Abstract: A treatment device and methods for HIFU treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders are provided. The treatment method includes steps of identifying a treatment zone and directing high intensity focused ultrasound energy towards the treatment zone. The treatment device has a first sensor for detecting swallowing motion and a second sensor for tracking the motion of the thyroid and parathyroid tissue with ultrasound imaging.

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 therapeutic treatment head for treating living tissue (T), the head comprising a casing (1), an ultrasound therapeutic transducer (2) mounted on the casing, and a diaphragm (3) mounted on the casing (1), the diaphragm (3) being designed to come into contact with an application surface (S) of the tissue (T), such as skin; the diaphragm (3), the transducer (2), and the casing (1) together defining a chamber (4) that is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid (L) that flows through the chamber between an inlet (41) and an outlet (42); the transducer (2) being placed in such a manner as to emit ultrasound through a propagation zone (Z) of the chamber towards the diaphragm (3); the head being characterized in that a first temperature sensor (51) is placed close to the inlet (41) and a second temperature sensor (52) is placed close to the outlet (42), the sensors (51, 52) delivering signals that are representative of temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for screening compounds for their ability to increase rigidity of red blood cells (RBCs) infected by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and in particular by Plasmodium falciparum. The present invention also relates to a method for filtering RBCs that enables retention, in a filtering unit, of RBCs having an abnormal and in particular a decreased deformability, as a surrogate for spleen filtering function. Said method enables in particular isolating and/or detecting Plasmodium-infected RBCs or spherocytes associated with acquired or hereditary spherocytosis from a sample of blood from a patient, or analysing in vitro spleen function of a patient.

Abstract: Device for therapeutic treatment, comprising: an acoustic transducer (1) designed to emit power waves towards a target in order to treat the latter, the power waves having a focal point; an imaging probe (2), such as an echography probe, designed to emit waves for providing an image representation of the target and of its environment before, during and after the emission of the power waves issuing from the transducer (1), said probe and said transducer being integrally connected to each other; and a display device (21, 22) designed to display the images taken by the probe (2), 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 focal point of the power waves being situated in the image taken by the probe, characterized in that it additionally comprises detection means (150) for detecting a change of structure of the interference images that is indicative of the efficacy of the power waves (Fu).

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: A method for treating a varicose vein comprises heating a dehiscent portion of a wall of the vein so as to produce a localized retraction of collagen. Heating may be via application of high-intensity focused ultrasound energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment probe for focused ultrasound including a probe body, which is mounted in rotation around an axis; an elongated treatment transducer with a focused ultrasound emission acoustic axis, which is more or less the same as the rotation axis of the probe body; and an imaging transducer, the imaging plane of which contains the acoustic axis of the treatment transducer. The inventive probe can be used to provide a simple treatment. The probe body can be rotated around the axis in order to vary the direction of the imaging plane without moving the focus, which always remains in the imaging plane. The treatment transducer can be extended in order to provide safer treatment in relation to the organs to be treated and without risk of damaging the fragile surrounding organs.

Abstract: The inventive ultrasound treating device comprises a first processing transducer set (11) for transmitting a beam of high-intensity ultrasound waves to a treatable area (3), wherein said beam comprises an aspheric wavefront and forms a focal spot (6) on the treatable area elongated and inclined with respect to the direction of the ultrasound wave propagation and the focal spot (6) length is less than the length of the transducer (11). The inventive device is particularly suitable for treating an elongated area such as vein portions enveloping a pathological valve.

Abstract: A treatment device and methods for HIFU treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders are provided. The treatment method comprises identifying a treatment zone and directing high intensity focused ultrasound energy towards the treatment zone. 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: 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: A therapeutic treatment head for treating living tissue (T), the head comprising a casing (1), an ultrasound therapeutic transducer (2) mounted on the casing, and a diaphragm (3) mounted on the casing (1), the diaphragm (3) being designed to come into contact with an application surface (S) of the tissue (T), such as skin; the diaphragm (3), the transducer (2), and the casing (1) together defining a chamber (4) that is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid (L) that flows through the chamber between an inlet (41) and an outlet (42); the transducer (2) being placed in such a manner as to emit ultrasound through a propagation zone (Z) of the chamber towards the diaphragm (3); the head being characterized in that a first temperature sensor (51) is placed close to the inlet (41) and a second temperature sensor (52) is placed close to the outlet (42), the sensors (51, 52) delivering signals that are representative of temperatures.

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, said head comprising: imaging means (2), such as an ultrasonic probe, that are suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to provide an imaged representation of an organ or tissue for treatment; and treatment means (4) that are suitable for treating said organ or tissue locally, the treatment means being suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to treat the organ or the tissue; said head being characterized in that the imaging means subdivide the treatment means, substantially in a mid-plane, into two substantially symmetrically identical portions about the imaging means.

Abstract: A method of determining the real distance between an emitter/receiver face (212) of an imaging probe (2) and a target site, the probe emitting and receiving waves through a propagation medium and living tissue, the method comprising the following successive steps: determining the theoretical distance between the face and the target site when the face is separated from the target site only by the living tissue; determining a distance correction resulting from the fact that the emitted and received waves have passed through the propagation medium; and applying said correction to the theoretical distance so as to obtain the real distance.

Abstract: A surgical coagulation instrument having a planar ultrasound transducer without a membrane, mounted in the region of an end of a câble is provided The instrument additionally has a fluid circuit. It is useful for intra-cavity or laparoscopic treatment, without the use of the membrane. The fluid acts simultaneously as an ultrasound coupling fluid and probe cooling fluid.

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, said head comprising: imaging means (2), such as an ultrasonic probe, that are suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to provide an imaged representation of an organ or tissue for treatment; and treatment means (4) that are suitable for treating said organ or tissue locally, the treatment means being suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to treat the organ or the tissue; said head being characterized in that the imaging means (2) are mounted in removable manner on an adapter (3; 3?) that ensures positioning of the imaging means (2) relative to the treatment means (4).

Abstract: The inventive ultrasound treating device comprises a first processing transducer set (11) for transmitting a beam of high-intensity ultrasound waves to a treatable area (3), wherein said beam comprises an aspheric wavefront and forms a focal spot (6) on the treatable area elongated and inclined with respect to the direction of the ultrasound wave propagation and the focal spot (6) length is less than the length of the transducer (11). The inventive device is particularly suitable for treating an elongated area such as vein portions enveloping a pathological valve.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for calcium nitride synthesis which consists in spraying in form of droplets, by means of a sprayer, a molten zinc-calcium alloy into a reactor containing nitrogen at high temperature. The resulting calcium nitride is collected in a collector unit at the lower part of the reactor. The zinc contained in the droplets is evaporated and condensed on the cooled walls of the reactor and can be reused for preparing another alloy. The zinc-calcium alloy is obtained by electrolysis of calcium chloride in an electrolytic cell whereof the cathode is a solution containing molten zinc.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for calcium nitride synthesis which consists in spraying in form of droplets, by means of a sprayer, a molten zinc-calcium alloy into a reactor containing nitrogen at high temperature. The resulting calcium nitride is collected in a collector unit at the lower part of the reactor. The zinc contained in the droplets is evaporated and condensed on the cooled walls of the reactor and can be reused for preparing another alloy. The zinc-calcium alloy is obtained by electrolysis of calcium chloride in an electrolytic cell whereof the cathode is a solution containing molten zinc.

Abstract: A surgical coagulation instrument having a planar ultrasound transducer without a membrane, mounted in the region of an end of a cable is provided The instrument additionally has a fluid circuit. It is useful for intra-cavity or laparoscopic treatment, without the use of the membrane. The fluid acts simultaneously as an ultrasound coupling fluid and probe cooling fluid.