LIQUID DEGAS SYSTEM

• US 20110072970A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medicis Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Slobodzian, Jonathan K., Wing, Gregory T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/101 Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0082 Scanning transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0042 modifying the liquid flow B01D19/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.

Claims

1. A liquid degas system comprising:

a reservoir;

a ventilation chamber within the reservoir;

a conduit located to receive a gassed liquid from the reservoir and pass the liquid to a bottom of the ventilation chamber, said conduit having a flow restriction therein;

a pump positioned to flow gassed liquid from the reservoir and through the flow restriction in the conduit to produce a degassed liquid and a gas which are released to the bottom of the ventilation chamber;

a gas vent on the top of the ventilation chamber, said vent having an exit port disposed in the reservoir; and

an outlet which receives degassed liquid from the bottom of the ventilation chamber and delivers the degassed liquid out of the ventilation chamber and reservoir.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a distribution manifold within the ventilation chamber, said manifold receiving the degassed liquid and gas from the conduit and distributing such mixture throughout the ventilation chamber.

3. The system as in claim 2, wherein the distribution manifold includes side walls and a top having orifices formed therethrough.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the gas vent comprises a vent conduit having the exit port at a level below the top of the ventilation chamber.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the pump is positioned between the flow restriction and the ventilation chamber to draw liquid through the flow restriction.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pump draws a negative pressure in the duct between the flow restriction device and the pump in the range from about 1 PSI to 2.5 PSI absolute.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure containing the liquid degas system;

a cable having a proximal end and distal end, the proximal end connected to the enclosure; and

an ultrasound therapy head connected to the distal end of the cable wherein a liquid circuit extends from the outlet through the cable into the therapy head.

8. A method of degassing a liquid, said method comprising:

maintaining a gassed liquid in a reservoir;

drawing the gassed liquid from the reservoir through a flow restrictor to form a mixture of degassed liquid and gas;

passing the mixture of degassed liquid and gas into a ventilation chamber within the reservoir, wherein said mixture separates into a gas portion which rises to the top of the chamber and a degassed liquid portion which falls to a bottom of the chamber;

venting the gas from the top of the ventilation chamber into the gassed liquid in the reservoir; and

removing the degassed liquid portion from the bottom of the ventilation chamber.

9. The method as in claim 8, further comprising circulating the degassed liquid from the bottom of the ventilation chamber through a liquid circuit where it absorbs gas to become a gassed liquid and returning the gassed liquid to the reservoir.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the liquid circuit comprises a therapy head having an ultrasound transducer therein.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the liquid circuit further comprises a heat exchanger to cool the degassed liquid before it enters the therapy head

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising passing the mixture of degassed liquid and gas through a distributor manifold having a plurality of orifices which create a positive pressure and restrict the flow rate of the degassed liquid.