Over the past few years, as the medical beauty equipment and home beauty device markets have developed rapidly domestically and internationally, related material and component technologies have also been actively researched. We would like to meet with Tae-Kyun Kim, CTO of Reziena, a medical beauty technology startup, to conduct an in-depth interview on the semiconductor-based CMUT ultrasound technology field and learn about the future development direction of the upcoming industry.
Q: Please introduce us to Reziena.
A: Reziena is a startup comprised of researchers from Samsung Electronics Medical Devices, which launched a HIFU-based home beauty device. In 2021, it transferred CMUT cell process technology from KIST and is currently focusing its capabilities on HIFU CMUT research. I'm the one concentrating on the process technology in our team.
Q: Please explain about the CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer).
A: In the mid-1990s, Khuri-Yakub's team at Standford University developed the CMUT, an ultrasonic transducer that was entirely microfabricated. The initial CMUT was created through the etching process of silicon oxide, and through continuous process development, research has been conducted to ensure that it has good properties even in heavy media such as water. Since the 2000s, medical ultrasound has been studied for CMUT applications, which are related to its good properties in water.
Q: Are there any unique features of CMUT that differentiate it from existing ultrasonic transducers?
A: Along with the advancement of semiconductor technology, MUT (Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer) technology, the next-generation ultrasonic transducer technology, is rapidly developing. CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer), which uses capacitive characteristics, is a semiconductor-based technology that can produce products in an environmentally friendly manner, smaller, and at a lower cost. Leading companies such as Philips, Hitachi, and Butterfly Network are leading the research.
CMUT, the next-generation ultrasonic transducer, has various advantages. For example, it has a higher bandwidth compared to the piezoelectric element method, which is advantageous for high-definition images. In terms of acoustic impedance, the piezoelectric element method is known to have an impedance value of about 30 Mrayl, and organic tissue is known to have an impedance value of about 1.5 Mrayl. In contrast, CMUT theoretically allows free movement of the membrane portion, so the interface with body tissue can be simplified. In addition, existing piezoelectric elements use lead (Pb), which is being pointed out as a cause of harm to the human body and environmental pollution, and there is a trend to gradually ban the use of materials containing lead. A major feature of CMUT is that it is based on semiconductor technology, and CMUY does not use lead, which makes it a valid substitute for the current technology on the market.
Q: What is the HIFU CMUT that Reziena is focusing on?
A: HIFU stands for High Focused Ultrasound and is a method of delivering heat energy by focusing ultrasound energy on a specific area. This HIFU technology is being applied to various fields, depending on its intensity. The high intensity range of therapeutic ultrasound, 100 to 10,000 W/cm2, is mainly used for tissue ablation, while intensities of 0.125 to 3 W/cm2 are utilized for drug delivery purposes. For skin care applications that Regiena focuses on, an intensity of 5 W/cm2 or higher is used, and by creating coagulation in the inner 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm of the skin without damaging the outer surface of the skin, it helps produce collagen and elastin, improving elasticity and wrinkles. It is effective.
Q: The HIFU market is developing rapidly. How is its size changing?
A: Referring to data from markets and research, the HIFU cosmetic system market for skin care purposes, which we are focusing on, recorded $197.9 million (KRW 260 billion) in 2021 and is predicted to record $298.1 million (KRW 400 billion) in 2028, with a CAGR of 6.0%. Considering the recent growth of the home HIFU market, which is rapidly forming with the launch of products not only by our company but also by large companies such as LG Electronics, the market forecast is expected to be adjusted upward. Additionally, according to Psmarket research, the beauty care device market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4%.
Q: Are there any new applications that utilize CMUT that you are anticipating?
A: Looking at the recent rapid pace of development of CMUT, it is difficult to predict exact applications, but it is easy to predict that development in various directions is possible. Since it is possible to provide flexibility to the CMUT and methods using low driving voltages are also being researched, applications for attaching it to the human body for purposes such as drug delivery can be expected in the medical field. If it is further developed, it may also be used for monitoring the vascular system. It's possible. In addition, it is predicted that innovation in medical beauty materials/parts, which are rapidly developing recently, will become the basis for global popularization.
Copyright © Daily Pop. Reproduction and redistribution are prohibited.
By: Sujin Kim
Source: Daily Pop (http://www.dailypop.kr)
https://www.dailypop.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=69211
Over the past few years, as the medical beauty equipment and home beauty device markets have developed rapidly domestically and internationally, related material and component technologies have also been actively researched. We would like to meet with Tae-Kyun Kim, CTO of Reziena, a medical beauty technology startup, to conduct an in-depth interview on the semiconductor-based CMUT ultrasound technology field and learn about the future development direction of the upcoming industry.
Q: Please introduce us to Reziena.
A: Reziena is a startup comprised of researchers from Samsung Electronics Medical Devices, which launched a HIFU-based home beauty device. In 2021, it transferred CMUT cell process technology from KIST and is currently focusing its capabilities on HIFU CMUT research. I'm the one concentrating on the process technology in our team.
Q: Please explain about the CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer).
A: In the mid-1990s, Khuri-Yakub's team at Standford University developed the CMUT, an ultrasonic transducer that was entirely microfabricated. The initial CMUT was created through the etching process of silicon oxide, and through continuous process development, research has been conducted to ensure that it has good properties even in heavy media such as water. Since the 2000s, medical ultrasound has been studied for CMUT applications, which are related to its good properties in water.
Q: Are there any unique features of CMUT that differentiate it from existing ultrasonic transducers?
A: Along with the advancement of semiconductor technology, MUT (Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer) technology, the next-generation ultrasonic transducer technology, is rapidly developing. CMUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer), which uses capacitive characteristics, is a semiconductor-based technology that can produce products in an environmentally friendly manner, smaller, and at a lower cost. Leading companies such as Philips, Hitachi, and Butterfly Network are leading the research.
CMUT, the next-generation ultrasonic transducer, has various advantages. For example, it has a higher bandwidth compared to the piezoelectric element method, which is advantageous for high-definition images. In terms of acoustic impedance, the piezoelectric element method is known to have an impedance value of about 30 Mrayl, and organic tissue is known to have an impedance value of about 1.5 Mrayl. In contrast, CMUT theoretically allows free movement of the membrane portion, so the interface with body tissue can be simplified. In addition, existing piezoelectric elements use lead (Pb), which is being pointed out as a cause of harm to the human body and environmental pollution, and there is a trend to gradually ban the use of materials containing lead. A major feature of CMUT is that it is based on semiconductor technology, and CMUY does not use lead, which makes it a valid substitute for the current technology on the market.
Q: What is the HIFU CMUT that Reziena is focusing on?
A: HIFU stands for High Focused Ultrasound and is a method of delivering heat energy by focusing ultrasound energy on a specific area. This HIFU technology is being applied to various fields, depending on its intensity. The high intensity range of therapeutic ultrasound, 100 to 10,000 W/cm2, is mainly used for tissue ablation, while intensities of 0.125 to 3 W/cm2 are utilized for drug delivery purposes. For skin care applications that Regiena focuses on, an intensity of 5 W/cm2 or higher is used, and by creating coagulation in the inner 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm of the skin without damaging the outer surface of the skin, it helps produce collagen and elastin, improving elasticity and wrinkles. It is effective.
Q: The HIFU market is developing rapidly. How is its size changing?
A: Referring to data from markets and research, the HIFU cosmetic system market for skin care purposes, which we are focusing on, recorded $197.9 million (KRW 260 billion) in 2021 and is predicted to record $298.1 million (KRW 400 billion) in 2028, with a CAGR of 6.0%. Considering the recent growth of the home HIFU market, which is rapidly forming with the launch of products not only by our company but also by large companies such as LG Electronics, the market forecast is expected to be adjusted upward. Additionally, according to Psmarket research, the beauty care device market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4%.
Q: Are there any new applications that utilize CMUT that you are anticipating?
A: Looking at the recent rapid pace of development of CMUT, it is difficult to predict exact applications, but it is easy to predict that development in various directions is possible. Since it is possible to provide flexibility to the CMUT and methods using low driving voltages are also being researched, applications for attaching it to the human body for purposes such as drug delivery can be expected in the medical field. If it is further developed, it may also be used for monitoring the vascular system. It's possible. In addition, it is predicted that innovation in medical beauty materials/parts, which are rapidly developing recently, will become the basis for global popularization.
Copyright © Daily Pop. Reproduction and redistribution are prohibited.
By: Sujin Kim
Source: Daily Pop (http://www.dailypop.kr)
https://www.dailypop.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=69211