Abstract: The device (1) for characterizing an evolution of the fluid flow rate profile at a treatment area includes a system (6) for controlling an energy emission probe (4) and an ultrasound imaging probe (5), configured to control the energy emission probe (4) in emission according to successive energy emission phases interspersed with energy emission stop phases, and driving the ultrasound imaging probe (5) in emission before an energy emission phase in order to measure a reference Doppler signal and during the energy emission stop phases.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for treating tissue by emission of focused ultrasound waves, including: a creation surface of a pressure field of focused ultrasound waves divided into at least N sectors having segments of asymmetrical concave curve with centres of curvature; centres of curvature asymmetrical to the extent where the centres of curvature are situated at different distances from the plane of symmetry or from at least one of the axis of symmetry and at different depths taken according to the axis of symmetry; the individual axes intersecting between the focal zones and the creation surface or beyond the focal zones such that the beams originating from the sectors intersect to create a focal coverage zone which is off-axis relative to the plane of symmetry or to the axis of symmetry; the sectors of this creation surface creating energy deposit zones with profiles corresponding to the focal coverage zones.

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 therapy apparatus for treating tissue by the emission of focused ultrasound waves, including: a creation surface of a pressure field of focused ultrasound waves divided into at least N sectors having segments of asymmetrical concave curve (S1, S2, . . . ) with centres of curvature; centres of curvature (c1, c2, . . . ) asymmetrical to the extent where the centres of curvature are situated at different distances from the plane of symmetry (A1) or from the axis of symmetry (S) and/or at different depths taken according to the axis of symmetry; the individual axes (a1, a2, . . . ) intersecting between the focal zones (Zc1, Zc2, . . . ) and the creation surface (8) or beyond the focal zones such that the beams originating from the sectors intersect to create a focal coverage zone (Zr) which is off-axis relative to the plane of symmetry (A1) or to the axis of symmetry (S); the sectors of this creation surface (8) creating energy deposit zones with profiles corresponding to the focal coverage zones (Zr).

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 invention provides an ultrasound production source comprising a body containing an ultrasound transducer presenting in front an emission face, the body including an opening (5) defined by a tubular wall (6) and arranged so that the emission face of the ultrasound transducer faces towards the opening (5), the tubular wall (6) being provided externally with at least one thread (17) of a screw thread assembly system for co-operating with at least one complementary thread (16) either of a fastener ring (15) for fastening a flexible membrane (8) on the body, or of a protective cover, or of a ring fitted with an alignment system.

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 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 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).