Abstract: A Process and device of location and destruction of an anatomic target includes the periodic emission of a focused treatment beam of elastic waves and an echographic image of the target formed in real time during the treatment period by means of an ultrasonic auxiliary beam carrying out a scanning substantially centered in a symmetry plane of the focused treatment beam. Also displayed superimposed on the target image is a mark showing the theoretical position of the focal point of the treatment beam. Selection of the image forming echoes reflected from the target as a function of the coordinates of the region of impact of the auxiliary beam with respect to the echographic source is effected and the treatment and auxiliary sources are simultaneously displaced under the control of signals derived from the selected echoes until the coincidence between the image of the mark and the image of the target object is reached where the treatment beam emission is then triggered.

Abstract: An extracorporeal ultra-high-speed ultrasound hyperthermia treatment method consisting in transmitting and focussing on the tumor ultrasound wave trains at frequencies between 0.5 and 10 MHz with peak electric powers which may reach 20 Kw or more, the parameters which define the concentration of the treatment beam in the focal spot and the power being determined so that, irrespective of the depth and the nature of the tissue, the treatment time is in the order of that enabling significant destruction, preferably total destruction, of the target during the linear part of a curve showing the temperature increase as a function of time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment device is divulged comprising a power transducer in the form of a spherical cup serving both as treatment wave generator and as echographic transceiver, wherein the transducer is caused to oscillate (motor 2) during the treatment, so as to obtain sectorial B type scanning and it is excited (circuits 1 to 14) with treatment waves only in a restricted angular scanning sector and with echographic waves in the rest of the scanned sector.

Abstract: An acoustic filter is provided for attenuating or suppressing the negative pressure half-waves of an elastic wave, comprising an enclosure containing a liquid whose saturating vapor tension is close to the atmospheric pressure. A pump causes the liquid to flow and a regulator fixes its temperature.

Abstract: An elastic pulse generator including a piezo-electric or magnetrostrictive transducer which is focussing or associated with a focussing device, having a plurality of elementary emitting surfaces generating elastic signals. These signals are superimposed, after propagation over a certain distance, in a focal region. Several groups of elementary emitting surfaces are periodically exciting at a predetermined rate with respective separate electric signals. The emitting surfaces belong to transducer elements electrically isolated from each other and having different transfer functions. Delay lines are provided for phase shifting the elastic signals emitted by the transducer elements.

Abstract: A tissue characterization device is provided comprising means for transmitting high carrier frequency ultrasonic pulses to the tissues, means for receiving and converting the echos into high frequency electric signals and means for storing said electric signals with a sampling frequency sufficient for the high frequency information which they contain to be correctly recorded, further comprising means for reading the stored information at a rate less than the sampling frequency and such that the high frequency spectrum is transposed into the range of audible frequencies and means for converting the transposed spectrum into a sound signal.

Abstract: An acoustic filter is provided for attenuating or suppressing the negative pressure half-waves of an elastic wave, comprising an enclosure containing a liquid whose saturating vapor tension is close to the atmospheric pressure. A pump causes the liquid to flow and a regulator fixes its temperature.