Articles
  • Fabrication of a piezoelectric ceramic using a spark plasma sintering technique and its application for a focused ultrasound-assisted lipolysis system
  • Kyung-Hwan Choa, Bong Geun Choid, Byoung-Gook Lohb, Zhong Soo Limc, Do Hoon Kima, Byung-Joon Koa, Yang Hyun Kima, Seon Mi Kima and Kwang Bo Shimd,*
  • a Dept of Family Medicine, Korea University Hospital, Korea University, Seoul, Korea b Dept. of Mechanical System Engineering, Hansung University, Seoul, Korea c Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea d Div. of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared using a spark plasma sintering technique and adapted for the design of a noninvasive lipolysis system, as the traditional ultrasound-assisted lipolysis system (UALS) is extremely invasive, significantly increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality. In order to transfer high sonic energy into a certain depth of skin (subcutaneous area) with minimal damage to superficial skin, a focusing acoustic wave design was developed. The selfdesigned UALS device was found to be very effective in destructing the adipocytes around the focused area in animal experiments. The focusing probe with bio-applicable piezoelectric materials shows great promise for future clinical applications.

Keywords: Piezoelectric ceramic, Focused ultrasound, Ultrasound-assisted lipolysis, Adipocyte.

This Article

  • 2011; 12(5): 610-614

    Published on Oct 31, 2011

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