Abstract: An ultrasound treatment device (1) which comprises a probe head (2) that comprises an ultrasound transducer (3) and an imaging device (4), a deformable coupling balloon (5) with a cavity (6), between the probe head (2) and the coupling balloon (5) filled with a coupling liquid (7), a pressure sensor (9) for determining the pressure of the coupling liquid (7) in the cavity (6), a fluid control system (10), and a controller unit (13). The device (1) is adapted to switch between at least first and second operating modes (I, II). In the first operating mode (I), the pressure of the coupling liquid (7) is maintained at a first pressure value (P1), and, in the second operating mode (II), the pressure of the coupling liquid (7) is maintained to a second pressure value (P2) which is higher than the first pressure value (P1).

Abstract: A device for therapeutic treatment which comprises a HIFU transducer for generating and transmitting HIFU pulses to a target. The HIFU transducer is operable in at least a probing mode, during a probing phase, and in a treatment mode, during a treatment phase. In the probing phase the HIFU transducer is operated with at least one probing operation characteristic. The probing operation characteristic includes emission of a pulse with a focal point. During the treatment phase, the HIFU transducer operates with at least one treatment operation characteristic different from the probing operation characteristic. The device further comprises a detector designed to detect a change of tissue properties caused by the HIFU pulses in the target during the probing phase. The device further comprises a computer or microprocessor for determining at least one probing parameter necessary to achieve the change of tissue properties detected by the detector during the probing phase.

Abstract: A device (1) and a method for therapeutic treatment comprising an acoustic treatment transducer (2) able to emit high intensity waves (HIFU) toward a target (3) in order to treat the target. The high intensity waves have a focal point. The device com-prises at least one detector (15) for detecting a change of tis-sue properties caused by the high intensity waves in the target (3). The device (1) further comprises at least one means for time measurement able to measure the time tmark from the beginning of the emission of a pulse of HIFU until a change of tissue properties is detected or means for detecting the frequency of appearance of changes of tissue properties.

Abstract: A device for therapeutic treatment which comprises a HIFU transducer for generating and transmitting HIFU pulses to a target. The HIFU transducer is operable in at least a probing mode, during a probing phase, and in a treatment mode, during a treatment phase. In the probing phase the HIFU transducer is operated with at least one probing operation characteristic. The probing operation characteristic includes emission of a pulse with a focal point. During the treatment phase, the HIFU transducer operates with at least one treatment operation characteristic different from the probing operation characteristic. The device further comprises a detector designed to detect a change of tissue properties caused by the HIFU pulses in the target during the probing phase. The device further comprises a computer or microprocessor for determining at least one probing parameter necessary to achieve the change of tissue properties detected by the detector during the probing phase.

Abstract: To determine the elastic modulus of biologic tissue, a sequence of elasticity images and a sequence of B-mode ultrasound images are acquired simultaneously. Then, at least one sub-sequence of the B-mode ultrasound images representing a resting state is generated from said sequence of B-mode ultrasound images. Based on the sub-sequence of the B-mode ultrasound images, a subsequence of the elasticity images is generated by selecting and/or modifying those elasticity images. Finally, the elastic modulus is determined based on the sub-sequence of the elasticity images. Also disclosed are a method for determining changes of the elastic modulus of a tissue, a method of identifying biological tissue based on the determined elastic modulus and a device for determining the elastic modulus of a biological tissue.

Abstract: An image-guided therapeutic apparatus (1) comprises a treatment device (2), preferably a HIFU transducer, for treating tissue, at least one imaging device (3) for guidance of a treatment, a mechanism for providing an image (4), a display (5) for displaying an image and planning mechanism (6) for planning a treatment. The planning mechanism (6) is adapted to create a lesion representation (9) of a lesion that will be created in tissue on the image (7) and to overlay the lesion representation (9) over the image (7). The size and/or shape and/or position of the lesion representation (9) is changeable, in particular, depending on the characteristics of the tissue.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for treatment of an organ or tissue of a living being. The device comprises at least one treatment transducer for emission of ultrasound waves, preferably high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves, focusable on a focal point within or on the surface of said organ or tissue, as well as means for rotating said treatment transducer around an axis which intersects said focal point. The device further comprises synchronization means for synchronizing the rotation of the treatment transducer with at least the emission of ultrasound waves from said treatment transducer and/or an additional imaging transducer.

Abstract: A device (1) and a method for therapeutic treatment comprising an acoustic treatment transducer (2) able to emit high intensity waves (HIFU) toward a target (3) in order to treat the target. The high intensity waves have a focal point. The device com-prises at least one detector (15) for detecting a change of tis-sue properties caused by the high intensity waves in the target (3). The device (1) further comprises at least one means for time measurement able to measure the time tmark from the beginning of the emission of a pulse of HIFU until a change of tissue properties is detected or means for detecting the frequency of appearance of changes of tissue properties.

Abstract: A device configured to measure the viscoelastic properties of biological tissues using a processing of ultrasound waves reflected by these tissues when a shear wave runs across them is presented. The device includes memories for forming lines of data such that each line comprises data relative to the ultrasound waves reflected from the same shot and a calculator for determining a parameter relative to the displacement between the tissues and a transducer emitting the shots, a calculator for calculating an intrinsic displacement of the medium from a set of lines forming an acquisition, and a processor for processing the first ultrasound lines, by using the relative parameter, before or during the formation of second ultrasound lines from this same acquisition, in order to determine the intrinsic displacement of the biological tissues from these first lines.

Abstract: A device configured to measure the viscoelastic properties of biological tissues using a processing of ultrasound waves reflected by these tissues when a shear wave runs across them is presented. The device includes means for forming lines of data such that each line comprises data relative to the ultrasound waves reflected from the same shot and means for determining a parameter relative to the displacement between the tissues and a transducer emitting the shots, means for calculating an intrinsic displacement of the medium from a set of lines forming an acquisition, and means for processing the first ultrasound lines, by using the relative parameter, before or during the formation of second ultrasound lines from this same acquisition, in order to determine the intrinsic displacement of the biological tissues from these first lines.

Abstract: A device for measuring elasticity of a human or animal organ, or viscoelastic environments presenting an ultrasonic signal after ultrasonic illumination and consecutively establishing a representation in two or three dimensions of the elasticity, including at least one ultrasonic bar including a plurality of transducers, an excitor that generates and delivers a low-frequency, direct or indirect applied force, a receiver that acquires ultrasonic signals, a controller that commands and processes data, and a scanner that carries out scanning with the bar in one dimension (1D) or in two dimensions (2D) in two perpendicular directions, respectively, to obtain a representation of the measure of the elasticity in two (2D) or three dimensions (3D).

Abstract: A device for measuring elasticity of a human or animal organ, or viscoelastic environments presenting an ultrasonic signal after ultrasonic illumination and consecutively establishing a representation in two or three dimensions of the elasticity, including at least one ultrasonic bar including a plurality of transducers, an excitor that generates and delivers a low-frequency, direct or indirect applied force, a receiver that acquires ultrasonic signals, a controller that commands and processes data, and a scanner that carries out scanning with the bar in one dimension (1D) or in two dimensions (2D) in two perpendicular directions, respectively, to obtain a representation of the measure of the elasticity in two (2D) or three dimensions (3D).