Abstract: The method of the invention determines a physical characteristic on a punctual location inside a medium, and includes including the steps of sending an emitted sequence having emitted pulses that have different amplitudes, receiving a received sequence having received pulses corresponding to echoes of the emitted pulses, calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the emitted pulses, and determining the physical characteristic on the punctual location on the bases of said the phase difference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for imaging a visco-elastic medium (2). The method comprises an excitation step during which an internal mechanical stress is generated in an excitation zone [A] and an imaging step of acquiring signals during the movements generated by the mechanical stress in the visco-elastic medium (2) in response to the internal mechanical stress in an imaging zone [B] that includes the excitation zone [A]. According to the invention, the method further comprises a step of calculating a quantitative index [Cij] associated with the rheological properties of the visco-elastic medium (2) at at least one point [Bij] of the imaging zone situated at a given depth outside the excitation zone [A].

Abstract: A method for performing shear wave elastography imaging of an observation field in a medium, the method including shear wave imaging steps to acquire sets of shear wave propagation parameters, the method further including a reliability indicator determining step during which a reliability indicator of the shear wave elastography imaging of the observation field is determined.

Abstract: A method for measuring a mean visco-elasticity value for a soft material uses a single probe carrying at least one transducer. At least one burst of mechanical vibrations is induced in a constraint zone in order to generate internal shear waves in the tissue propagating from the constraint zone into the tissue. The transient tissue displacements are measured with a transducer in at least one first measurement zone in the tissue, the first measurement zone being located away from the constraint zone. A mean visco-elasticity of the region of the tissue situated between the constraint zone and the first measurement zone is estimated from the measured transient tissue displacements of the tissue in the first measurement zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic display system, associated with ultrasound imaging equipment capable of for capturing a medium image, said system comprising a first monitor to display an ultrasound image captured by the ultrasound imaging equipment and image processing means. The system comprises a second touch-screen monitor, means to duplicate the ultrasound image, means to send this duplicate to the second monitor on which at least part thereof is displayed, means to display at least one graphical element which, by means screen tactility, is used to perform at least one processing operation on the ultrasound image, means for instant application of all processing operations performed using the second monitor to the duplicate ultrasound image displayed on the second monitor, and means for instant or deferred application to the ultrasound image displayed on the first monitor of the processing operations performed on the duplicate ultrasound image via the second monitor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging probe for imaging a medium (10), comprising two types of transducers, characterized in that the first type of transducer(s) (1) is dedicated to ultrasonic imaging of the medium (10), and the second type of transducer(s) (2) is dedicated to generating a stress producing at least one transient modification of the imaged medium (10), both types of transducer(s) (1, 2) being able to operate at least in a so-called coupled mode where the first type of transducer(s) (1) operates in a synchronized way with the second type of transducer(s) (2) so as to image the time course of the transient modification of the medium (10).

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method of acquiring high-resolution ultrasound images using an array of transducers using successive transmission matrices.

Abstract: A method for determining a physical characteristic on a punctual location inside a medium, comprising the steps of: sending an emitted sequence comprising emitted pulses having different amplitudes, receiving a received sequence comprising received pulses corresponding to echoes of said emitted pulses, calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the emitted pulses, and determining the physical characteristic on the bases of said phase difference.

Abstract: The ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound probe (3) and computer (20) for controlling the ultrasound probe and for visualizing an image. The system comprises a processing device located between the probe and the computer that comprises a processing unit (15) to operate an imaging method and switch unit (13) for routing the input and output data.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting a probe to an electronic device, comprising a first element (11) attached to the electronic device, a second element (12) attached to the probe, an activation device (14), and a third element (13) that can be moved by the activation device (14) relative to the first element (11) between an activated position and an inactivated position for establishing or not electrical contacts. The second element (12) can be locked or released to the third element (13) by a fixation mechanism (15). The third element (13) can be moved by the activation device (14) between the activated position and the inactivated position, the second element being locked to or released from the third element (13).

Abstract: A Method for measuring heart contractility of a patient, in which a mechanical shear wave is propagated through the heart and observation of the propagation leads to determine a shear wave propagation parameter representative of the elasticity of the heart is disclosed. The value of the propagation parameter at the end of a systole is sampled, which leads to a parameter representative of the end systolic elastance.

Abstract: An imaging method using shear waves for observing a viscoelastic medium, comprising: several successive excitation steps j during which elastic shear waves are generated respectively at different excitation loci (Lj) in the viscoelastic medium by an imaging device, the different excitation loci being separated from one another by a maximum distance Dm, an imaging step corresponding to each excitation step j, in which a set j of successive raw images Imj(tk) of the viscoelastic medium at times tk are determined during propagation of the shear wave, the raw images having a resolution R which is larger than the maximum distance Dm, an averaging step in which raw images Imj(tk) corresponding to the same relative time tk are averaged to determine an average image Im?(tk).

Abstract: The ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound probe (3) and computer (20) for controlling the ultrasound probe and for visualizing an image. The system comprises a processing device located between the probe and the computer that comprises a processing unit (15) to operate an imaging method and switch unit (13) for routing the input and output data.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic display system, intended to be coupled with ultrasound imaging equipment capable of capturing an image of a medium, said system comprising a first monitor to display an ultrasound image such as captured by the ultrasound imaging equipment and image processing means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring a mean visco-elasticity value for a soft material. Said method using a single probe carrying at least one transducer comprises the steps of: a) inducing, in a constraint zone, at least one burst of mechanical vibrations in order to generate internal shear waves in the tissue propagating from said constraint zone into the tissue, b1) measuring, with said transducer, the transient tissue displacements in at least one first measurement zone in the tissue, said first measurement zone being located away from said constraint zone, c) estimating a mean visco-elasticity of the region of the tissue situated between the constraint zone and the first measurement zone from said measured transient tissue displacements of the tissue in the first measurement zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic display system, intended to be coupled with ultrasound imaging equipment capable of capturing an image of a medium, said system comprising a first monitor to display an ultrasound image such as captured by the ultrasound imaging equipment and image processing means.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for the insonification of an environment or medium, which is designed to generate a beam of focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone (20), used for imaging the medium or changing the properties of the medium, with the insonification device (1) having an intrinsic or extrinsic support structure on which is installed a network of a predetermined number of ultrasound transducers (12) that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed wave beam. According to the invention, the transducers (12) used for the generation of the focussed wave beam are located in a homogeneous spatial distribution along at least two concentric spirals (11) that are wound onto a three-dimensional concave area (10) whose shape and size are chosen to allow optimal focusing of the beam at a predetermined focal length, and whose concave side is oriented toward the focus zone (20).

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method of acquiring high-resolution ultrasound images using an array of transducers using successive transmission matrices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring a mean visco-elasticity value for a soft material. The method uses a single probe carrying at least one transducer and includes the steps of: (a) inducing, in a constraint zone, at least one burst of mechanical vibrations in order to generate internal shear waves in the tissue propagating from the constraint zone into the tissue, (b1) measuring, with the transducer, the transient tissue displacements in at least one first measurement zone in the tissue, and wherein the first measurement zone is located away from the constraint zone, and (c) estimating a mean visco-elasticity of the region of the tissue situated between the constraint zone and the first measurement zone from the measured transient tissue displacements of the tissue in the first measurement zone.

Abstract: An imaging method using shear waves for observing a viscoelastic medium, comprising: several successive excitation steps j during which elastic shear waves are generated respectively at different excitation loci (Lj) in the viscoelastic medium by an imaging device, the different excitation loci being separated from one another by a maximum distance Dm, an imaging step corresponding to each excitation step j, in which a set j of successive raw images Imj(tk) of the viscoelastic medium at times tk are determined during propagation of the shear wave, the raw images having a resolution R which is larger than the maximum distance Dm, an averaging step in which raw images Imj(tk) corresponding to the same relative time tk are averaged to determine an average image Im?(tk).