Abstract: In a method and medical apparatus to determine a tumor characteristic related to a body region of a patient, the body region is exposed to acoustic energy that mechanically irritates the body region. A first value of a characteristic value of the patient that is correlated with the irritation is determined at a first point in time. A second value of the characteristic value is determined at a second point in time after the first point in time and after the exposure. The tumor characteristic is determined from the change between first value and second value.

Abstract: In an artificial endosphincter (1) for the urethra, comprising a retaining part (2) and a valve (10) which can be manually actuated by pressure from the outside, the retaining part (2) is formed as self-expanding stent. This permits gentle, simple and safe positioning as well as reliable and simple handling of the artificial endosphincter (1).

Abstract: An ultrasound therapy probe includes a therapy transducer movably mounted on a probe body, a partially deformable flexible casing disposed around the therapy transducer, and a guard ring that limits deformations of the flexible casing when the transducer moves with respect to the probe body. The therapy transducer can be moved between a therapy position and a retracted position, and the guard ring provides an end-of-travel stop against which the therapy transducer bears when in a therapy position. A first opening is provided for injecting liquid into the flexible casing, and a second opening is provided for withdrawing liquid from the flexible casing. The second opening is located on the guard ring so that bubbles are withdrawn from the flexible casing as soon as they form.