Abstract: The present teachings relate to a device and a method for treating a subject, wherein an actuator is configured for external mechanical contact with the subject, wherein a control unit is configured to control the actuator to provide at least one burst of a primary vibration, and wherein the primary vibration has one or several frequencies, or a frequency varying, within an operative frequency range contained in a range from 5 Hz to 1000 Hz, in order for the device to generate a shear wave which propagates inside the body of the subject. In addition, the present teachings relate to use of a device of the present teachings to treat a breathing-related sleep disorder, including snoring, OSA, UARS, or OHS.

Abstract: Method for generating a shear wave in a target region of a soft solid, includes the following steps: a) generating at least two shear waves with a first and a second source of shear waves in the target region; b) detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region with a detector unit including a row of ultrasonic transducers aligned on a first direction perpendicular to a detection direction of each or a single ultrasonic transducer movable along a first direction perpendicular to its detection direction; c) proceeding to a time reversal of the detected propagation pattern; and d) submitting the target region to an inverted excitation set of forces based on the temporally inverted propagation pattern. During step b), a first propagation pattern is detected when only the first source is active and a second propagation pattern is detected when only the second source is active.

Abstract: This shear wave imaging method, for collecting information on a target region (R) of a soft solid (S), comprises at least the steps a) of generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region, and b) of detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region. Step a) is realized by applying to particles of the target region (R) some Lorentz forces resulting from an electric field (E) and from a magnetic field (B). At least one of the electric field (E) and the magnetic field (B) is variable in time, with a central frequency (fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. Alternatively, both the electric and magnetic fields (E, B) are variable in time, with a central difference frequency (?fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. The shear wave imaging installation comprises a first system (4, 7) for generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region (R) and a second system (10) for detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave.

Abstract: This method for determining a mechanical property of a layered soft material, includes steps of a) generating an ultrasound wave (W1) focused towards a first point (P1) of the material, said wave, upon interacting with a layer of said material, generating in turn a Lamb (L1) wave propagating into said layer of the material, b) measuring, at a second point (P2) of the material belonging to said layer, a physical parameter of the generated Lamb wave, c) automatically determining the mechanical property of the layered soft material, based on the measured physical parameter. Step a) is performed by exciting a first ultrasonic transducer (401) with a first excitation signal (S401) during at most 50 ms, step b) is performed by exciting a second ultrasonic transducer (402) with a second excitation signal (S402) during at most 0.

Abstract: Method for generating a shear wave in a target region of a soft solid, includes the following steps: a) generating at least two shear waves with a first and a second source of shear waves in the target region; b) detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region with a detector unit including a row of ultrasonic transducers aligned on a first direction perpendicular to a detection direction of each or a single ultrasonic transducer movable along a first direction perpendicular to its detection direction; c) proceeding to a time reversal of the detected propagation pattern; and d) submitting the target region to an inverted excitation set of forces based on the temporally inverted propagation pattern. During step b), a first propagation pattern is detected when only the first source is active and a second propagation pattern is detected when only the second source is active.

Abstract: This shear wave imaging method, for collecting information on a target region (R) of a soft solid (S), comprises at fi least the steps a) of generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region, and b) of detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region. Step a) is realized by applying to particles of the target region (R) some Lorentz forces resulting from an electric field (E) and from a magnetic field (B). At least one of the electric field (E) and the magnetic field (B) is variable in time, with a central frequency (fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. Alternatively, both the electric and magnetic fields (E, B) are variable in time, with a central difference frequency (?fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. The shear wave imaging installation comprises a first system (4, 7) for generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region (R) and a second system (10) for detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods comprising a step consisting of determining the proportion and/or the level of T regulatory lymphocytes with a CD4+ CD8??low Foxp3neg phenotype specific for Faecalibacterium prausnitzii for (i) diagnosing, (ii) prognosing outcome of, or (iii) predicting the risk of developing, an inflammatory bowel disease in a patient. The invention also concerns the treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease. The invention further relates to the kits that are useful in the above methods for diagnosing/prognosing an inflammatory bowel disease, and in the treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease. In a particular embodiment, the inflammatory bowel disease is the Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Method, computer device and software for calculating a corrected temporal variation (dt1)depth or a corrected relative temporal variation (dt1/t1)depth of a first body wave based on a second body wave. The method includes receiving raw seismic data recorded with a receiver; calculating arrival-time variations for the first and second body waves; calculating first and second relative temporal variations for the first and second body waves; and correcting the first relative temporal variation based on the second relative temporal variation to obtain the corrected relative temporal variation or correcting the first temporal variation based on the second temporal variation to obtain the corrected temporal variation. The second wave is either a body wave or a surface wave.

Abstract: Method, computer device and software for calculating a corrected temporal variation (dt1)depth or a corrected relative temporal variation (dt1/t1)depth of a first body wave based on a second body wave. The method includes receiving raw seismic data recorded with a receiver; calculating arrival-time variations for the first and second body waves; calculating first and second relative temporal variations for the first and second body waves; and correcting the first relative temporal variation based on the second relative temporal variation to obtain the corrected relative temporal variation or correcting the first temporal variation based on the second temporal variation to obtain the corrected temporal variation. A body wave is a wave that experiences at least one reflection before being recorded by the receiver.

Abstract: Method, computer device and software for calculating a corrected temporal variation (dt1)depth or a corrected relative temporal variation (dt1/t1)depth of a first body wave based on a second body wave. The method includes receiving raw seismic data recorded with a receiver; calculating arrival-time variations for the first and second body waves; calculating first and second relative temporal variations for the first and second body waves; and correcting the first relative temporal variation based on the second relative temporal variation to obtain the corrected relative temporal variation or correcting the first temporal variation based on the second temporal variation to obtain the corrected temporal variation. A body wave is a wave that experiences at least one reflection before being recorded by the receiver.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating an impact point on a surface of an object. The object is provided with an acoustic sensor that senses the impact from the acoustic waves that are generated when the object is subjected to the impact. The location of the impact on the surface of the object is determined by a recognition step that includes a comparison of the sensed signal to one or more predetermined signals. Each predetermined signal represents an active zone on the surface of the object. A predetermined signal corresponds to the sensed signal when the impact causing the sensed signal is generated in the active zone represented by the predetermined signal. The impact is associated with the active zone represented by a predetermined signal when the sensed signal and the predetermined signal sufficiently correspond to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating an impact point on a surface of an object. The object is provided with an acoustic sensor that senses the impact from the acoustic waves that are generated when the object is subjected to the impact. The location of the impact on the surface of the object is determined by a recognition step that includes a comparison of the sensed signal to one or more predetermined signals. Each predetermined signal represents an active zone on the surface of the object. A predetermined signal corresponds to the sensed signal when the impact causing the sensed signal is generated in the active zone represented by the predetermined signal. The impact is associated with the active zone represented by a predetermined signal when the sensed signal and the predetermined signal sufficiently correspond to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating an impact point on a surface of an object. The object is provided with an acoustic sensor that senses the impact from the acoustic waves that are generated when the object is subjected to the impact. The location of the impact on the surface of the object is determined by a recognition step that includes a comparison of the sensed signal to one or more predetermined signals. Each predetermined signal represents an active zone on the surface of the object. A predetermined signal corresponds to the sensed signal when the impact causing the sensed signal is generated in the active zone represented by the predetermined signal. The impact is associated with the active zone represented by a predetermined signal when the sensed signal and the predetermined signal sufficiently correspond to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating an impact point on a surface of an object. The object is provided with an acoustic sensor that senses the impact from the acoustic waves that are generated when the object is subjected to the impact. The location of the impact on the surface of the object is determined by a recognition step that includes a comparison of the sensed signal to one or more predetermined signals. Each predetermined signal represents an active zone on the surface of the object. A predetermined signal corresponds to the sensed signal when the impact causing the sensed signal is generated in the active zone represented by the predetermined signal. The impact is associated with the active zone represented by a predetermined signal when the sensed signal and the predetermined signal sufficiently correspond to each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns an image method for observing the propagation of low-frequency shearing pulse wave simultaneously in multiple points of a diffusing viscoelastic medium. The method consists in transmitting at a very high rate ultrasonic compression waves enabling to obtain a succession of images of the medium; then in delayed processing of the resulting images by intercorrelation to determine in each point of each image the movements of the medium while the shearing wave is being propagated.