Abstract: A device (1) and a method for therapeutic treatment comprising an acoustic treatment transducer (2) able to emit high intensity waves (HIFU) toward a target (3) in order to treat the target. The high intensity waves have a focal point. The device com-prises at least one detector (15) for detecting a change of tis-sue properties caused by the high intensity waves in the target (3). The device (1) further comprises at least one means for time measurement able to measure the time tmark from the beginning of the emission of a pulse of HIFU until a change of tissue properties is detected or means for detecting the frequency of appearance of changes of tissue properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing calcium zincate crystals including: placing calcium hydroxide2 and zinc oxide, one of the precursors thereof, or one of the water mixtures thereof in a starting suspension, the mass ratio of water to calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide, or one of the precursors or mixtures thereof, being greater than or equal to 1; milling the starting suspension to an ambient temperature less than or equal to 50° C. in a wet-phase three-dimensional micro-ball mill for a residence time less than or equal to 15 minutes and in particular from 5 to 25 seconds; recovering a calcium zincate crystal suspension coming out of the mill; and optionally, concentrating or drying the calcium zincate crystal suspension so as to obtain a calcium zincate crystal powder. Also disclosed are uses associated with the calcium zincate crystals obtained according to the method described above.

Abstract: A treatment device and methods for HIFU treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders are provided. The treatment device comprises the first sensor for detecting swallowing motion and the second sensor for tracking the motion of the thyroid and parathyroid tissue with ultrasound imaging. Thus, the treatment device allows for safe and non-invasive use of HIFU on thyroid and parathyroid tissue of patients by synchronizing HIFU pulse delivery with patient swallowing and/or directing the applicator of HIFU energy to follow the appropriate tissue when the patient moves.

Abstract: An optimal idle state of a processor is selected using dynamically derived parameters. For example, the idle state is selected from a group of possible idle power states. A current detector is arranged to perform power measurements of the processor and to report a total power consumption of the processor for each time value of a range of discrete values for each possible idle power state. A calibration unit is arranged to communicate with the current detector and the processor, and to automatically activate a calibration sequence that is used to produce data from which idle power state is optimal for the processor for an estimated idle period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe head (1), especially for HIFU treatment, comprising a treatment ultrasound transducer (2) and an imaging ultrasound transducer (3). The imaging transducer (3) comprises a shield element (4) configured such that most of the energy of ultrasound waves (10) reflected in the direction of the imaging transducer (3) are held back by said shield element (4). The shield element (4) is configured in such a way as not to interfere with the emission of the imaging ultrasound waves (7).

Abstract: A device for therapeutic treatment which comprises a HIFU transducer for generating and transmitting HIFU pulses to a target. The HIFU transducer is operable in at least a probing mode, during a probing phase, and in a treatment mode, during a treatment phase. In the probing phase the HIFU transducer is operated with at least one probing operation characteristic. The probing operation characteristic includes emission of a pulse with a focal point. During the treatment phase, the HIFU transducer operates with at least one treatment operation characteristic different from the probing operation characteristic. The device further comprises a detector designed to detect a change of tissue properties caused by the HIFU pulses in the target during the probing phase. The device further comprises a computer or microprocessor for determining at least one probing parameter necessary to achieve the change of tissue properties detected by the detector during the probing phase.

Abstract: A method of operating a device (1) for treatment of a tissue (6) of a living being and such a device (1) including a transducer (2) comprising at least two subtransducers (2?, 2?), each for emitting a sub-beam (8?) of ultrasound waves, preferably high intensity focused ultrasound waves, for irradiating the tissue (6). Each of the sub-beams (8?) is focused on or focusable onto a focal point (F). In order to reduce skin burns, the intersection Area (Asi) of a skin surface (7) for each sub-beam (8?) is evaluated and a power (Psi) and/or a duration (tsi) of the irradiation, for every sub-transducer (2?, 2?), is determined as a rate of the total power (Ptotal) or duration (ttotal) depending from the evaluated intersection area (Asi).

Abstract: A device for treatment of a tissue (8) of a living being, including a transducer (4) for emitting a beam of ultrasound waves mounted on a movable treatment head (1), an ultrasonic imaging device (2, 3), optionally an inflatable balloon (5) surrounding the treatment head (1) and containing a coupling fluid, and a control unit for controlling movement of the treatment head (1) and operation of the transducer (4) and the imaging device (2, 3). In order to avoid displacement of tissues (7, 8) during displacement of the treatment head (1) and increase imaging quality, the treatment head (1) is adjustable to at least two of a treatment position (T), a monitoring position (M) and a travel position (S).

Abstract: To determine the elastic modulus of biologic tissue, a sequence of elasticity images and a sequence of B-mode ultrasound images are acquired simultaneously. Then, at least one sub-sequence of the B-mode ultrasound images representing a resting state is generated from said sequence of B-mode ultrasound images. Based on the sub-sequence of the B-mode ultrasound images, a subsequence of the elasticity images is generated by selecting and/or modifying those elasticity images. Finally, the elastic modulus is determined based on the sub-sequence of the elasticity images. Also disclosed are a method for determining changes of the elastic modulus of a tissue, a method of identifying biological tissue based on the determined elastic modulus and a device for determining the elastic modulus of a biological tissue.

Abstract: Non-invasive device for locating a structure (N2), such as a nerve, in a region of a body having an external surface (Se), the device comprising: a focused ultrasonic transducer (1), advantageously of the HIFU type, designed to produce an ultrasound beam (Fu) through the external surface (Se) in the region, the beam (Fu) having a focal point that can be positioned on the structure (N2); monitoring means (3) for detecting a response of the structure when this is subjected to a stimulation; and stimulation means (1; 4) for stimulating the structure (N2), which delivers a response detected by the monitoring means (3), the stimulation means comprising the ultrasonic transducer (1) capable of delivering an ultrasound beam (Fu) to said structure (N2), so as to disturb it, characterized in that the device includes: an imager (2, 21, 22) mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer (1) so that the imager follows the focal point of the transducer so as to display, on an image, the position of the focal point of t

Abstract: An optimal idle state of a processor is selected using dynamically derived parameters. For example, the idle state is selected from a group of possible idle power states. A current detector is arranged to perform power measurements of the processor and to report a total power consumption of the processor for each time value of a range of discrete values for each possible idle power state. A calibration unit is arranged to communicate with the current detector and the processor, and to automatically activate a calibration sequence that is used to produce data from which idle power state is optimal for the processor for an estimated idle period.

Abstract: An optimal idle state of a processor is selected using dynamically derived parameters. For example, the idle state is selected from a group of possible idle power states. A current detector is arranged to perform power measurements of the processor and to report a total power consumption of the processor for each time value of a range of discrete values for each possible idle power state. A calibration unit is arranged to communicate with the current detector and the processor, and to automatically activate a calibration sequence that is used to produce data from which idle power state is optimal for the processor for an estimated idle period.

Abstract: An image-guided therapeutic apparatus (1) comprises a treatment device (2), preferably a HIFU transducer, for treating tissue, at least one imaging device (3) for guidance of a treatment, a mechanism for providing an image (4), a display (5) for displaying an image and planning mechanism (6) for planning a treatment. The planning mechanism (6) is adapted to create a lesion representation (9) of a lesion that will be created in tissue on the image (7) and to overlay the lesion representation (9) over the image (7). The size and/or shape and/or position of the lesion representation (9) is changeable, in particular, depending on the characteristics of the tissue.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for treatment of an organ or tissue of a living being. The device comprises at least one treatment transducer for emission of ultrasound waves, preferably high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves, focusable on a focal point within or on the surface of said organ or tissue, as well as means for rotating said treatment transducer around an axis which intersects said focal point. The device further comprises synchronization means for synchronizing the rotation of the treatment transducer with at least the emission of ultrasound waves from said treatment transducer and/or an additional imaging transducer.

Abstract: A device (1) and a method for therapeutic treatment comprising an acoustic treatment transducer (2) able to emit high intensity waves (HIFU) toward a target (3) in order to treat the target. The high intensity waves have a focal point. The device com-prises at least one detector (15) for detecting a change of tis-sue properties caused by the high intensity waves in the target (3). The device (1) further comprises at least one means for time measurement able to measure the time tmark from the beginning of the emission of a pulse of HIFU until a change of tissue properties is detected or means for detecting the frequency of appearance of changes of tissue properties.

Abstract: A device for therapeutic treatment includes an acoustic transducer designed to emit power waves to treat a target, and an imaging probe designed to emit waves for providing an image representation of the target and its environment before, during and after the emission of the power waves issuing from the transducer. The probe and the transducer are integrally connected to one another other. The device also includes a display for displaying images taken by the probe, namely images at rest, taken before and/or after emission of the power waves, and interference images, taken during the emission of the power waves. The device additionally comprises a detector for detecting a change of structure of the interference images that is indicative of the efficacy of the power waves.

Abstract: An optimal idle state of a processor is selected using dynamically derived parameters. For example, the idle state is selected from a group of possible idle power states. A current detector is arranged to perform power measurements of the processor and to report a total power consumption of the processor for each time value of a range of discrete values for each possible idle power state. A calibration unit is arranged to communicate with the current detector and the processor, and to automatically activate a calibration sequence that is used to produce data from which idle power state is optimal for the processor for an estimated idle period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head for imaging and treating an organ or tissue of a living organism, which is suitable for the treatment of thyroid or prostate tumors. The head comprises: an ultrasound probe for emitting waves or radiation in order to supply an image of the tissue or organ to be treated and a treatment mechanism for treating the tissue or organ locally, where the treatment mechanism emits waves or radiation to treat same. The ultrasonic probe divides the treatment mechanism into two parts that are substantially symmetrically identical in relation to the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: An imaging and treatment head for imaging and treating an organ or tissue of a living being, and usable in particular for treating tumors of the prostate or the thyroid. The head includes an ultrasonic probe suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to provide an imaged representation of an organ or tissue for treatment. The head also includes a treatment mechanism suitable for treating the organ or tissue locally. The treatment mechanism is suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to treat the organ or the tissue. The head is characterized in that the ultrasonic probe is mounted in a removable manner on an adapter that ensures positioning of the ultrasonic probe relative to the treatment mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe head (1), especially for HIFU treatment, comprising a treatment ultrasound transducer (2) and an imaging ultrasound transducer (3). The imaging transducer (3) comprises a shield element (4) configured such that most of the energy of ultrasound waves (10) reflected in the direction of the imaging transducer (3) are held back by said shield element (4). The shield element (4) is configured in such a way as not to interfere with the emission of the imaging ultrasound waves (7).