U.S. patent application number 11/179023 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-12 for temperature control device and method using peltier element.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shigenao Maruyama. Invention is credited to Katsumi Fujima, Shuji Fukano, Shigenao Maruyama, Choiku Yoshikawa.
Application Number | 20060005550 11/179023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32820650 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060005550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maruyama; Shigenao ; et
al. |
January 12, 2006 |
Temperature control device and method using peltier element
Abstract
There are provided an device for controlling temperature by
Peltier element and a method for controlling temperature by the
same, wherein the structure of the device can be simplified, the
cost making the device can be reduced and an accuracy of the
temperature control of a contact plane based on the detected
temperature value with a temperature sensor can be improved by
capacitating insulation for a Peltier element and related elements
without providing a vacuum case and related elements for
encapsulating a Peltier element and related elements. In an device
for controlling temperature by Peltier element, wherein a
temperature-controlled body is rapidly cooled or heated by Peltier
effect generated by contacting the temperature-controlled body with
the contact plane connected to a conductive body and by applying a
direct current voltage between the Peltier element and the
electrode-cum-heat-sink, an device for controlling temperature by
Peltier element is characterized in that there are provided an end
cover which covers the conductive body, the Peltier element and a
whole of the electrode-cum-heat-sink or a part of the conductive
body side and which forms a contact plane; a gas layer sealed in a
space formed inside the cover; and an insulating layer comprising
insulating material in the space formed inside the cover between
the conductive body and the gas layer.
Inventors: |
Maruyama; Shigenao;
(Sendai-shi, JP) ; Fujima; Katsumi; (Koto-ku,
JP) ; Yoshikawa; Choiku; (Koto-ku, JP) ;
Fukano; Shuji; (Koto-ku, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSSI, KIMMS & McDOWELL LLP.
P.O. BOX 826
ASHBURN
VA
20146-0826
US
|
Assignee: |
Maruyama; Shigenao
Sendai-shi
JP
982-0801
Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
Koto-ku
JP
135-0046
|
Family ID: |
32820650 |
Appl. No.: |
11/179023 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.7 ;
62/3.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2018/0237 20130101;
A61B 18/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/003.7 ;
062/003.3 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2004 |
WO |
PCT/JP04/00842 |
Jan 29, 2003 |
JP |
JP2003-021193 |
Claims
1. A device for controlling temperature of a body to be controlled
in temperature (hererafter referred to a temperature-controlled
body) by contacting a surface of the device to said body, the
device comprising a Peltier element consisting of a pair of
semiconductors, an electrically conductive body contacting with an
end surface of the Peltier element, an electrode-cum-heat-sink body
contacting with the other end surface of the Peltier element, said
electrically conductive body being able to be rapidly cooled or
heated by virtue of Peltier effect generated by applying DC voltage
between the Peltier element and the electrode-cum-heat-sink to cool
or heat said temperature-controlled body contacted with said
electrically conductive body, wherein an end cover made of
electrical insulating material is provided to cover said
electrically conductive body and Peltier element such that a closed
space is formed around the electrically conductive body and Peltier
element, or around the Peltier element, said end cover being formed
to have an end plane part to be contacted with said
temperature-controlled body when cooling or heating said
temperature-controlled body, the inside surface of the end plane
part of said end cover or whole or part of the inner peripheral
part of said end cover being contacted with said electrically
conductive body; and wherein a gas such as air, chlorofluorocarbon,
argon, or others are sealed in said space to form heat insulating
stratum.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is
provided on the inner surface of the end plane part of said end
cover to detect the temperature of the end plane part of the end
cover.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said end cover is shaped
to be tapered towards its end plane part.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically
conductive body is of an inversed tapered shape enlarged towards
its end side contacting with the end plane part of the end
cover.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electrically
conductive body is formed into a shape bowing along length and
reducing in girth or diameter towards its end side contacting with
the end plane part of the end cover.
6. A method of controlling temperature of a body by an device for
controlling temperature of a body to be controlled in temperature
(hererafter referred to a temperature-controlled body) by
contacting a surface of the device to said body, the device
comprising a Peltier element consisting of a pair of
semiconductors, an electrically conductive body contacting with an
end surface of the Peltier element, an electrode-cum-heat-sink body
contacting with the other end surface of the Peltier element, said
electrically conductive body being able to be rapidly cooled or
heated by virtue of Peltier effect generated by applying d.c.
voltage between the Peltier element and the electrode-cum-heat-sink
to cool or heat said temperature-controlled body contacted with
said electrically conductive body, said surface of the device being
formed by an end plane part of an end cover made of electrical
insulating material, said method comprising: detecting temperature
of the end plane part of the end cover being contacted with said
temperature-controlled body by a temperature sensor; controlling
temperature of the end plane part of the end cover being contacted
with said temperature-controlled body based on the detected
temperature by adjusting voltage applied to said Peltier
element.
7. A method of controlling temperature of a body according to claim
6, wherein voltage applied to the peltier element and time for
applying the voltage are adjusted based on the temperature of the
end plane part of the end cover detected by said temperature sensor
and a contact area of the end plate part of the end cover with the
temperature-controlled body.
8. A method of controlling temperature of a body according to claim
6, wherein said temperature-controlled body is an affected area of
a human body, the method comprising:detecting a time when the
temperature detected by said temperature sensor reaches a
temperature to cancel overcooling, determining timing to start
operation for the affected area based on said detected time to
cancel overcooling.
9. A method of controlling temperature of a body according to claim
6, wherein a plurality of said electrically conductive bodies each
varying in its area of the side contacting to the inside surface of
the end plane part of the end cover are prepared, and one of said
conductive bodies is adopted in accordance with the area of the
temperature-controlled body to be contacted with the surface of the
device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for controlling
temperature and a method for controlling temperature by a Peltier
element using a Peltier element that capacitates cooling with a
large temperature difference and a big heat flux and that cools or
heats rapidly a small local area, and more particularly an device
device for controlling temperature and a method for controlling
temperature by a Peltier element appropriate for the local freezing
treatment to dermatological lesions such as cutaneous or mucosal
carsinoma.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Although electronic refrigerating systems using Peltier
elements are applied to local cooling or freezing for optical
instruments or electronic parts because a cooling temperature may
control in accordance with a supplying electronic power, it is
difficult to realize a large temperature difference and a big heat
flux due to its low cooling performance at the steady state.
[0003] A module having multistage Peltier elements has been
developed. On Japanese laid-open patent publication No. H8-186205,
a temperature controlling device is disclosed wherein a heat sink
contacted with a first Peltier element is further contacted with a
second Peltier element. In such temperature controlling device, the
second Peltier element needs to be larger than the first one in
order to enhance the efficiency of the heat diffusion and heat
transfer. That is, in case of the above mentioned multistage type
device, the module next stage or after next stages needs to be
larger than the one of the previous stage for enlarging the
absorbing capacity to give temperature difference and to absorb
heat evolved at the first stage so that the whole module becomes
big and the control of cooling surfaces is apt to become unstable
owing to the heat transfer and heat convection of the surrounding
atmosphere.
[0004] Meanwhile, in the bloodless treatment for aged patients who
cannot bear surgical abdominal operations or in the local treatment
to dermatological lesions such as cutaneous or mucosal carsinoma,
freezing operations wherein phenomena that arise with freezing is
utilized for treatment by freezing the affected area of a living
organism have been performed, in which liquid nitrogen has been
conventionally used for freezing.
[0005] However, with the conventional method using liquid nitrogen,
it is difficult to control the temperature appropriate for treating
the tissue of living organism and over freezing by liquid nitrogen
is apt to give damages to normal tissues adjacent to the freezing
region, which lead to an unsatisfactory treatment.
[0006] As an art for overcoming the problem, a Peltier cautery
instrument is disclosed on Japanese laid-open patent publication
No. JP2002-177296.
[0007] The Peltier cautery instrument comprises a Peltier element
having one of planes contacting a contact surface of a cauterized
surface, that is a surface of a temperature-controlled body, an
electrode-cum-heat-sink disposed on another of planes of the
element so as to contact that plane, a temperature sensor disposed
on the end or inner surface of the electrode-cum-heat-sink at the
Peltier element side, an external cooler disposed on a back end of
the electrode-cum-heat-sink, which does not contact the Peltier
element, so as to contact that back end, wherein the plane of the
Peltier element contacting a cauterized surface and the structure
of the instrument except for the back end of the external cooler
are sealed in a vacuum case.
[0008] When a cauterized surface or a surface of a
temperature-controlled body is rapidly cooled with the Peltier
cautery instrument, one of the planes disposed on the cauterized
surface is a transient cooling plane of the Peltier element and the
other of the planes in thermal contact with the heat sink member is
a heating plane.
[0009] At a steady-state time, a temperature of the heat sink
member is kept by the external cooler at a predetermined
temperature lower than the temperature of the cauterize surface at
a steady-state time and a predetermined temperature at a
steady-state time is kept by applying the electric current to the
Peltier element along such direction that the cauterized surface
side is a heating plane. When rapid cooling, the applied current is
inverted to a cooling mode from a heating mode so as to fulfill
rapid cooling.
[0010] Though in the above referenced patent publication, an
electronic refrigerating system having a large temperature
difference and a big heat flux is realized utilizing a Peltier
element, problems such as a large module and instability of
temperature control remain, and the system lacks in
practicality.
[0011] The liquid nitrogen treatment used for a medical
refrigerating system such as a freezing operation has a difficulty
of controlling temperature.
[0012] Though the art described in the above referenced patent
publication can solve the above problems that the art described in
the above referenced patent publication and the liquid nitrogen
treatment have, the art described in the above referenced patent
publication has following problems.
[0013] (1) Since the plane of the Peltier element contacting a
cauterized surface, that is a surface of a temperature-controlled
body, and the structure of the instrument except for the back end
of the external cooler are sealed in a vacuum case so as to
insulate heat, the instrument needs a device for generating and
keeping vacuum such as a vacuum pump and a vacuum piping, whereby
the cost to make the instrument increases because a structure of
the temperature controlling instrument becomes complicated.
[0014] A long operation of the instrument is apt to cause the
reduction of the accuracy of temperature control due to lowering of
the vacuum so that reliability as a temperature-controlling
instrument for medical use is in question.
[0015] Further, since, as described above, a main part of the
Peltier element is installed in the vacuum case, a length of the
conductive body having a contact plane to the surface of a
temperature-controlled body is restricted, so that it is difficult
to vary the shape of the end part of the temperature-control
instrument as usage.
[0016] (2) Since, as described above, the Peltier element and the
temperature-controlling element comprising the connecting element
is sealed in a vacuum case, a temperature sensor for controlling
temperature to monitor an operation is substantially impossible to
dispose in the vicinity of the contact plane of the surface of a
temperature-controlled body. The sensor is obliged to be disposed
at the end or inner surface of the electrode-cum-heat-sink at the
Peltier element side so that the temperature of contacting plane of
the temperature-controlled surface cannot be detected accurately,
which results in reduction of temperature controlling accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In view of the abovementioned problems, the object of the
present invention is to provide a temperature control device and
method using a Peltier element, which enables to improve the
accuracy of controlling temperature of a contacting plane based on
the detected value of temperature with a temperature sensor and to
reduce the cost to make the device by simplifying the structure of
the device because of enabling insulation of a contacting element
and the Peltier element without providing a vacuum case in which
the Peltier element is sealed and related devices.
[0018] The present invention, in order to attain the above object,
proposes an device for controlling temperature of a body to be
controlled in temperature (hereafter referred to a
temperature-controlled body) by contacting a surface of the device
to said body, the device comprising a Peltier element consisting of
a pair of semiconductors, an electrically conductive body
contacting with an end surface of the Peltier element, an
electrode-cum-heat-sink body contacting with the other end surface
of the Peltier element, said electrically conductive body being
able to be rapidly cooled or heated by virtue of Peltier effect
generated by applying DC voltage between the Peltier element and
the electrode-cum-heat-sink to cool or heat said
temperature-controlled body contacted with said electrically
conductive body, wherein an end cover made of electrical insulating
material is provided to cover said electrically conductive body and
Peltier element such that a closed space is formed around the
electrically conductive body and Peltier element, or around the
Peltier element, said end cover being formed to have an end plane
part to be contacted with said temperature-controlled body when
cooling or heating said temperature-controlled body, the inside
surface of the end plane part of said end cover or whole or part of
the inner peripheral part of said end cover being contacted with
said electrically conductive body; and wherein a gas such as air,
chlorofluorocarbon, argon, or others are sealed in said space to
form heat insulating stratum.
[0019] In consequence of the above invention, since an end cover
made of electrical insulating material is provided to cover said
electrically conductive body and Peltier element such that a closed
space is formed around the electrically conductive body and Peltier
element, or around the Peltier element, said end cover being formed
to have an end plane part to be contacted with said
temperature-controlled body when cooling or heating said
temperature-controlled body, the inside surface of the end plane
part of said end cover or whole or part of the inner peripheral
part of said end cover being contacted with said electrically
conductive body and a gas such as air, chlorofluorocarbon, argon,
or others are sealed in said space to form heat insulating stratum,
the Peltier element and the electrode-cum-heat-sink is secured by
the heat insulating stratum surrounded by the end cover.
[0020] Therefore, the intruded heat to the end part near the
contact plane does not convect by the heat insulating stratum and
is blocked to perform stable insulating action.
[0021] Since the vacuum case described in the above referenced
patent publication is unnecessary, the conductive body can be made
long and a form of the conductive body such as a diminution shape
or an increasing-taper shape can be selected without restraint.
[0022] Therefore, according to the above invention, since
temperature-controlling elements such as the conductive body, the
Peltier element and the electrode-cum-heat-sink are securely
insulated by the heat insulating stratum surrounded by the end
cover, the device dose not needs a device for generating and
keeping vacuum such as a vacuum pump and a vacuum piping that are
needed for a conventional art so that the structure of the device
can be simplified and the cost making the device can be
reduced.
[0023] Further, as previously described, since the
temperature-controlling elements are insulated by the heat
insulating stratum surrounded by the end cover so that a device for
generating and keeping vacuum including the vacuum case are
unnecessary, the reduction of the accuracy of temperature control
due to lowering of the vacuum is avoided even in case of a long
operation so that reliability of the temperature-controlling
device, especially as a temperature-controlling device for medical
use, is improved.
[0024] According to the present invention, the end cover is shaped
to be tapered towards its end plane part.
[0025] In this way, as the end part has a diminution shape, when a
human body is treated, a contact area to the human body of the
temperature-controlled body, that is a treating area, is well
visible so as to be easy to treat. Further, as the end part becomes
long, an insulating layer of the end part can be made long so that
insulating effect for the temperature-controlling elements is
enhanced.
[0026] Further, frost and dew formation in the vicinity of the
contact plane is avoided by the heat insulating stratum surrounded
by the end cover, which is formed with the outer shape of
diminution by lengthening the conductive body.
[0027] According to the present invention, the electrically
conductive body is of an inversed tapered shape enlarged towards
its end side contacting with the end plane part of the end
cover.
[0028] Consequently, as a contact area with the
temperature-controlled body becomes large, a wide area of affected
area is possible without enlarging the outer shape of the device
for controlling temperature by Peltier element when treating a
human body.
[0029] Further according to the present invention, the electrically
conductive body is formed into a shape bowing along length and
reducing in girth or diameter towards its end side contacting with
the end plane part of the end cover.
[0030] Thus, as the contact plane side of the diminution-shaped end
part is bent, treatment for a narrow part such as an oral inside
becomes easy.
[0031] The present invention proposes a method of controlling
temperature of a body by an device for controlling temperature of a
body to be controlled in temperature (hereafter referred to a
temperature-controlled body) by contacting a surface of the device
to said body, the device comprising a Peltier element consisting of
a pair of semiconductors, an electrically conductive body
contacting with an end surface of the Peltier element, an
electrode-cum-heat-sink body contacting with the other end surface
of the Peltier element, said electrically conductive body being
able to be rapidly cooled or heated by virtue of Peltier effect
generated by applying DC voltage between the Peltier element and
the electrode-cum-heat-sink to cool or heat said
temperature-controlled body contacted with said electrically
conductive body, said surface of the device being formed by an end
plane part of an end cover made of electrical insulating material,
said method comprising: detecting temperature of the end plane part
of the end cover being contacted with said temperature-controlled
body by a temperature sensor; controlling temperature of the end
plane part of the end cover being contacted with said
temperature-controlled body based on the detected temperature by
adjusting voltage applied to said Peltier element.
[0032] Further according to the present invention, a temperature
sensor is provided on the inside surface of the end plane part of
said end cover to detect the temperature of the end plane part of
the end cover.
[0033] Further according to the present invention, a plurality of
said electrically conductive bodies each varying in its area of the
side contacting to the inside surface of the end plane part of the
end cover are prepared, and one of said conductive bodies is
adopted in accordance with the area of the temperature-controlled
body to be contacted with the surface of the device.
[0034] Thus, since a vacuum case for encapsulating the temperature
control element is unnecessary because the insulation of the
temperature control element is assured with the heat insulating
stratum surrounded by the end cover, the temperature sensor for
controlling a temperature at the time of monitoring an operation is
easily disposed in the vicinity of the contact plane of a
temperature-controlled body so that the temperature of the contact
plane of the temperature-controlled plane is precisely detected,
whereby monitoring an operation based on the detected temperature
of the contact plane can be precisely performed.
[0035] Further, when a plurality of electrically conductive bodies
each varying in its area of the side contacting to the inside
surface of the end plane part of the end cover are prepared, one of
said conductive bodies is adopted to use corresponding to the state
of an affected area of a human body.
[0036] Further, when the temperature-controlled body is an affected
area of a human body, it is preferable that a time when the
temperature detected by said temperature sensor reaches a
temperature to cancel overcooling is detected, and timing to start
operation for the affected area is determined based on said
detected time to cancel overcooling.
[0037] Thus, the starting time of freezing an affected area of a
human body can be precisely found by detecting a temperature to
cancel over cooling with the temperature sensor disposed in the
vicinity of the affected area of a human body whereby timing to
start operation for the affected area is determined based on said
detected time to cancel overcooling and operation can be performed
while monitoring an operation time and the depth of an operating
section.
[0038] Further, according to the present invention, voltage applied
to the Peltier element and time for applying the voltage are
adjusted based on the temperature of the end plane part of the end
cover detected by said temperature sensor and a contact area of the
end plate part of the end cover with the temperature-controlled
body.
[0039] Thus, applying voltage to the Peltier element is reversed
from heating mode to cooling mode or vice versa so as to change
rapid cooling to rapid heating or vice versa corresponding to the
state of the operating section, or an extent or a time of duration
of applying voltage to the Peltier element is adjusted so as to
hold a temperature and a duration time for warming most appropriate
for the state of the operating section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for controlling
temperature by Peltier element with regard to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the end part of n device for
controlling temperature by Peltier element with regard to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the end part of a device for
controlling temperature by Peltier element with regard to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a graph showing a temperature variation at a time
of operation using the devices for controlling temperature with
regard to the above embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] The invention will now be described in detail by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be
understood, however, that the description herein of specific
embodiments such as to the dimensions, the kinds of material, the
configurations and the relative disposals of the elemental parts
and the like is not intended to limit the invention to the
particular forms disclosed but the intention is to disclose for the
sake of example unless otherwise specifically described.
[0045] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for controlling
temperature by Peltier element with regard to a first embodiment of
the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the end part
of a device for controlling temperature by Peltier element with
regard to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3
is a sectional view of the end part of a device for controlling
temperature by Peltier element with regard to a third embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a temperature
variation at a time of operation using the devices for controlling
temperature with regard to the above embodiments.
[0046] In FIG. 1 (A) in which a first embodiment is shown, a
Peltier element used in the present invention comprises a p-type
circuit wherein heat semiconductors comprising a general P-type
semiconductor 11a and a N-type semiconductor 11b are connected with
a metal conductor 10.
[0047] Though the P-type semiconductor 11a and N-type semiconductor
11b are usually disposed with a slight distance therebetween, they
are disposed through the intermediary of an electrically insulating
layer 5 so as to achieve a compact structure according to the
device for controlling temperature of the present invention.
[0048] 10 is a metal conductor which adheres to the end part
surfaces of the P-type element and N-type element of the Peltier
element. The end plane of the metal conductor is disposed inside a
contact plane 17 for contacting a temperature-controlled body (a
detail of which is given afterward) such as a suffered area of a
human body.
[0049] Each of electrodes 13a, 13b is disposed so as to contact the
end plane of the P-type semiconductor 11a and the N-type
semiconductor 11b of the p-type circuit, which is the opposite side
plane to the metal conductor 10.
[0050] 14 is a heat sink which eradiates the heat generated at the
one side of the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, which is the side
opposite to the metal conductor 10. The heat sink 14 is contacted
in such a manner that it forms one body with one of the electrodes
13a, 13b which is disposed to be contacted with each of the P-type
element 11a or the N-type element 11b of the Peltier element and is
disposed to contact another electrode through the intermediary of
the electrically insulating layer 5, thereby forms an
electrode-cum-hest-sink.
[0051] Since the heat sink 14 is an electrode-cum-hest-sink, a
material having both excellent heat and electric conductivity such
as copper or aluminum is used.
[0052] 4 is an electric leading circuit. The contact plane 17 of
the metal conductor 10 with a temperature-controlled body such as
an affected area of a human body is cooled or heated by applying a
direct current voltage between the electrode 13a of the p-type
circuit and the electrode-cum-hest-sink 14 with the electric
leading circuit 4.
[0053] An external cooler 15 having a structure capable of
containing cooling agent such as dry ice is disposed to contact
with a rear end plane of the heat sink 14, which does not contact
with the Peltier element 11a, 11b.
[0054] Encapsulating cooling agent in the external cooler 15
attains rapid cooling of the end of the device because of rapid
removal of heat.
[0055] Further, if necessary, a circulating tubing part of a
circulating cooling device which is disposed differently may be
connected to the external cooler 15 for cooling.
[0056] 1 is a heat insulator comprising solid heat insulating
material. It insulates heat by covering the root part of the
temperature controlling element comprising the metal conductor 10,
the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, the electrodes 13a, 13b and the heat
sink 14, that is, the outer circumference of the opposite side part
to the metal conductor 10 and the outer circumference of the
external cooler 15.
[0057] 3 is an end cover comprising electrical insulating material
(preferably translucent in color) such as hard synthetic resin. The
end part thereof is formed to be a thin cylinder the end part of
which becomes reduced to the end in its sectional area and a
contact plane 17 contacting the temperature-controlled body is
formed at the end.
[0058] An outer shape including the end cover is formed as a
diminution shape in which the end part becomes reduced to the end
in its sectional area. The end part of the temperature-controlling
element comprising the metal conductor 10, the Peltier elements
11a, 11b, the electrodes 13a, 13b and the heat sink 14 is covered,
while the root part is fluid-tightly fixed to the end part of the
heat insulator. A point angle of the part provided with the end
cover 3 is preferably from 30 to 45 degrees.
[0059] In the sealed space formed between the inside of the cover 3
of the end part and the outer circumference of the temperature
controlling element comprising the metal conductor 10 covered with
the end cover 3, the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, the electrodes 13a,
13b and the heat sink 14, a heat insulating stratum 2 such as air,
chlorofluorocarbon, argon, and xenon is provided. Therefore, the
end part of the temperature controlling element comprising the
metal conductor 10, the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, the electrodes
13a, 13b and the heat sink 14 is surly insulated with the heat
insulating stratum 2 in the sealed space sealed by the end cover 3
so that the temperature controlling element can be insulated
without using such vacuum case as described in Japanese laid-open
patent No. P2002-177296.
[0060] 16 is a temperature sensor provided on the metal conductor
10. Though a known temperature sensor may be used such as a
thermocouple and a thermistor, the temperature sensor 16 is
disposed at the nearest position to the contact plane 17 of the
metal conductor 10 in order to detect accurately the temperature of
the contact plane 17 of the metal conductor that is a point a
temperature of which is controlled. In this embodiment, the sensor
is disposed at the end point surface of the outer circumference of
the metal conductor 10. A signal of the detected value from the
temperature sensor 16 is communicated to a temperature controlling
device through a detecting line 16a.
[0061] A method for controlling temperature using the device for
controlling temperature by Peltier element thus constructed as
described above is explained as follows.
[0062] A signal of the temperature value detected by the
temperature sensor 16 is constantly input to a controller through
the detecting line 16a. The controller may be provided separately
from the device for controlling temperature shown in FIG. 1 and
connected to the electrodes 13a, 13b of the Peltier elements 11a,
11b with a lead wire. The controller is not particularly restricted
so long as it is capable of varying a state of applying electric
current, that is, an applied voltage to the Peltier elements 11a,
11b based on the temperature signal.
[0063] In the controller, in case of operation of a human body, as
shown in FIG. 4, an hourly standard temperature for operation
(targeted temperature) and a standard applied voltage corresponding
to the standard temperature at an affected area of operating object
which contacts the contact plane 17 of the metal conductor 10 are
set. An applied voltage is adjusted so that a temperature of the
contact plane 17 coincides with the standard temperature by
comparing a constantly detected value of temperature from the
temperature sensor with the standard temperature. Thus, a
temperature of the contact plane 17 that contacts an affected area
of operating object is always adjusted to the standard temperature
(targeted temperature).
[0064] Therefore, as the temperature-controlling element is surly
insulated by the heat insulating stratum 2 surrounded by the end
cover 3, a vacuum case for encapsulating the
temperature-controlling element is unnecessary so that a
temperature of the contact plane 17 of an affected area of a human
body is precisely detected by disposing the temperature sensor 16
for temperature control at monitoring operation. Thus, monitoring
operation based on a detected value of a contact temperature from
the temperature sensor 16 can be accurately performed.
[0065] In such embodiment, in case of operation of a human body, as
shown in FIG. 4, a temperature for canceling over cooling is
detected with the temperature sensor 16 disposed on the metal
conductor 10 in the vicinity of the contact plane 17, and start to
operate the affected area is determined from the temperature
thereof. Thus, the starting time of freezing an affected area of a
human body can be precisely found by detecting a temperature for
canceling over cooling with the temperature sensor 16 disposed in
the vicinity of the affected area of a human body whereby a
starting time for operating the affected area is determined from
the temperature thereof and operation can be performed while
monitoring an operation time and the depth of an operating
section.
[0066] In such embodiment, a voltage applied to the Peltier
elements 11a, 11b and a time for applying voltage thereto are
preferably adjusted corresponding to a temperature detected with
the temperature sensor 16 in the vicinity of the contact plane and
to a contacting area of the affected section of a human body
(temperature-controlled body).
[0067] Thus, applying voltage to the Peltier element 11a, 11b is
reversed from heating mode to cooling mode or vice versa so as to
change rapid cooling to rapid heating or vice versa corresponding
to the state of the operating section, or an extent or a time of
duration of applying voltage to the Peltier element 11a, 11b is
adjusted so as to hold a temperature and a duration time for
warming most appropriate for the state of the operating
section.
[0068] As described above, according to such embodiment, since the
conductive body 10, the Peltier elements 11a, 11b and a whole of
the electrode-cum-heat-sink 14 or a part of the contact plane 17
side to the temperature-controlled body (affected section) are
covered with an end cover 3 and a heat insulating stratum 2 is
formed by sealing air, chlorofluorocarbon, argon or others in a
space formed inside the cover 3, the insulation of the conductive
body 10, the Peltier elements 11a, 11b and the
electrode-cum-heat-sink 14 is secured by the heat insulating
stratum 2 surrounded by the end cover 3.
[0069] Further, the intruded heat to the end part near the contact
plane 17 does not convect by the heat insulating stratum and is
blocked to perform stable insulating action.
[0070] Therefore, the device dose not need a device for generating
and keeping vacuum such as a vacuum pump and a vacuum piping for
encapsulating the metal conductor 10, Peltier elements 11a, 11b and
the electrode-cum-heat-sink 14 that are needed for a conventional
art.
[0071] Further, since the temperature-controlling elements are
insulated by the heat insulating stratum 2 surrounded by the end
cover 3 so that a device for generating and keeping vacuum
including the vacuum case are unnecessary, the reduction of the
accuracy of temperature control due to lowering of the vacuum is
avoided even in case of a long operation so that reliability of the
temperature-controlling device, especially as a
temperature-controlling device for medical use, is improved.
[0072] Further, in such embodiment, since an outer shape including
the end cover 3 is formed as a diminution shape in which the end
part becomes reduced to the end in its sectional area, when a human
body is treated, a contact area to the human body of the
temperature-controlled body, that is a treating area, is well
visible so as to be easy to treat. Further, as the end part becomes
long, an insulating layer of the end part can be made long so that
insulating effect for the temperature-controlling elements is
enhanced.
[0073] In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the metal conductor
21 is formed as an expanding-taper shape having an expanding taper
angle .theta..sub.1 in which contact plane 17 side to an affected
section (a temperature-controlled body) expands. The end cover is
also formed corresponding to the shape of the metal conductor 21.
According to this embodiment, as a contact area of the contact
plane to contact an affected section of a human body becomes large,
a wide area of an affected section can be treated without enlarging
the outer shape of the device for controlling temperature when a
human body is treated. Other structures are the same as the first
embodiment and the same sign denotes the same member.
[0074] In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the conductive body
is formed in such a shape that the contact plane side is reduced
and bent to a predetermined shape. According to the third
embodiment, as the contact plane side of the diminution-shaped end
part is bent, treatment for a narrow part such as an oral inside
becomes easy. If the metal conductors and the end covers having
different bent forms are prepared, the metal conductor and the end
cover can be selected and changed to use corresponding to the state
of the affected section. Other structures are the same as the first
embodiment and the same sign denotes the same member.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0075] As described above, according to the present invention,
since temperature-controlling elements such as the conductive body,
the Peltier element and the electrode-cum-heat-sink are securely
insulated by the heat insulating stratum surrounded by the end
cover, the device dose not needs a device for generating and
keeping vacuum such as a vacuum pump and a vacuum piping that are
needed for a conventional art so that the structure of the device
can be simplified and the cost making the device can be
reduced.
[0076] Further, since a vacuum case that is needed for a
conventional art is unnecessary, a length of the conductor is made
long so as to be capable of make the shape as a diminution shape or
an expanding taper shape, whereby the shape can be widely selected
as usage.
[0077] Further, since the temperature-controlling elements are
insulated by the heat insulating stratum surrounded by the end
cover so that a device for generating and keeping vacuum including
the vacuum case are unnecessary, the reduction of the accuracy of
temperature control due to lowering of the vacuum is avoided even
in case of a long operation so that reliability of the
temperature-controlling device, especially as a
temperature-controlling device for medical use, is improved.
[0078] Therefore, as the temperature-controlling element is surly
insulated by the heat insulating stratum surrounded by the end
cover, a vacuum case for encapsulating the temperature-controlling
element is unnecessary so that a temperature of the contact plane
of an affected area of a human body is precisely detected by
disposing the temperature sensor for temperature control at
monitoring operation. Thus, monitoring operation based on a
detected value of a contact temperature from the temperature sensor
can be accurately performed.
* * * * *