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 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: A therapeutic endocavity probe for treating tissues in particular of the prostate by emission of focused ultrasonic waves, including a support forming a guide tube extended by a mounting head for at least one therapy transducer component with an active surface emitting focused ultrasonic waves and having a spherical front of a total surface area in which a surface window is laid out for mounting an imaging transducer. According to the invention, the therapy transducer component has a front face having a total surface area equal to the sum of the active surface area equal to 1,500 mm2±200 mm2, and of the surface area of the window for letting through the imaging transducer, the ratio of the surface area of the window over the active surface area of the therapy transducer component being less than or equal to 0.45.

Abstract: Processing equipment by pressure waves includes a chassis supporting a pressure-wave generator. According to the invention, the processing equipment includes an actuation system including a fixed part mounted on the chassis and a mobile part in translation according to a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of oscillation of a curved section of an imaging system, a linking system with the curved section, connected to the mobile part in translation of the actuation system, and a control unit of the actuation system for placing the linking system in at least two stable positions corresponding to two different positions of incidence of the curved section of the imaging system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a real-time echographic imaging device comprising at least one echographic probe incorporating an ultrasound transducer connected electrically to a current generator for generating ultrasound waves. Said echographic imaging device further comprises an arm of longitudinal axis X-X? and supporting the echographic probe, which arm is mounted to move in translation along its longitudinal axis X-X? and in rotation thereabout via motor-driven displacement means. Said device further comprises control means for controlling the motor-driven displacement means, and force-monitoring means for measuring the application pressure with which the probe as moved by the moving arm is applied against a surface, in particular against a patient's body, and servo-control means for servo-controlling the displacement means for moving the arm so as to maintain said application pressure constant independently of the movements of the surface and of the movements of the probe relative to said surface.

Abstract: A therapeutic endocavity probe for treating tissues in particular of the prostate by emission of focused ultrasonic waves, including a support forming a guide tube extended by a mounting head for at least one therapy transducer component with an active surface emitting focused ultrasonic waves and having a spherical front of a total surface area in which a surface window is laid out for mounting an imaging transducer. According to the invention, the therapy transducer component has a front face having a total surface area equal to the sum of the active surface area equal to 1,500 mm2 ±200 mm2, and of the surface area of the window for letting through the imaging transducer, the ratio of the surface area of the window over the active surface area of the therapy transducer component being less than or equal to 0.45.