different deep part, the switching preparation work can be accomplished more quickly, and the heating time can be set sufficiently accordingly. On the other hand, since there is no need to prepare many applicators, there is an advantage that the entire device can be obtained relatively inexpensively. Furthermore, in this third embodiment, since each metal +ff40 forming the radio wave lens section 12 is of the same shape, the overall size including the frame body 41 can be reduced, and therefore the case body can be made smaller. 10 miniaturization i.e. Abu'J)
There is also the advantage that the entire r-unit can be made smaller. In this third embodiment, a case is illustrated in which Miki's stub tuner is used as the stub tuner mechanism 63 as a stub alignment means, but if the phase shift is small and one stub tuner is sufficient, one stub tuner may be used. may be used. [Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured and functions as described above, it is possible to achieve almost perfect impedance matching of the electromagnetic wave transmission system within the case body. It is possible to provide an unprecedented and excellent applicator for therapeutic/crystallization therapy that can reduce heat loss within the applicator due to reflection and efficiently irradiate concentrated electromagnetic energy to a heating section.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a right side view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a - - ■ of Fig. 1. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the radio wave 1/lens section used in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line, and FIG. side view,
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lX-1' Explanatory diagram showing the situation, 12th
The figure is a perspective view showing the take 4=J state when using the applicator shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment.
14 is a plan view of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view including the coolant guide portion showing the third embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a plan view of FIG. 15.
17 is a plan view of FIG. 15, FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a conventional example, and FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of the radio wave lens used in FIG. 18. 10... Case body, 11... Electromagnetic wave power supply section, 12... Radio wave lens section, 13. '43
．． fi3... Stub matching means, 14...
・Electromagnetic wave radiation end. ≧7 Mi/゛′ 证课 い contrary Fig. 7 Fig. ε＼ . Meeting ■ Vll+ Figure 9 Figure 77 Figure 12 Figure 13 42 i! 2- History / 10Hz7 75 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A case body is provided with an electromagnetic wave power supply section at one end and a radio wave lens section and an electromagnetic wave emission end section at the other end,
An applicator for heating therapy, characterized in that an adjustable stub matching means is provided between the electromagnetic wave power feeding section and the radio wave lens section of the case body.