Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment probe for focused utlrasound 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: A method for treating myomas or tumors having a pedicle includes the steps of locating the pedicle of a myoma or a tumor using Doppler echography and delivering focused ultrasound to the pedicle.

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: This invention is a connection device that includes a housing whose shape is suited to be connected to a reception device. The connection device has several orifices including at least one electrical connection element and at least two sealed connection elements for a liquid. At least two of the connection elements are arranged coaxially in the same orifice. The orifices receiving the elements are arranged to cooperate in an aligned manner with connection reception elements of the reception device.

Abstract: The removal of a cellulosic casing from about a sausage, stuffed and processed in the casing, is accomplished by contacting the casing, either before or after stuffing, with a food grade enzyme, e.g.a. cellulase or cellulase enzyme complex, to metabolize the cellulosic casing on the sausage thereby producing a substantially casing-free sausage. Contacting the casing with the enzyme is accomplished prior to stuffing by applying an enzyme solution to the internal surface of the casing as part of an internal shirring spray or as a stripe to the exterior of the casing. Contacting with the enzyme after stuffing is accomplished by showering the stuffed casing with the enzyme solution. Also disclosed is the use of a combination of pre and post stuffing methods for applying the enzyme to the casing.

Abstract: A cellulose food casing and process for making a casing of a tubular cellulosic film having an exterior tube surface and an interior tube surface where the exterior surface is coated with (a) at least one protein having an acidic isoelectric point, preferably .beta.-lactoglobulin and (b) at least one cationic thermosetting resin having epoxy groups, such as a resin which is the reaction product of (a) an epichlorohydrin and (b) at least one polyamide, polyamine, polyamine-polyamide or blends thereof, to provide a casing having improved resistance to degradation e.g by enzymes such as cellulase.

Abstract: The removal of a cellulosic casing from about a sausage stuffed and processed in the casing is accomplished by contacting the sausage with a cellulase or cellulase enzyme complex to metabolize the cellulosic casing on the sausage thereby producing a substantially casing-free sausage.

Abstract: The therapy and imaging probe of the invention comprises a probe body (20') of an elongate shape defining a general axis (X--X), one imaging transducer (40') for transmitting imaging waves, and one therapy transducer (30') for transmitting therapy waves. The imaging transducer is mounted on first support means providing translational movement of the imaging transducer within the probe, parallel to the general axis (X--X) of the probe, between a withdrawn position and an extended position. The therapy transducer is mounted on second support means providing rotation of the therapy transducer within the probe, about an axis of rotation (X1--X1) parallel to the general axis (X--X) of the probe but offset with respect to the imaging transducer, to allow rotation of the therapy transducer between a withdrawn position and a treatment position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the surgical treatment of tissues by thermal effect, in particular prostate, is disclosed comprising a urethral emitting probe having a front end and a rear end, capable of being inserted in the urethra, provided with microwave antenna located intermediate or in the vicinity of said front end, said microwave antenna being connected to an external microwave generating device, and working at a frequency and at a power effective to heat said tissues to a predetermined temperature for a period of time sufficient to treat said tissues by thermal effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a real-time tracking and imaging of objects. The apparatus comprises of a real-time image forming device, a device for coupling the image forming device with a wave generator generating waves adapted to effect appropriate treatment of said object directed towards a target focus, wherein the coupling device includes a device for displacing the image forming device relative to said target focus. The invention offers the advantage of great positional freedom for the image forming device, enhanced resolution and safe observation of objects within the body of a mammal, and in particular a human being. The object is in particular selected from a concretion, a bone or a tumor, notably a cancerous tumor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus determining the exact position of a target relative to a reference of known co-ordinates. The apparatus comprises a source of radiation for forming an image of a target, which image is received by a receiver device situated beyond the target. A mask-forming device is interposed between the receiver device and the source of radiation, the mask-forming device including at least one localization means of known position relative to a reference point and suitable for forming an image in said image-forming radiation, means are also provided for displacing the radiation source in three dimensions, at least between two different angular positions, thereby displacing the co-ordinates of two different images of the target obtained from the two different angular positions of the source. The invention makes it possible to determine the exact position of a target with a very high degree of precision using a method which is simple and which limits the radiation dose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for detecting and locating a bony region by ultrasound. The apparatus comprises at least one ultrasound transducer component mounted on means for displacing it in three dimensions, which transducer emits signals that are received by processor means for determining the coordinates of a bony region and for storing said coordinates. The invention simplifies the procedure of detecting and locating the bony region and avoids the use of X-rays.

Abstract: An apparatus for the surgical treatment of tissues by thermal effect, in particular the prostate, is disclosed comprising a urethral emitting probe having a front end capable of being inserted in the urethra, provided with a microwave antenna located intermediate or in the vicinity of the front end, the microwave antenna being connected to an external microwave generating device, and working at a frequency and at a power effective to heat the tissues to a predetermined temperature for a period of time sufficient to treat the tissues by thermal effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring method for automatically measuring the volume of a tumor or of a gland, and also to a measuring device. The measuring device comprises an endocavitary detector probe, in particular a transrectal probe, display means, the display means including an image-forming screen forming images of the tumor or of the gland as provided by the probe, outline-marking means for marking the outline of the image of the tumor or of the gland on the image-forming screen, thereby enabling a marked outline to be obtained, computer means for calculating the volume of the tumor or of the gland on the basis of the marked outline, and optional means for storing the marked outline. The invention makes it very easy for a practitioner to determine the volume of a tumor or of a gland to be treated.

Abstract: A positioning device for positioning an instrument in three dimensions, the device comprising at least one arm which is essentially rigid having a first end and a second end, the second end being hinged relative to a support stand via at least one hinge axis, and said instrument being mounted on a support which is connected to the second end of the arm via at least one hinge axis, wherein said instrument comprises an exploration probe and said support for the instrument comprises a device for motion in translation enabling the instrument comprising the exploration probe to be moved in translation relative to the second end of the arm, making it possible to perform exploration for each of the translation positions.