The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for heating, internally, an ultrasonically absorbent target medium, the probe comprising: at least one piezoelectric transducer (21) having a front face (212) intended to be positioned facing the target medium and a back face (211) opposite the front face (212), the transducer being able to emit at least one primary wave emanating from its front face and at least one secondary wave emanating from its back face, the probe being noteworthy in that it furthermore comprises: a reflector (24) facing the back face (211) of the transducer (21), the reflector (24) being suitable for reflecting the secondary wave emitted by the transducer (21); and a cooling-fluid layer (25) between the transducer (21) and the reflector (24).

A method and system for secure ultrasound treatment of living tissues using an ultrasound probe comprising a reflective cavity in acoustic communication with living tissues, a transducer to emit an ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity and a transducer to acquire a backscattered signal in the reflective cavity. The method comprises the steps of a) emitting a first ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity that generates a backscattered ultrasound wave in the reflective cavity, b) acquiring a backscattered signal in the reflective cavity, c) determining whether an insonification can be safely performed by computing a similarity value between the backscattered signal and a predefined reference signal, and d) if an insonification can be safely performed, treating the living tissues with a second ultrasound wave emitted in the reflective cavity. The second ultrasound wave is focused a target point of the living tissues and generates a pressure point resulting in cavitation at this target point.

A surface cleaning means is proposed based on the combined use of ultrasound and radiofrequency electromagnetic emissions, propagated onto a surface to be cleaned, to provide synergistic cleaning action. One aspect provides a cleaning unit which comprises a body which includes an ultrasound transducer arrangement and an RF emitter arrangement, and wherein the two are arranged such that, when driven by respective drive signals, ultrasonic and RF emissions (for providing a cleaning action) are generated which overlap in a common spatial region, to thereby provide combined cleaning action in the common spatial region. One example application is for use for oral cleaning.

Improved acoustic neurostimulation is provided by having two or more acoustic transducers generate an acoustic interference pattern in a region of a patient being treated. The apparatus has at least two operating modes it can switch between. A first operating mode has the transducers driven at the same frequency. A second operating mode has the transducers driven at different frequencies. Full control of the acoustic transducers allows the acoustic interference pattern to be varied electronically at will.

A system for delivering mechanical waves to treat a lesion present in a vessel of a body, including an external mechanical wave source for generating mechanical waves from outside of the body, and a wave directing device insertable in the vessel, the wave directing device configured to receive the mechanical waves generated by the external mechanical wave source and to redirect the mechanical waves according to a target direction.

A device for damaging a parasite while being on a surface of a body of a mammal. The device is a hand held device with an ultrasound transmitter for generating ultrasound radiation and a plurality of teeth extending from a base of the device and arranged alternately.

Methods and systems for method for acoustic treatment of tissue to disperse vacuoles within the tissue. Some of the present methods and systems comprise: directing pulsed acoustic waves from the acoustic wave generator into the tissue containing the vacuoles. Some of the present methods include indentifying the location of tissue containing vacuoles, and/or coupling (e.g., acoustically) an acoustic wave generator to the tissue containing the vacuoles.

A high-intensity focused ultrasound is configured such that a disposable separable cartridge is attached to and detached from the ultrasound device, so that a practitioner, i.e. a doctor, can obtain coordinates of a skin tissue of a subject using a scanner of an ultrasonic transducer and locate an accurate procedure point in real time. A procedure can be performed on the accurate procedure point of the skin tissue without repeated procedures.

An improved method of treating an appendage of a patient using acoustic shock waves has the steps of: providing an appendage in need of an acoustic shock wave treatment; placing an acoustic shock wave applicator on a surface of the appendage; placing a gaseous filled membrane on an opposite surface of the appendage; activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves from an acoustic shock wave applicator; and wherein the acoustic shock wave is transmitted from the acoustic shock wave applicator through the surface sending the emitted acoustic shock waves into the tissue of the appendage and exiting the opposite surface of the appendage to the gaseous filled membrane where a reflection of the acoustic shock wave occurs sending reflected acoustic shock waves back through the appendage.

Apparatus and methods for creating tissue necrosis include an energy delivery apparatus that can be positioned adjacent a target treatment site such as a vessel without direct contact with the treatment site tissue. Collimated energy is then directed to the vessel to create necrotic regions in the tissue. Exemplary use in renal vessels creates necrotic regions in adjacent nerves which can alleviate hypertension in a patient.