Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a probe for the treatment of brain tissue using an assembly comprising the probe and an acoustic window (1), the probe (2) including a plurality of transducers (21) for generating ultrasound waves, the method comprising: —a phase of detection: •of the probe transducers situated above the cranium (4) of the patient, and •of the probe transducers situated above the acoustic window (1), so as to permit: •deactivation of the transducers situated above the cranium (4) of the patient, •activation of the transducers situated above the acoustic window (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical kit for use in a craniectomy procedure, the surgical kit comprising: a medical device to be implanted in a cranial bone of a patient, the medical device (10) including several transducers for emitting ultrasound waves for treatment of brain tissue, a surgical accessory (20) intended to be positioned on the cranial bone of the patient, the surgical accessory (20) including a body whose outer perimeter defines the dimensions of an opening that is to be made in the cranial bone of the patient in order to receive the medical device, characterized in that the surgical accessory (20) comprises a plurality of holes (201) formed in the body, the position of each hole (201) on the body coinciding with the position of the axis of symmetry of a respective transducer, such that the accessory is able to be positioned optimally through the joint use of a neuronavigation system.

Abstract: An implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord or spinal nerves treatment, suitable for implantation in the spinal canal and comprises an elongate support member (22, 32) and an array of several treatment transducers (20) distributed along the elongate support member. The several treatment transducers (20) comprise radial transducers emitting an ultrasound treatment beam oriented radially, wherein the treatment transducers (20) have a resonant frequency comprised between 0.5 and 4 MHz. The device has articulating portions so that the implantable device can adapt its shape to a curved elongation path. Also disclosed is an apparatus including the implantable ultrasound generating treating device and methods comprising inserting the implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) inside the spinal canal of the spine of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus having an implantable ultrasound generating treating device to induce brain disorder treatment, suitable for implantation in or under the skull bone of a patient, includes several ultrasound generating transducers, which are connectable by a common electrical connection circuit to a generator, and wherein the ultrasound generating transducers each have one or several operating frequencies. The transducers include the group of transducers having several transducers driven by a same electrical drive signal, and connected to the generator system by a common electrical connection circuit, where the electric drive signal serves both as power signal and as a control signal for operating selectively, within said group, at least one or the other of a first transducer or sub-group of transducers, and of a second transducer or sub-group of transducers. The apparatus is also used to treat brain disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound contrast agent for use in treating a retina disorder by transiently disrupting the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) of a human, wherein the ultrasound contrast agent is administered just before and/or during the application, to the retina of the human, of an unfocused ultrasound (US) beam. The present invention further relates to a therapeutically active agent for use in treating a retina disorder in a human, wherein the therapeutically active agent is to be delivered in combination with an ultrasound contrast agent, which is administered before and/or during the application, to the retina of the human, of an unfocused ultrasound (US) beam in order to transiently disrupting the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) of the human, to allow the therapeutically active agent to cross the BRB and to target the retina. The present invention also relates to an eye ultrasound delivery device that may be used to treat a retina disorder.

Abstract: An implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord or spinal nerves treatment, suitable for implantation in the spinal canal and comprises an elongate support member (22, 32) and an array of several treatment transducers (20) distributed along the elongate support member. The several treatment transducers (20) comprise radial transducers emitting an ultrasound treatment beam oriented radially, wherein the treatment transducers (20) have a resonant frequency comprised between 0.5 and 4 MHz. The device has articulating portions so that the implantable device can adapt its shape to a curved elongation path. Also disclosed is an apparatus including the implantable ultrasound generating treating device and methods comprising inserting the implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) inside the spinal canal of the spine of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord or spinal nerves treatment, suitable for implantation in the spinal canal and comprises an elongate support member (22, 32) and an array of several treatment transducers (20) distributed along the elongate support member. The several treatment transducers (20) comprise radial transducers emitting an ultrasound treatment beam oriented radially, wherein the treatment transducers (20) have a resonant frequency comprised between 0.5 and 4 MHz. The device has articulating portions so that the implantable device can adapt its shape to a curved elongation path. Also disclosed is an apparatus including the implantable ultrasound generating treating device and methods comprising inserting the implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) inside the spinal canal of the spine of the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable ultrasound (US) generating device for implantation within the vertebral column of a vertebrate subject, wherein the implantable US generating device comprises at least one US generating transducer suitable for emitting US beam(s) with an oblique orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of a vertebral column.

Abstract: An external ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord and/or spinal nerve treatment comprises at least two sub-arrays of ultrasound generating treatment transducers, a left sub-array (20iL) being located on a left lateral side and a right sub-array (20iR) being located on a right lateral side of the central longitudinal axis (Ai). The device comprises a support structure (32) having at least one module (34i) comprising a left lateral section (34iL) and a right lateral section (34iR). The support structure (32) maintains, in use of the device, a constant distance and a constant relative angular orientation around the central longitudinal axis (Ai) between the first left and first right treatment transducers or set of treatment transducers (20iL, 20iR). Also disclosed is an apparatus including the external ultrasound generating treating device (12) and methods of its use.

Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of an inhomogeneous tumor lesion includes: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side and having azimuth directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having outer faces disposed in a polygonal arrangement; the plurality of array transducers having predetermined elevation dimensions defined for directing emitted ultrasonic energy to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transiently disrupting a region of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of a human using ultrasounds in the presence of an ultrasound contrast agent, and uses thereof. The method comprises the application of at least one ultrasound (US) beam with a pressure level higher than 1 MPa and a resonance frequency ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 MHz.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical kit for use in a craniectomy procedure, the surgical kit comprising: a medical device to be implanted in a cranial bone of a patient, the medical device (10) including several transducers for emitting ultrasound waves for treatment of brain tissue, a surgical accessory (20) intended to be positioned on the cranial bone of the patient, the surgical accessory (20) including a body whose outer perimeter defines the dimensions of an opening that is to be made in the cranial bone of the patient in order to receive the medical device, characterized in that the surgical accessory (20) comprises a plurality of holes (201) formed in the body, the position of each hole (201) on the body coinciding with the position of the axis of symmetry of a respective transducer, such that the accessory is able to be positioned optimally through the joint use of a neuronavigation system.

Abstract: An apparatus having an implantable ultrasound generating treating device to induce brain disorder treatment, suitable for implantation in or under the skull bone of a patient, includes several ultrasound generating transducers, which are connectable by a common electrical connection circuit to a generator, and wherein the ultrasound generating transducers each have one or several operating frequencies. The transducers include the group of transducers having several transducers driven by a same electrical drive signal, and connected to the generator system by a common electrical connection circuit, where the electric drive signal serves both as power signal and as a control signal for operating selectively, within said group, at least one or the other of a first transducer or sub-group of transducers, and of a second transducer or sub-group of transducers. The apparatus is also used to treat brain disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for imaging and/or treating brain tissue, having at least one acoustic window (10) which comprises a plate (1) that is transparent to ultrasonic waves, and at least one positioning marker (2) which facilitates positioning of a probe for generating ultrasonic waves so as to be aligned with said acoustic window (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a probe for the treatment of brain tissue using an assembly comprising the probe and an acoustic window (1), the probe (2) including a plurality of transducers (21) for generating ultrasound waves, the method comprising: —a phase of detection: •of the probe transducers situated above the cranium (4) of the patient, and •of the probe transducers situated above the acoustic window (1), so as to permit: •deactivation of the transducers situated above the cranium (4) of the patient, •activation of the transducers situated above the acoustic window (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound contrast agent for use in treating a retina disorder by transiently disrupting the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) of a human, wherein the ultrasound contrast agent is administered just before and/or during the application, to the retina of the human, of an unfocused ultrasound (US) beam. The present invention further relates to a therapeutically active agent for use in treating a retina disorder in a human, wherein the therapeutically active agent is to be delivered in combination with an ultrasound contrast agent, which is administered before and/or during the application, to the retina of the human, of an unfocused ultrasound (US) beam in order to transiently disrupting the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) of the human, to allow the therapeutically active agent to cross the BRB and to target the retina. The present invention also relates to an eye ultrasound delivery device that may be used to treat a retina disorder.

Abstract: An implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord or spinal nerves treatment, suitable for implantation in the spinal canal and comprises an elongate support member (22, 32) and an array of several treatment transducers (20) distributed along the elongate support member. The several treatment transducers (20) comprise radial transducers emitting an ultrasound treatment beam oriented radially, wherein the treatment transducers (20) have a resonant frequency comprised between 0.5 and 4 MHz. The device has articulating portions so that the implantable device can adapt its shape to a curved elongation path. Also disclosed is an apparatus including the implantable ultrasound generating treating device and methods comprising inserting the implantable ultrasound generating treating device (12) inside the spinal canal of the spine of the patient.

Abstract: An external ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord and/or spinal nerve treatment comprises at least two sub-arrays of ultrasound generating treatment transducers, a left sub-array (20iL) being located on a left lateral side and a right sub-array (20iR) being located on a right lateral side of the central longitudinal axis (Ai). The device comprises a support structure (32) having at least one module (34i) comprising a left lateral section (34iL) and a right lateral section (34iR). The support structure (32) maintains, in use of the device, a constant distance and a constant relative angular orientation around the central longitudinal axis (Ai) between the first left and first right treatment transducers or set of treatment transducers (20iL, 20iR). Also disclosed is an apparatus including the external ultrasound generating treating device (12) and methods of its use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and an implantable ultrasound generating treating device and to induce brain disorder treatment, suitable for implantation in or under the skull bone of a patient, and comprising several ultrasound generating transducers (20) which are connectable by a common electrical connection circuit to a generator, and wherein the ultrasound generating transducers (20) each have one or several operating frequencies. characterized in that the transducers comprise at least: characterized in that the group of transducers consists of several transducers driven by a same electrical drive signal, and connected to the generator system by a common electrical connection circuit, where the electric drive signal serves both as power signal and as a control signal for operating selectively, within said group, at least one or the other of a first transducer or sub-group of transducers, and of a second transducer or sub-group of transducers.

Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of an inhomogeneous tumor lesion includes: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side and having azimuth directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having outer faces disposed in a polygonal arrangement; the plurality of array transducers having predetermined elevation dimensions defined for directing emitted ultrasonic energy to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.