Patent Application
20220013711
The present disclosure of invention relates to a method for designing a piezoelectric element unit, a ultrasonic element having the piezoelectric element manufactured using the method, a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic element, and an acoustic pressure focusing device having the ultrasonic element, and more specifically the present disclosure of inventions relates to a method for designing a piezoelectric element unit, a ultrasonic element having the piezoelectric element manufactured using the method, a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic element, and an acoustic pressure focusing device having the ultrasonic element, capable of increasing focusing intensity of acoustic pressure and focusing an acoustic sound more correctly and precisely.
Conventional drug treatment or radiation treatment for a cancer is hard to be selectively applied to the cancer, and thus side effect may be inevitable. Recently, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is in the spotlight as a selective cancer treatment, and the HIFU has been widely applied.
Normally, a HIFU converter is divided into a single device type converter and an array type converter.
In the single device type converter, a heat is transmitted to a fixed focus which is determined by a structure of the converter. In the array type converter, the focus may be variably changed, and thus the array type converter is normally used for a HIFU element for treating a clinical tumor.
In addition, conventionally, in the HIFU element, a concaved-shape multi-channel array structure is normally used. In the HIFU element, an intensity of the ultrasound is increased to focus an acoustic pressure to a target area, so as to increase the temperature of the target area in a range between 60° C. and 90° C., and then the tumor is eliminated.
Referring to
In addition, in treating, lots of unnecessary impedance matching layers are filled in the curved surface, and as the size of the ultrasonic element 10 increases, the space for the ultrasonic element is also increased and the insertion of the ultrasonic element is more uncomfortable.
In addition, an ideal acoustic pressure has a relatively smaller size from a setup position P1 close to the target position PT and then has a maximum size at the target position PT. However, the conventional ultrasonic element 10 is hard to have the above mentioned ideal acoustic pressure.
Referring to
Related prior art is Korean patent No. 10-1195671.
The present invention is developed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related arts. The present invention provides a method for designing a piezoelectric element unit capable of increasing focusing intensity of acoustic pressure and focusing an acoustic sound more correctly and precisely.
In addition, the present invention also provides a ultrasonic element having the piezoelectric element manufactured using the method for designing the piezoelectric element unit.
In addition, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic element.
In addition, the present invention also provides an acoustic pressure focusing device having the ultrasonic element.
According to an example embodiment, in a method for designing a piezoelectric element unit having a plurality of ring patterns being concentric, a target position at which a maximum acoustic pressure is focused and a target distance to the target position are selected. A basic information of a piezoelectric element base material having a circular shape is inputted. Each of a plurality of grids is grouped into a unit grid group. A cross-section of the piezoelectric element base material along a height direction is divided into the plurality of girds which is formed along the height direction and a radial direction of the piezoelectric element base material. A size of an output acoustic pressure outputted at each unit grid group is calculated. The unit grid group outputting the output acoustic pressure included in a range of a reference acoustic pressure among a plurality of the unit groups is decided. The reference acoustic pressure is predetermined based on the maximum acoustic pressure, the target position and the target distance. The plurality of ring patterns being concentric is determined based on a pattern shape information having a position and a width included in each of the decided unit grid groups, from the piezoelectric element base material.
In an example, after a plurality of the target positions is selected, the piezoelectric element unit may output an acoustic pressure so as to focus the maximum acoustic pressure required at each of the target positions.
According to another example embodiment, an ultrasonic element includes a piezoelectric element unit, a lower electrode and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric element unit has the plurality of ring patterns being concentric. The piezoelectric element unit is manufactured using the method for designing the piezoelectric element unit. The lower electrode is disposed under the piezoelectric element unit. The upper electrode is disposed on the piezoelectric element unit.
In an example, the piezoelectric element unit may further have a connecting pattern formed along a radial direction and connecting the ring patterns. The upper electrode may include upper ring electrodes disposed on the ring pattern and spaced apart from each other, and an upper connecting electrode disposed on the connecting pattern and connecting the upper ring electrodes with each other.
In an example, the piezoelectric element unit may have a base integrally formed under the ring patterns, and the lower electrode may be entirely formed under the base.
In an example, the piezoelectric element unit may further include a connecting pattern formed along a radial direction and connecting the ring patterns, and the ring patterns are separated except for the connecting pattern. The lower electrode may include lower ring electrodes disposed under the ring pattern and spaced apart from each other, and a lower connecting electrode disposed under the connecting pattern and connecting the lower ring electrodes with each other.
According to still another example embodiment, a method for manufacturing an ultrasonic element includes preparing a lower electrode having a circular plate shape, forming a piezoelectric element base material on the lower electrode, forming an upper electrode on the piezoelectric element base material, and machining the upper electrode and the piezoelectric element base material at the same time via a laser machining, so as to form a plurality of ring patterns having a ring shape based on a pattern shape information of the method for designing the piezoelectric element unit.
In an example, in the machining, an irradiated laser may pass through the upper electrode and may be blocked by the piezoelectric element base material, so that a lower portion of the piezoelectric element base material may remain to be connected.
In an example, in the machining, an irradiated laser may pass through the upper electrode, the piezoelectric element base material and the lower electrode, so that the upper electrode, the piezoelectric element base material and the lower electrode may be separated after the machining
According to still another example embodiment, an acoustic pressure focusing device includes the ultrasonic element, an absorbing part, an inner housing and an outer housing. The absorbing part is disposed at a rear of the ultrasonic element and configured to absorb an ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic element. The inner housing is configured to enclose an outer surface of the ultrasonic element and the absorbing part. The outer housing is configured to receive the inner housing and is configured to expose a front of the ultrasonic element outwardly.
In an example, the acoustic pressure focusing device may further include a coating layer configured to cover the outer housing and the ultrasonic element.
In an example, the coating layer may be further filled in a gap formed at the ultrasonic element.
In an example, the acoustic pressure focusing device may further include an impedance matching part disposed between the upper electrode and the coating layer, or disposed at the gap of the ultrasonic element.
According to the present example embodiments, the piezoelectric element unit may focus the acoustic pressure on the target position. Thus, the acoustic pressure may not be focused in other areas except for the target position, and the cell damage like a burn may be prevented in the ultrasonic treatment.
The invention is described more fully hereinafter with Reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown.
Referring to
For the convenience of the explanation, along an advancing direction of an ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic element 100, a front, a front portion or forwardly and a rear, a rear portion or backwardly are defined. For example, when the ultrasonic wave advances from a first point to a second point, the first point is defined as the rear, the rear portion or backwardly and the second point is defined as the front, the front portion or forwardly.
The ultrasonic element 100 includes a piezoelectric element unit, and the ultrasonic element 100 is explained below.
The absorbing part 200 is disposed at the rear of the ultrasonic element 100. The absorbing part 200 absorbs the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic element 100, and prevents a reflective wave of the ultrasonic wave from advancing forwardly.
The absorbing part 200 disperses or absorbs the ultrasonic wave transmitting to the absorbing part 200 and eliminates the reflective wave, to prevent unnecessary signal from being interfered.
The inner housing 300 encloses an outer surface of the ultrasonic element 100 and the absorbing part 200. The inner housing 300 is tightly attached to the outer surface of the ultrasonic element 100 and the absorbing part 200, to fix the ultrasonic element 100 and the absorbing part 200. The inner housing 300 absorbs the ultrasonic wave or prevents the reflection of the ultrasonic wave, and may include low density epoxy.
The outer housing 350 receives the inner housing 300. A front of the ultrasonic element 100 may be exposed outwardly from the outer housing 350 with the outer housing 350 receiving the inner housing 300.
A transmitting line (not shown) and a cable 410 may be connected to the rear of the outer housing 350. The transmitting line transmits a power and a control signal to the ultrasonic element 100. The cable 410 receives a signal line (not shown) of a connector (not shown) connected to the ultrasonic element 100 to transmit or receive an electric signal.
The acoustic pressure focusing device may further include a coating layer 400. The coating layer 400 covers the outer housing 350 and the ultrasonic element 100. The acoustic pressure focusing device may be covered by the coating layer 400. The coating layer 40 may be a waterproof for the acoustic pressure focusing device, when the acoustic pressure focusing device is inserted into a body.
In addition, the acoustic pressure focusing device may further include an impedance matching part 350. The impedance matching part 250 is disposed between a front surface of the ultrasonic element 100 and the coating layer 400. High energy transmittance is necessary for a high intensity focused ultrasound. For example, when the ultrasonic wave is incident into a matter having relatively larger impedance like a skull in addition to a soft tissue like a skin, relatively lower acoustic energy may be transmitted due to an impedance mismatch. Here, the impedance matching part 250 connects an incident area of the ultrasonic wave with a transmitting area of the ultrasonic wave, to improve a difference of the impedance, so that the transmittance of the ultrasonic wave may be increased. The impedance matching part 250 may include the low density epoxy.
A thickness of the impedance matching part 250 is changed according to an operating frequency of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic element 100.
The impedance matching part 250 may be disposed at a gap 114 (
In addition, when the impedance matching part 250 is disposed between the front surface of the ultrasonic element 100 and the coating layer 400, the coating layer 400 may be disposed at the gap 114 formed in the ultrasonic element 100, instead of the impedance matching part 250.
Hereinafter, the ultrasonic element 100 is explained in detail.
Referring to
The piezoelectric element unit 110 may be a plate shape, such as a disk, and includes a plurality of ring patterns 111. Here, all of the ring patterns 111 are concentric. In the piezoelectric element unit 110, a vibrating frequency is determined according to a shape of the ring pattern 111.
Hereinafter, a method for designing the piezoelectric element unit is explained. The piezoelectric element is designed based on the ring pattern 111.
Referring to
In the selecting (step S510), a target position PT and a target distance to the target position PT are selected. Here, the target position PT is defined as a position at which a maximum acoustic pressure is focused.
In the inputting (step S520), a basic information of a circular plate shape piezoelectric element base material is inputted. Here, the piezoelectric element base material is machined to be formed as a piezoelectric element unit.
In the inputting (step S520), the basic information includes the information on a piezoelectric element base material such a material, a height, a diameter and so on, the maximum acoustic pressure focused at the target position PT, a power applied to the piezoelectric element unit, and so on.
In the grouping (step S530), a cross section 161 of the piezoelectric element base material 160 along a height direction, is divided into a plurality of grids 162. The grids 162 are arranged along the height direction A1 and a radial direction A2 of the piezoelectric element base material 160. Then, the grids 162 arranged along the height direction Al are grouped as a unit grid group 162.
Here, as illustrated in
In the calculating (step S540), to focus the maximum acoustic pressure at the target position PT, a size of the output acoustic pressure outputted at each unit grid group 163 is calculated.
As the power is supplied, the piezoelectric element unit generates a frequency, and the frequency is transmitted with resonance, attenuation and so on, and then the frequency is focused at the target position as the acoustic pressure is controlled.
In the calculating (step S540), to focus a target acoustic pressure AP selected in the selecting (step S510) to the target position PT, the acoustic pressure generated at each unit grid group 163 is calculated.
Accordingly, after the selecting (step S510) and the inputting (step S520), a reference acoustic pressure is determined based on the maximum acoustic pressure, the target position PT and the target distance. The reference acoustic pressure may be an acoustic pressure outputted by the ring pattern which is formed later, to focus the target acoustic pressure at the target position PT, and the reference acoustic pressure may be in a predetermined range.
In the deciding (step S550), among the plurality of unit grid groups 163, the specific unit grid group is decided. Here, the specific unit grid group outputs the output acoustic pressure included in the predetermined range of the reference acoustic pressure which is determined based on the maximum acoustic pressure, the target position PT and the target distance.
In the deciding (step S550), the output acoustic pressure at each unit grid group 163 is compared to the reference acoustic pressure, and then the specific unit grid group outputting the output acoustic pressure included in the range of the reference acoustic pressure is decided and selected.
In the pattern determining (step S560), the plurality of ring patterns, each being a concentric, is determined, based on the pattern shape information including a position and a width corresponding to each unit grid group 163, from the piezoelectric element base material. Here, the position and the width of each unit grid group 163 are decided and selected by the deciding (step S550).
For example, referring to
Accordingly, the piezoelectric element unit designed by above-mentioned method, as illustrated in
In
Here, ‘p’ is the acoustic pressure and ‘max p’ is the maximum acoustic pressure.
Thus, when the value of Equation 1 is ‘1’, the generated acoustic pressure becomes the maximum value.
Referring to
Referring to
Here, in the inputting (step S520), the maximum acoustic pressure is inputted at each of the target positions PT1 and PT2, and then the output acoustic pressure is determined based on the maximum acoustic pressure at each position.
Then, in the deciding (step S550), among the plurality of unit grid groups 163a which is formed in the cross section 161a of the piezoelectric element base material formed according to the inputted reference information, the specific unit grid group is decided. Here, the specific unit grid group outputs the output acoustic pressure included in the predetermined range of the reference acoustic pressure. In the pattern determining (step S560), the pattern shape information is obtained based on the specific unit grid group, and the plurality of ring patterns is determined.
The piezoelectric element unit 110 is manufactured based on the obtained pattern shape information obtained above, and the piezoelectric element unit 110 has the plurality of ring patterns 111 each of which is concentric, and thus the acoustic pressure may be outputted to focus the maximum acoustic pressure at each target position.
The lower electrode 120 is disposed under or beneath the piezoelectric element unit 110, and the lower electrode 120 is combined with the inner housing 300 to face the absorbing part 200.
The upper electrode 130 is disposed on the piezoelectric element unit 110, and the upper electrode 130 is partially exposed forwardly.
Here, the ring pattern 111 may be only disposed on the piezoelectric element unit 100, or may be also disposed under the piezoelectric element unit 110.
Thus, the upper electrode 130 has an upper ring electrode 131 having a ring shape and corresponding to the ring pattern 111. The upper ring electrode 131 corresponds to the ring pattern 111, and when the upper ring electrode 131 is not connected with adjacent upper ring electrode 131, the line for supplying a power is connected to each upper ring electrode 131. When the power is supplied to the lower electrode 120 and the upper electrode 130, the ultrasonic wave is generated forwardly from the piezoelectric element unit 110.
The piezoelectric element unit 110 may further include a connecting pattern 112 which is formed along the radial direction and connects the plurality of ring patterns 111 with each other.
Here, the upper electrode 130 may include an upper connecting pattern 132.
As explained above, the upper ring electrode 131 is formed on the ring pattern 111 and has a shape corresponding to the ring pattern 111. Here, the upper ring electrodes 131 are spaced apart from each other, and thus the upper connecting electrode 132 disposed on the connecting pattern 112 connects the upper ring electrodes 131 with each other. The line for supplying the power is connected to a portion of the upper electrode 131 and thus the line for supplying the power may be formed or connected more simply.
Referring to
Here, the lower electrode 120 is formed all under the base 113, and the line for supplying the power is connected to a portion of the lower electrode 120, so that the line for supplying the power may be formed or connected more simply.
Alternatively, referring to
Then, the lower electrode 120 may include a lower ring electrode 121 and a lower connecting electrode 122.
The lower ring electrode 121 is formed under or beneath the ring pattern 111, and the lower ring electrodes 121 are spaced apart from each other. The lower connecting electrode 122 is disposed under or beneath the connecting pattern 112 and connects the lower ring electrodes 121 with each other. Here, the line for supplying the power is connected to a portion of the lower electrode 120, and thus the line for supplying the power may be formed or connected more simply.
The ultrasonic element according to the present example embodiment has a planer shape, and thus may be minimized compared to the conventional curved shape ultrasonic element. Thus, when the ultrasonic element is inserted into a body, the patient may feel more comfortable and the space for the ultrasonic element is decreased. In addition, the ultrasonic element may make a surface contact with the target, and thus the treatment may be more simplified and effective.
Hereinafter, the method for manufacturing the ultrasonic element is explained.
Referring to
In the preparing the lower electrode (step S610), the lower electrode 120 having a circular plate or planar shape is prepared. Here, the lower electrode 120 has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the piezoelectric element base material inputted from the inputting of the method for designing the piezoelectric element unit mentioned above.
In the forming the piezoelectric element base material (step S620), the piezoelectric element base material 160 is entirely formed on the lower electrode 120. Here, the piezoelectric element base material 160 is formed via depositing a piezoelectric element material on the lower electrode (referring to
In the forming the upper electrode (step S630), the upper electrode 130 is entirely formed on the piezoelectric element base material 160 (referring to
In the machining (step S640), the upper electrode 130 and the piezoelectric element base material 160 are machined via a laser machining at the same time, based on the pattern shape information from the method for designing the piezoelectric element unit, to form the plurality of ring patterns having a ring shape
Here, referring to
Thus, the piezoelectric element unit 110 has the ring pattern 111 and the connecting pattern 112, and the upper electrode 130 has the upper ring electrode 131 and the upper connecting electrode 132. In addition, the lower electrode 120 is entirely formed under or beneath the piezoelectric element unit 110.
Alternatively, referring to
Thus, the piezoelectric element unit 110 has the ring pattern 111 and the connecting pattern 112, and the upper electrode 130 has the upper ring electrode 131 and the upper connecting electrode 132. In addition, the lower electrode 120 has the lower ring electrode 121 and the lower connecting electrode 122.
For example, the laser LB may be a picosecond laser or a femtosecond laser.
According to the present example embodiments, the piezoelectric element unit may focus the acoustic pressure on the target position. Thus, the acoustic pressure may not be focused in other areas except for the target position, and the cell damage like a burn may be prevented in the ultrasonic treatment. Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2018-0151316 | Nov 2018 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2019/014815 | 11/4/2019 | WO | 00 |
