Method and system for detecting a fault in acoustic coupling between an ultrasonic device and a tissue to be treated
Inventors
BOUCHOUX, Guillaume • CHOLVY, Matthieu • Martin, Cyril
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12246194-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating a pathology, comprising: an ultrasonic generation device (1),a remote control unit (2) to supply electricity to the device (1),electrical connection means (31, 32) between the device (1) and the control unit (2), remarkable in that the control unit (2) is programmed to assess the quality of the acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic device (1) and a tissue to be treated.
Core Innovation
An apparatus for treating a pathology includes an ultrasonic device with at least one transducer having a front face facing a target medium, and a remote control unit configured to determine and monitor operating parameters of the ultrasonic device. The remote control unit supplies electricity to the ultrasonic device during at least one treatment cycle, where each treatment cycle is preceded by a wait cycle, and electrical connection means connect the ultrasonic device and the control unit.
The control unit is programmed to implement an estimation phase of the quality of an acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic device and the target medium. The estimation phase includes emission of at least one monitoring signal with a respective frequency, measurement of at least one reflected signal corresponding to the respective monitoring signal, and processing of the reflected signal to detect either the presence of a liquid in the ultrasonic device or the presence of a reflective material, such as a gas bubble, between the at least one transducer and the target medium.
The apparatus further includes a detection phase for an operating fault of each transducer, performed before a treatment cycle and during the wait cycle preceding the treatment cycle. This detection phase includes emission of at least one test signal at a zero frequency, measurement of at least one reflected test signal, and processing of the reflected test signal to detect either a short circuit in the ultrasonic device or an electrical connection fault between a transducer and an electronic card.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims that cover 2 inventive features: acoustic coupling quality estimation and transducer operating fault detection.
Acoustic coupling quality estimation before treatment cycles
The control unit implements an estimation phase of the quality of an acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic device and the target medium, with emission of at least one monitoring signal having a respective frequency, measurement of at least one reflected signal corresponding to the monitoring signal, and processing of the reflected signal to detect either the presence of a liquid in the ultrasonic device or the presence of a reflective material, such as a gas bubble, between the at least one transducer and the target medium.
Transducer operating fault detection using zero-frequency reflected test signals
The control unit implements a detection phase of an operating fault of each transducer of the ultrasonic device, with emission of at least one test signal at a zero frequency, measurement of at least one reflected test signal, and processing of the reflected test signal to detect either a short circuit in the ultrasonic device or an electrical connection fault between a transducer and the electronic card.
Across the two independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a programmed control unit that performs, before each treatment cycle that follows a preceding wait cycle, an acoustic coupling quality estimation phase and a transducer operating-fault detection phase.
Stated Advantages
Improved ability to discriminate coupling states, including liquid presence and the presence of a reflective material such as a gas bubble between the at least one transducer and the target medium.
Increased detection robustness/bandwidth for the monitoring and fault-detection phases.
Reduced risk of ineffective treatment due to coupling issues and transducer faults.
Documented Applications
Treating a pathology with an ultrasound-based apparatus including an ultrasonic device and a remote control unit, with tissue to be treated in the form of brain/skull application described in the provided content.
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