Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus employ ultrasound beams to monitor the tissue type composition of body tissue that is to be treated and the temperature at each body tissue type or layer in real time. Additionally, the disclosed method and apparatus also provides ultrasound-based thermo-control of an aesthetic body treatment session.

Abstract: The current method and apparatus employs ultrasound beams to precisely monitor in real time the temperature of a specific segment of tissue being treated. Additionally, the current method and apparatus also provides ultrasound thermo-control of aesthetic skin treatment sessions. Such sessions may include one or more aesthetic skin tissue treatments such as sub-dermal fat cells breakdown, lessening of the amount of sub-dermal fat, tightening of loose skin, tightening and firming of body surfaces, reduction of wrinkles in the skin and collagen remodeling.

Abstract: A measuring device, comprising, (a) an ultrasonic acoustic transceiver unit capable of sending and receiving acoustic signals into the body of a patient; (b) frequency modulating circuitry which drives said transceiver unit with a signal whose frequency varies with time; and (c) processing circuitry which extracts an indication of a distance, from at least one signal detected by said transceiver unit, said signal being a reflection of a transmission of said transceiver unit driven by said time varying frequency signal. Optionally, the indication is a distance between walls of a bladder.

Abstract: A method for determining an acoustic velocity in a segment of a bone covered with a layer of soft tissue having an outer surface, which includes determining a first travel time of a first ultrasonic wave along a first path from the outer surface back to the outer surface which path includes at least a first part of the bone segment together with determining a second travel time of a second ultrasonic wave along a second path from the outer surface back to the outer surface, which path includes at least a second part of the bone segment and also determining a third travel time of a third ultrasonic wave along a third path from the outer surface back to the outer surface which path includes at least a third part of the bone segment, and deriving the acoustic velocity in the segment of bone from the three determined travel times.

Abstract: A method of determining an acoustic velocity in a bone, comprising: transmitting, from a location adjacent a first in-vivo bone, an acoustic wave having a wavelength about the same or smaller than a cross-section of the bone, which cross-section is perpendicular to a main travel direction of said acoustic wave in said bone; receiving said acoustic wave at a location adjacent a second in-vivo bone; and determining an acoustic velocity of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second bones, from a travel time of said wave through said first and second bones and at least one joint between said bones.

Abstract: A method of determining accurate values of acoustic parameters of tissues, comprising: transmitting first acoustic energy through the tissue along a path in a first direction; acquiring a first reflection signal generated by said tissue along said path from the transmitted first acoustic energy; transmitting second acoustic energy through the tissue along the path in a second direction opposite from the first direction; acquiring a second reflection signal generated by said tissue along said path from the transmitted second acoustic energy; and generating one or more of values of attenuation along the path, velocity of acoustic energy along the path, acoustic impedance of materials along the path and reflection along the path, responsive to both the first and second acquired reflection signals.

Abstract: A method of determining the velocity of a flowing material, suspended in a liquid and flowing in a conduit, including irradiating the conduit with ultrasonic waves, detecting first Doppler-shifted reflections of the waves from the material, which first reflections have a positive Doppler-shift, and detecting second Doppler shifted reflections of the waves from the material, which second reflections have a negative Doppler-shift. The flow velocity is estimated based on the extent of the positive and negative Doppler-shifts. The first and second reflections may be summed to form a composite signal and the range of Doppler-shifts in the composite signal is used to estimate the flow velocity.

Abstract: A method for determining, through an interposing medium, the mechanical properties of a solid having a surface, including transmitting a first ultrasonic wave along a transmission path from a first location through the interposing medium, along the surface and from the surface through the interposing medium to a second location; measuring the travel time of the first wave along the transmission path; measuring the thickness of the interposing medium; measuring the acoustic velocity of the interposing medium; and calculating the acoustic velocity in the solid based on the distance between the locations, the thickness of the interposing medium and the acoustic velocity in the interposing medium.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining, through an interposed medium, the mechanical properties of a solid comprised of more than one material, the solid having a surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining, through an interposed medium, the mechanical properties of a solid. The apparatus includes ultrasonic transmission apparatus for transmitting an ultrasonic wave through the interposed medium and the solid, wherein the solid has a surface, at least first and second ultrasonic receiver units, for receiving the ultrasonic wave, and apparatus for locating the receiver units such that a first receipt time of the ultrasonic wave from the surface to the first receiver unit is generally equivalent to a second receipt time from the surface to the second receiver unit.