PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic irradiation apparatus for increasing the temperature of a region of interest to target temperature.SOLUTION: Heat generation energy setting means 112 calculates heat generation energy proportional to the density of the region of interest and the specific heat and increased temperature of the region of interest, on the basis of the increased temperature of the region of interest to the target temperature, which is input by input means. Focal intensity calculating means 114 inputs the heat generation energy and calculates focal intensity proportional to the heat generation energy and the focal volume of a focused ultrasonic wave to be emitted by an ultrasonic wave generation source 210 and inversely proportional to the attenuation ratio of the ultrasonic wave in the region of interest. Output intensity determining means 116 inputs the focal intensity and calculates irradiation ultrasonic wave intensity proportional to the focal intensity and inversely proportional to the product of a rate not for shielding the ultrasonic wave and a rate not for performing attenuation during the propagation of the ultrasonic wave. Control means 110 controls drive means 140 for driving the ultrasonic wave generation source 210, on the basis of the irradiation ultrasonic wave intensity, and allows the ultrasonic wave generation source 210 to emit a focused ultrasonic wave. Consequently, the temperature of the region of interest is increased to the target temperature.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】対象領域の温度を目的温度にまで上昇させる超音波照射装置を提供する。【解決手段】発熱エネルギ設定手段112は、入力手段より入力された対象領域の目的温度までの上昇温度に基づいて、対象領域の密度、対象領域の比熱及び上昇温度に比例する発熱エネルギを算出する。焦点強度算出手段114は、発熱エネルギを入力し、発熱エネルギと、超音波発生源210が射出する集束超音波の焦点体積とに比例し、対象領域における超音波の減衰率に反比例する焦点強度を算出する。出力強度決定手段116は、焦点強度を入力し、焦点強度に比例し、超音波が遮蔽されない割合及び超音波の伝搬中に減衰しない割合の積に反比例する照射超音波強度を算出する。制御手段110は、照射超音波強度に基づいて、超音波発生源210を駆動する駆動手段140を制御し、超音波発生源210に集束超音波を射出させる。その結果、対象領域の温度は目的温度まで上昇する。【選択図】図1
