Ultrasonic oscillator

• US 9,956,431 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakumo Corporation (Nippon Steel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Murakumo Corporation (Nippon Steel Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sakamoto, Colin T
• Application Number:
  US15/161,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20160263405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Disclosed is an ultrasonic oscillator that heats a target using ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic oscillator includes: a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements that oscillates the ultrasonic waves; a retention portion that retains the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements in a state where the ultrasonic oscillation elements are arranged along a concave thereof opposing the heating target; and a controller that controls the ultrasonic oscillation elements so as to oscillate the ultrasonic waves.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic oscillator comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements configured to emit ultrasonic waves;

a retention portion including a deformable and substantially hemispherically-shaped concave portion having a concave surface configured to oppose a heating target, the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements being arranged on the concave surface and forming a first focal spot, a curvature of the concave surface of the deformable concave portion being changed by elastic deformation of the concave portion, and positions of the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements retained on the concave surface of the concave portion being changed by the change to the curvature of the concave surface by the elastic deformation of the concave portion to have a second focal spot for a heating position in the heating target;

a driver that is connected to the retention portion and configured to elastically deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave portion; and

a controller configured to control the ultrasonic oscillation elements to emit the ultrasonic waves and to control the heating position of the emitted ultrasonic waves by controlling the driver to deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave surface of the concave portion and adjust propagation directions of the emitted ultrasonic waves to have the second focal spot for the heating position.

2. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 1, wherein

the retention portion is a hollow member partially having the concave portion.

3. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 2, further comprising:

one of liquid and gel filling the hollow of the retention portion.

4. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 2, wherein

the heating target is included in a living body, and

the retention portion has a contact portion configured to contact the living body and seal an opening of the concave portion.

5. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 1, wherein

the controller controls the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements so as to adjust phases of the ultrasonic waves oscillated from the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements, thereby controlling the heating position of the ultrasonic waves oscillated from the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements.

6. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 5, wherein

the controller controls the phases of the ultrasonic waves oscillated from the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements such that the ultrasonic waves oscillated from the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements cancel each other in a partial area, thereby cancelling the heating in the partial area.

7. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 1, further comprising:

sensors that sense the ultrasonic waves emitted from any of the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements, wherein

the controller receives sensing signals output from the sensors.

8. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 7, wherein the sensors are arranged along the concave surface of the concave portion of the retention portion.

9. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 7, wherein

the controller generates and outputs image data on a reflecting target including the heating target using sensing signals based on reflected waves among the received sensing signals.

10. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 9, further comprising a display that displays the output image data thereon.

11. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 9, wherein the controller compares a position of the heating target with the heating position in the image data and generates and outputs instructing information for guiding the heating position to the position of the heating target.

12. The ultrasonic oscillator according to claim 9, wherein the controller compares the position of the heating target with the heating position in the image data and stops the emission of the ultrasonic waves by the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements when a deviation between a position of the heating target and the heating position exceeds a prescribed reference value.

13. An ultrasonic oscillator comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements that are configured to emit ultrasonic waves and to sense the emitted ultrasonic waves;

a retention portion including a deformable and substantially hemispherically-shaped concave portion having a concave surface configured to oppose a heating target, the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements being arranged on the concave surface and forming a first focal spot, a curvature of the concave surface of the deformable concave portion being changed by elastic deformation of the concave portion, and positions of the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements retained on the concave surface of the concave portion being changed by the change to the curvature of the concave surface by the elastic deformation of the concave portion to have a second focal spot for a heating position in the heating target;

a driver that is connected to the retention portion and configured to elastically deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave portion; and

a controller configured to control the ultrasonic oscillation elements to emit the ultrasonic waves and to receive sensing signals output from the ultrasonic oscillation elements and to control the heating position of the emitted ultrasonic waves by controlling the driver to deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave surface of the concave portion and adjust propagation directions of the emitted ultrasonic waves to have the second focal spot for the heating position.