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Therapeutic endo-rectal probe, and apparatus constituting an application thereof for destroying cancer tissue, in particular of the prostate, and preferably in combination with an imaging endo-cavitary-probe

  • US 5,666,954 A
  • Filed: 06/07/1995
  • Issued: 09/16/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A probe for insertion in a body cavity having a maximum predetermined perimeter, comprising:

  • a probe support member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; and

    a piezoelectric transducer element mounted on said probe support member at the distal end thereof and operative to emit ultrasonic waves at a focus effective for therapeutic treatment of body tissue, said piezoelectric transducer element being substantially disk-shaped and having a substantially disk-shaped front face defining an emitting surface substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis for emitting said ultrasonic waves for effecting said therapeutic treatment at said focus;

    said piezoelectric transducer element having a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said cross-section having a dimension parallel to said front face which is substantially greater than a dimension perpendicular to said front face for defining a substantially flat piezoelectric transducer element;

    said distal end of said probe support member having a cross-section conforming closely to said cross-section of said piezoelectric transducer element and a maximum cross-sectional perimeter no greater than said maximum predetermined perimeter of said body cavity, whereby said distal end of said probe support member may be inserted into said body cavity and the area of said emitting surface of said front face of said piezoelectric transducer element is maximized.

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