Abstract: A method for cooling a transducer of a probe for generating ultrasonic waves, the transducer exhibiting, at the front, a face (4) for emitting ultrasonic waves, and at the rear, a rear face (5), at least the emitting face partially delimiting a cooling chamber (11) wherein a cooling fluid circulates between at least an inlet (15) and at least an outlet (16), the inlet (15) being located at the periphery of the emitting face (4) whereas the outlet (16) is located in the central part of said emitting face. The method includes creating between the inlet (15) and the outlet (16), a circulation of cooling fluid according to a swirling inside the cooling chamber around the axis of acoustic propagation (A).

Abstract: A method for cooling a transducer of a probe for generating ultrasonic waves, the transducer exhibiting, at the front, a face (4) for emitting ultrasonic waves, and at the rear, a rear face (5), at least the emitting face partially delimiting a cooling chamber (11) wherein a cooling fluid circulates between at least an inlet (15) and at least an outlet (16), the inlet (15) being located at the periphery of the emitting face (4) whereas the outlet (16) is located in the central part of said emitting face. The method includes creating between the inlet (15) and the outlet (16), a circulation of cooling fluid according to a swirling inside the cooling chamber around the axis of acoustic propagation (A).

Abstract: The method of characterizing an ultrasound lesion (T) in organic tissues, the lesion being made by applying high intensity focused ultrasound delivered by a probe having its emission surface presenting a shape that is toroidal, consists in: after a period of at least two days from the end of ultrasound application, acquiring at least one characterization image (Ic) of the organic tissues; detecting the presence of a contrast border (16) in the characterization image (Ic); and from the contrast border (16), determining the extent of the ultrasound lesion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating ultrasonic waves focused on a focal zone (5) in order to carry out biological lesions, comprising the activation of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements (3). According to the invention: a target zone, in which homogenization of the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducer elements is desired, is chosen, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves on their path between the target zone and the ultrasonic transducer elements (3) are determined, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves are compensated, with ultrasonic transducer elements (3) at least some of which have non-identical emission surfaces such that in the target zone, the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the different ultrasonic transducer elements (3) is more or less identical.

Abstract: The object of the invention relates to an apparatus for the thermal treatment of biological tissues by means of the application of focused ultrasound waves, the apparatus including: a probe movement system for ensuring: the moving of the focal zone along a first direction, from a distal point of the treatment zone to a proximal point of the treatment zone, in order to create a sequence of elementary treatment zones; the juxtaposition of sequences of elementary treatment zones in order to completely cover the treatment zone; a control circuit controlling the probe, in order to ensure that the ultrasonic power delivered to the focal zone decreases between the distal point and the proximal point of the treatment zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating ultrasonic waves focused on a focal zone (5) in order to carry out biological lesions, comprising the activation of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements (3). According to the invention: a target zone, in which homogenization of the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducer elements is desired, is chosen, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves on their path between the target zone and the ultrasonic transducer elements (3) are determined, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves are compensated, with ultrasonic transducer elements (3) at least some of which have non-identical emission surfaces such that in the target zone, the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the different ultrasonic transducer elements (3) is more or less identical.

Abstract: A therapeutic probe having a transducer for focusing the ultrasonic waves into a first focal area, the emission surface of which has, within a profile plane, two concave curve segments which have a finite length and which are symmetrical relative to a plane of symmetry, or to an axis of symmetry. Within the profile plane, both concave curve segments extend along arcs of first and second non-coincident circles that intersect each other, and each curve segment has an acoustic axis intersecting the axis of symmetry, or the plane of symmetry, between the first focal area and the emission surface, the acoustic axes being spaced apart from each other such that the beams from the emission surface intersect each other so as to create a second focal area located in and situated between the first focal area and the emission surface.

Abstract: The method of characterizing an ultrasound lesion (T) in organic tissues, the lesion being made by applying high intensity focused ultrasound delivered by a probe having its emission surface presenting a shape that is toroidal, consists in: after a period of at least two days from the end of ultrasound application, acquiring at least one characterization image (Ic) of the organic tissues; detecting the presence of a contrast border (16) in the characterization image (Ic); and from the contrast border (16), determining the extent of the ultrasound lesion.

Abstract: The object of the invention relates to an apparatus for the thermal treatment of biological tissues by means of the application of focused ultrasound waves, the apparatus including: a probe movement system (7) for ensuring: the moving of the focal zone (Z) along a first direction (X), from a distal point (D) of the treatment zone (T) to a proximal point (P) of the treatment zone, in order to create a sequence (S) of elementary treatment zones; the juxtaposition of sequences (S, S1, S2, S3, . . . ) of elementary treatment zones in order to completely cover the treatment zone (T); a control circuit (6) controlling the probe (2), in order to ensure that the ultrasonic power delivered to the focal zone decreases between the distal point (D) and the proximal point (P) of the treatment zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating ultrasonic waves focused on a focal zone (5) in order to carry out biological lesions, comprising the activation of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements (3). According to the invention: a target zone, in which homogenization of the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducer elements is desired, is chosen, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves on their path between the target zone and the ultrasonic transducer elements (3) are determined, the focusing effect and the acoustic attenuations of the ultrasonic waves are compensated, with ultrasonic transducer elements (3) at least some of which have non-identical emission surfaces such that in the target zone, the supply of energy of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the different ultrasonic transducer elements (3) is more or less identical.

Abstract: The invention relates to a therapeutic probe comprising a transducer (2) for focusing the ultrasonic waves into a first focal area (Z1), the emission surface (8) of which has, within a profile plane (Pp), two concave curve segments (s1) which have a finite length and which are symmetrical relative to a plane of symmetry (A1) or to an axis of symmetry (S). According to the invention: within the profile plane (Pp), both concave curve segments (s1) extend along arcs of first and second non-coincident circles that intersect each other. each curve segment (s1) has an acoustic axis (a) intersecting the axis of symmetry (S) or the plane of symmetry (A1) between the first focal area (Z1) and the emission surface (8), the acoustic axes (a) being spaced apart from each other such that the beams from the emission surface (8) intersect each other so as to create a second focal area (Z2) located in situated between the first focal area (Z1) and the emission surface (8).

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for treating tissues by emission of focused ultrasound waves, includes a probe having a transducer formed by ultrasound elements distributed in several categories (N1 to NM) on a face for emission of focused ultrasound waves which is a surface of revolution generated by the rotation of a curve segment around an axis of symmetry, with the categories of ultrasound elements define independent and substantially contiguous focal volumes, and a control circuit including a signal generator for independently activating, alternately and substantially consecutively, the ultrasound emitter categories in such a way as to ensure continuous insonification in a ring shape originating from different categories of ultrasound emitters.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid manipulating system, comprising a reservoir of fluid (7), a bubble trap (9) connected to the reservoir, a heat-exchanger (11) and an appliance (21) forming with the bubble trap a closed circuit of fluid, and a pump (21) circulating the fluid in the closed circuit, thereby enabling to control easily the volume of fluid in the apparatus and the temperature of said fluid. The invention is useful for manipulating coupling and cooling fluid of rectal tubes in ultrasound therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid manipulating system, comprising a reservoir of fluid (7), a bubble trap (9) connected to the reservoir, a heat-exchanger (11) and an appliance (21) forming with the bubble trap a closed circuit of fluid, and a pump (21) circulating the fluid in the closed circuit, thereby enabling to control easily the volume of fluid in the apparatus and the temperature of said fluid. The invention is useful for manipulating coupling and cooling fluid of rectal tubes in ultrasound therapy.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for treating a biological sample by emitting focused high intensity ultrasounds towards a focal point, characterised in that it comprises means emitting wideband focused ultrasounds. The apparatus enables to adjust the focused ultrasound frequency according to the target attenuation, the thickness of the tissues traversed, the temperature evolution, or the lesion displacement during emission.

Abstract: A coupling medium for high-power ultrasound including a liquid aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer, notably polyvinylpyrrolidone, is provided together with ultrasound therapy apparatus including a therapy transducer adapted to transmit high-power ultrasound arranged in an enclosure, a portion of which is filled with the coupling medium.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy probe includes a therapy transducer movably mounted on a probe body, a partially deformable flexible casing disposed around the therapy transducer, and a guard ring that limits deformations of the flexible casing when the transducer moves with respect to the probe body. The therapy transducer can be moved between a therapy position and a retracted position, and the guard ring provides an end-of-travel stop against which the therapy transducer bears when in a therapy position. A first opening is provided for injecting liquid into the flexible casing, and a second opening is provided for withdrawing liquid from the flexible casing. The second opening is located on the guard ring so that bubbles are withdrawn from the flexible casing as soon as they form.

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy probe is provided comprising a therapy transducer movably mounted on a probe body, an at least partially deformable flexible casing around the therapy transducer, and a guard ring limiting deformations of the flexible casing when the transducer moves with respect to the probe body. The therapy transducer can be moved between a therapy position and a retracted position, the guard ring constituting an end-of-travel stop against which the therapy transducer bears in a therapy position. This ensures that movements of the organ to be treated are kept to a minimum when the therapy transducer moves with respect to the probe body.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of Dirac-type autocorrelation function signals for powering multielements ultrasonic transducers used in therapeutic application in order to minimize or eliminate secondary focusing. The Dirac-type autocorrelation function signals may be generated by a pseudo random binary code.

Abstract: An A-mode ultrasound echography method is employed for monitoring the position of a patient during hyperthermia treatment. A therapy apparatus includes a therapy device having at least one ultrasound therapy transducer and at least one monitoring ultrasound transducer, where the ultrasound monitoring transducer is linked to an electronic circuit for processing A-mode signals and is part of an A-mode echography device. The therapy apparatus further includes a device for causing the ultrasound transducer operating in A-mode to transmit a brief signal and to receive the echo of the brief signal. A comparing device compares the echo received with a reference echo, and transmits the result of the comparison to a control device.