US2917042A - Ultrasonic device - Google Patents

Description

fw/W' l EXAMINR 12g-MA 35 Dec. 15, 1959 H. BRcwN Erm. 2,917,042

ULTRAsoNIc DEVICE med June 1a, 195s Y 44-fl i i I 4 24 Z 54 Z6 46 @A 40- 4a f6 50 5v ZZ n zo I 6 l Il 6 1 a l 5 /4 /0 I I I/ n I I z :E:|::|5 :L :EIS- 2 Y 48 2a 4Z Z4 46 32 f@ Hur 8 :EIS- en 6 l I VENTOR. /van H row/7 IEZIE- 41.. mmmwrm United States Patent O ULTRASONIC DEVICE Ivan H. Brown and Reuben Gordon, Vallejo, Calif.

Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 592,201

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-24) This invention relates to an ultrasonic applicator unit. The applicator unit of the present invention is primarily adapted for treating cavities of the human body although it is obvious that such applicators may be used in any application wherein it is desired to transfer a relatively large amount of ultrasonic energy from one place to another.

Although ultrasonic applicators have been known for some time, such applicators have ordinarily suffered from various defects. For instance, some applicators are in eicient in transferring energy and the ineiciency manifests itself in a heating of the transfer device. Further, ultrasonic applicators which have been known in the past have been primarily designed to radiate the ultrasonic energy from the end of an elongated member, while it is ordinarily desirable that radiation take place from Athe sides as well as the ends of the applicator.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic applicator which may be used for extended periods of time without undue heating of the elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic applicator of generally elongated shape wherein the ultrasonic energy is radiated from both the sides and the ends of the applicator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic applicator of generally improved design which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is substantially shockproof, and which is compact and convenient to use.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe device of the present invention, showing a rectal applicator.

Figure 2 is a section on the lines 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a vaginal applicator.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the construction of the device shown in Figure 3.

Turning now to a description of the invention, the device has a base portion, generally designated 6, having an upper annular ring portion 8, and a lower tapered portion 10. The lower tapered portion is preferably provided with threads 12, so that a coaxial cable 14 may be screwed thereon to conduct power from a source of suitable frequency, not shown. An insulator 16 extends from the bottom of the member 6 and has a screw therein which serves to partially support and make contact with jack 18. Jack 18 is supported by the insulating disc 17, which is held in place by the snap ring 21. A cylindrical sidewall section 20 is provided which is threadably mounted on the base 6, which in turn serves to support the driver unit proper. The outside of member 20 is threaded as at 22, so that an applicator 24 may be screwed thereon. The inner portion of member 20 is recessed as at 26,' and the coupling plate 28 forms a tight press lit into the recess. After the coupling plate 28 is placed in the recess, the edge ofthe member 20 maybe rolled ove;- the coupling plate as at 30, to hold the 2,917,042 Patented Dec. 15, 1959 ICC coupling plate firmly in position. The crystal transducer proper is designated 32, and lits flush against the coupling plate 28. The crystal 32 may be a conventional quartz crystal and is used to convert the R.F. electrical energy supplied to it into mechanical vibrations. Mounted under the crystal 32 is a metal plate 34 which lits against the crystal and which has a banana plug 19 attached thereto. A spring 36 serves to clamp the crystal 32'between the plates 28 and 34 and also serves to hold the disc 17 against the snap ring 21. A wire 38 extends from the center conductor of the coaxial cable 14 to the screw 15 and thus the circuit is completed from the outer conductor of the coaxial cable at 12 through the lower member 6, the side member 20, and the upper coupling plate 28.

The applicators proper, both of which have been generally designated 24, consist of solid metal and may be made in either one or two pieces. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the applicator is made of a single piece of metal which has a cap portion 40, a tapered conical member 42, and an applicator portion 44. The inner portion of the cap 46 is at, as is shown. In use, the member 24 is merely screwed onto the sidewall portion 20, whereupon the flat bottom portion 46 makes a tight contact with the coupling plate 32.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, thc construction of the applicator is largely the same since it has a similar cap 40, a conical member 4'2, and a at coupling member 46. However, for manufacturing convenience, this applicator is made in two portions and the applicator proper, 48, is threaded and screwed into the conical portion 42.

It has been found that the conguration and composition of the upper coupling plate 28 is a critical factor in the performance of the device thus far described. The applicator units themselves, 24, are generally made of a relatively soft metal such as aluminum, while the coupling plate 28 is made of a relatively hard metal. It

has been found that stainless steel 440C, which has been heat treated to have a Rockwell hardness of 58, is ideal for the coupling plate. The configuration of the coupling plate also plays an important part in the overall performance of the device. The coupling plate has a relatively thin peripheral section 50, and the bottom portion is thickened as at 52. The upper portion of the coupling plate slants upwardly as at 54 at about a 45' angle, to form the at upper portion of the plate 56.

The units shown are designed for operation at a frequency of l mc. and will transfer about watts of power for extended periods of time without undue heating. lt is obvious that the units may be designed for other frequencies or other power levels without departing from the spirit of this invention.

We claim:

1. An ultrasonic applicator device comprising in combination a housing, an opening in said housing for receiving a crystal transducer element, means mounted within said housing for forming an electrical contact with the lower side of said crystal transducer element, a coupling plate mounted in the opening of said housing and in contact with the upper surface of said crystal transducer, said coupling plate being suspended by a thin peripheral edge, said edge being held in lixed relationship to said housing by means of a turned-over edge formed on the periphery of the opening of said housing, an elongated applicator adapted to be slipped over and held by the outside edges of said housing and to be in direct metallic contact with said coupling plate, said elongated adapterA being removable without disturbing the relationship between said coupling plate and said crystal.

2. The applicator of claim l wherein the coupling 3 pla is m ade of. a relatively harc 1 metal and the elon- F0REIGN4PATENTS gated apphcator 1s made of a relatively soft metal. 62,294 France Jan. 5, 1955 References Cited in the file of this patent Add i0 1,040,035 UNITED 5 Germany Feb- 16, 2,481,068 Best Sept. 6, 1949 2,668,529 Huter Feb. 9, 1954

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