Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for determining and/or tracking a heart function of a patient. wherein the heart function is estimated by combining information representative of an electrical, mechanical and/or hemodynamic heart function received from imaging, therapy and/or diagnosis systems or a patient database with real-time information representative of an electrical, mechanical and/or hemodynamic heart function received from a measuring device attached or implanted to the patient. The information and the real-time information from can be associated to update an evaluation of the heart function of the patient in real-time and thereby improve the heart function and possibly optimize its efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for imaging a visco-elastic medium (2). The method comprises an excitation step during which an internal mechanical stress is generated in an excitation zone [A] and an imaging step of acquiring signals during the movements generated by the mechanical stress in the visco-elastic medium (2) in response to the internal mechanical stress in an imaging zone [B] that includes the excitation zone [A]. According to the invention, the method further comprises a step of calculating a quantitative index [Cij] associated with the rheological properties of the visco-elastic medium (2) at at least one point [Bij] of the imaging zone situated at a given depth outside the excitation zone [A].

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging probe for imaging a medium (10), comprising two types of transducers, characterized in that the first type of transducer(s) (1) is dedicated to ultrasonic imaging of the medium (10), and the second type of transducer(s) (2) is dedicated to generating a stress producing at least one transient modification of the imaged medium (10), both types of transducer(s) (1, 2) being able to operate at least in a so-called coupled mode where the first type of transducer(s) (1) operates in a synchronized way with the second type of transducer(s) (2) so as to image the time course of the transient modification of the medium (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves focused on an interface (13) delimiting two zones (11, 14) having distinct acoustic properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for imaging a visco-elastic medium. The method comprises an excitation step during which an internal mechanical stress is generated in excitation zone and an imaging step of acquiring signals during the movements generated by the mechanical stress in the visco-elastic medium in response to the internal mechanical stress in an imaging zone that includes the excitation zone. According to the invention, the method further comprises a step of calculating a quantitative index associated with the rheological properties of the visco-elastic medium at at least one point of the imaging zone situated at a given depth outside the excitation zone.