Computer-implemented method for controlling operation of ultrasound device

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, the method comprises: determining or receiving a range of allowed acoustic power levels of the device from a user and / or memory according to the target and at least one configuration parameter of the device; displaying a user interface on the display; detecting at least one activation of any control element of the user interface by a user; and sending at least one instruction to the device based on the activation. The invention also relates to such a computer system, a computer program product for performing the method, and a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a computer system for communicating with such a device, the computer system including one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions for performing the method. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, the computer program product including computer-executable instructions that cause such a computer system to perform the method; and to such a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium.

[0003] The present invention is applicable to industrial and medical applications of ultrasound. In the following, the focus will be on medical - and more specifically, on therapeutic applications - but this should not be considered limiting. Background Art

[0004] With many potential applications having been discovered, the interest in technologies using ultrasonic waves has been growing steadily. Ultrasonic waves can be used to induce cavitation bubbles by focusing an ultrasonic pulse at a focal point, thereby allowing the release of mechanical energy towards a specific target in a region that includes, partially includes, or is close to the focal point. Multiple cavitation bubbles can be generated in such a region near or at the focal point, which can thus be identified as a cavitation region. The induced cavitation bubbles can be referred to as a cavitation cloud.

[0005] The cavitation bubbles or clouds generated by ultrasonic waves can be used for many different applications. Regarding medical applications, cavitation bubbles can be used for, for example, histotripsy (mechanical destruction of tissue), thromboclasis (mechanical destruction of a blood clot), or lithotripsy (fragmentation of a stone). Such applications have the particular advantage of being non-invasive or minimally invasive. There are many other uses for ultrasonic waves, such as sonochemistry, which can cause the initiation or enhancement of chemical activity in a solution, ultrasonic cleaning, ultrasonic decomposition, etc.

[0006] For example, during histotripsy, an acoustic transducer generates a short burst of sinusoidal ultrasonic waves that will be focused in the target area, which typically operates at a central emission frequency between 700 kHz and 4 MHz and has 1 to 20 repetition cycles per burst at a pulse repetition frequency between 1 Hz and 1000 Hz. Histotripsy generates local pressures up to 100 MPa and down to -25 MPa.

[0007] Some applications require focused ultrasound pulses with a high level of precision regarding the focus and cavitation area in which cavitation bubbles or clouds are generated, especially for medical applications. Controlling the position and / or size of the cavitation area remains challenging because, depending on the target and the device, the expected cavitation area is relatively indeterminate. It is particularly important to ensure that the cavitation area is closest to the target. Typically, an ultrasound device also includes a unit for obtaining an image of the target, which allows identification of the location of cavitation and the generation of cavitation bubbles.

[0008] The acoustic power level of the device allows the generation of cavitation bubbles above a specific threshold, which depends on many parameters such as the device, the distance to the target, and environmental parameters. Conversely, too high an acoustic power level can cause cavitation bubbles to be generated in undesirable locations or result in too many cavitation bubbles. To control the ultrasound device as accurately as possible, the acoustic power level should exceed the cavitation threshold while not exceeding the safety limit.

[0009] These thresholds and limits depend on many parameters such as the target composition or size, the hardware elements of the device that allow modulation of the acoustic power level, the shape of the transducer used to emit ultrasound, environmental parameters, the acoustic coupling between the system and the object to be ultrasonically treated, etc. These parameters can be unstable and vary over time. To ensure the finest possible control, the user can try to increase or decrease the acoustic power level while monitoring the generation of cavitation bubbles. For medical applications, the acoustic output power level or the acoustic power level can correspond to a "treatment gain value".

[0010] However, using such a device with the finest possible control requires extensive preparation and a large number of simultaneous actions. In fact, the user must be able to: prepare the ultrasound device and position it on the target, pre-determine a specific acoustic power level of the ultrasound device to generate cavitation, activate the device at the right time, verify the normal operation of the device after such activation, increase the acoustic power level until cavitation bubbles are generated and simultaneously visible, maintain the effective acoustic power level while verifying that cavitation bubbles are still being generated at the target and that the acoustic power level does not exceed the safety limit. In fact, the user's goal is to determine the lowest therapy gain (as low as possible) that allows triggering of the cavitation phenomenon (also known as the "cavitation threshold"). Determining such a lowest therapy gain is a difficult task because it depends on multiple factors. Notably, there is no standard value suitable for all objects, and for a given object, there is no standard value suitable for all target areas and the duration of the entire acoustic treatment session. Determining such a lowest therapy gain is a difficult task because it depends on multiple factors.

[0011] All of these steps require a high level of user concentration, short reaction times, and significant mental workload, which users can attempt to manage by spending their time during the preparation of any action, which is desired to be as short as possible for efficiency reasons, energy conservation, safety reasons (for medical applications), and / or for preserving the material for acoustic processing (in industrial applications).

[0012] Similarly, the user needs to rely on real-time images to monitor the cavitation effect of the focused ultrasound generated by the ultrasound device. The user can also identify audible noise to adjust the appropriate acoustic power level. Meanwhile, in medical applications, the user may also need to monitor at least one object's vital signs simultaneously, which also requires additional attention.

[0013] Known hardware solutions (foot switches, knobs, or joysticks) present several drawbacks in this context. They require the user to actively control the increment / decrement of the acoustic power level of the device through repetitive body movements, which can cause long-term injuries (repetitive stress injuries), especially when the ultrasound session may last for several minutes and a complete acoustic processing session may last for an hour.

[0014] They are inherently limited in their responsiveness to user actions due to the way they are constructed. Different from their use in high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which causes thermal effects on a long time scale and whose heat map progresses slowly, they may be too difficult to control cavitation treatments such as histotripsy or image-guided non-invasive ultrasound therapy (NIUT) with a fast action mechanism of very short reaction times of the human anatomy (e.g., cardiac arrhythmia) and require monitoring and preventive measures from the user.

[0015] The user may also suffer from physical fatigue, which can impair the effectiveness / efficacy of the session and the selection of the appropriate acoustic power level for the device. In addition, the user cannot convey all visual feedback about the current acoustic power level and requires another user interface support to convey the remaining required information.

[0016] Known graphical user interfaces (GUIs) only have a limited range of behaviors (simple clicks, switching modes, long presses) and cannot convey complete information about the intensity spatial peak pulse average (I SPPA ) and the range of treatment gain values.

[0017] Therefore, a means or method is needed that helps the user ensure the finest possible control of the ultrasound device while using it, while reducing the user's mental workload. Summary of the Invention

[0018] The present invention aims to overcome entirely or partially the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it aims to assist the user in ensuring fine control of an ultrasonic device while reducing the number of interactions between the user and the device.

[0019] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, the method comprising:

[0020] - determining or receiving, from the user and / or a memory, a range of allowed acoustic power levels for the device, based on the target and at least one configuration parameter of the device;

[0021] - displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface comprising at least:

[0022] ο a first region that displays at least one image of the target;

[0023] ο a second region that displays control elements for activating or stopping the generation of ultrasonic waves by the device,

[0024] ο a third region that displays the current acoustic power level emitted by the device, the determined range of allowed acoustic power levels, and control elements for selecting any acoustic power level within the range of allowed acoustic power levels, wherein the third region comprises at least one control element for progressively and automatically increasing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a higher value and following a progressive and automatic evolution according to a predetermined speed law;

[0025] - detecting at least one activation by the user of any control element of the user interface while the user interface is being displayed, and

[0026] - sending at least one instruction to the device, wherein the instruction corresponds to the at least one activation of any control element of the user interface.

[0027] By "detecting at least one activation by the user of any control element of the user interface", it is meant that the activation can be performed by an interface device such as a computer mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a physical control element or button, or the screen itself, the screen itself being a touch screen or any other physical object that interfaces the user's actions with the activation of the control element. If the interface device is not the screen itself, it is preferably arranged next to the screen.

[0028] Advantageously, the third region may include at least one control element for progressively and automatically reducing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a lower value and following a progressive and automatic evolution of a predetermined speed criterion, such control element being the same or different from the at least one element for progressively and automatically increasing the acoustic power level of the device.

[0029] Advantageously, the progressive and automatic evolution of the acoustic power level of the device may follow a first speed criterion when increasing and a second speed criterion when decreasing, the first criterion and the second speed criterion being the same or different. Alternatively or complementarily, the reduction to a specific lower value may be instantaneous.

[0030] Advantageously, the device may include a power amplifier, and the range of the allowed acoustic power level is further adjusted according to the temperature of the power amplifier or other hardware components. In addition, the range of the acoustic power level may apply to any factor that limits the maximum acoustic power level. For example, especially in medical applications, the limitation of the cumulative dose may interfere with the adjustment of the range of the acoustic power level. In addition, in medical applications, the range of the acoustic power level may be limited to acceptable values according to the patient's BMI (Body Mass Index), so as to allow adaptation to different acoustic attenuation factors due to different patient thicknesses. In addition, the range of the acoustic power level may depend on the physical phenomena caused by ultrasound (e.g.: mechanical, thermal). For example, in clinical applications, compared with tissue ablation applications (the goal is to destroy cancer cells), the treatment of calcified aortic valves requires a lower level of acoustic power (the goal is to soften the tissue).

[0031] Advantageously, a threshold value of the temperature of the power amplifier may be predetermined, and when the threshold value of the temperature is close to the temperature of the power amplifier, the user interface may display a first alert, and / or when the threshold value of the temperature is exceeded, the user interface may display a second alert. "Close" means that the temperature of the power amplifier reaches a value corresponding to 90%, 95% or 98% of the threshold value of the temperature. The user may select the most appropriate percentage based on at least one of the configuration parameters and / or the target.

[0032] Advantageously, the user interface displays the cumulative dose corresponding to the cumulative focused waves generated by the device at the target site, and wherein the range of the allowed acoustic power level is further adjusted according to a predetermined maximum cumulative dose.

[0033] The present invention also relates to a computer system in communication with a device that is capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, wherein the computer system comprises: a display, one or more processors, a memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the one or more programs include instructions for performing a method for controlling the operation of the device of the present invention.

[0034] Advantageously, the display of the computer system may include a touch-sensitive surface, and the user interface is displayed on the touch-sensitive surface, which is capable of detecting the intensity of contact with the touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, it may include a non-touch-sensitive (“conventional”) screen, in which case user actions are performed by means of a device such as a mouse or a joystick.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, the computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a computer system to perform a method for controlling the operation of the device of the present invention.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that cause a computer system to perform a method for controlling the operation of the device of the present invention.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a computer-implemented method for assisting a user in controlling the operation of a device that is capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, the method determining or receiving, from the user and / or the memory, a range of allowed acoustic power levels for the device based on the target and at least one configuration parameter of the device;

[0038] - Displaying a user interface on the display, the user interface comprising at least:

[0039] ο A first region (12, 22) that displays at least one image of the target,

[0040] ο A second region that displays control elements (17, 27) for activating or stopping the generation of ultrasonic waves by the device,

[0041] ο A third region (15, 26d, 26e, 26f) that displays the current acoustic power level emitted by the device, the determined range of allowed acoustic power levels, and at least one control element (15c, 15d, 26g) for selecting any acoustic power level within the range of allowed acoustic power levels,

[0042] Wherein, at least one of the control elements (15c, 15d, 26g) displayed in the third region is configured to incrementally and automatically increase the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a higher value and evolving incrementally and automatically following a predetermined speed criterion; and

[0043] - When displaying the user interface, detect at least one activation by the user of any control element of the user interface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention and its various characteristics and advantages will be better understood from the following description of several exemplary embodiments and their accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0045] Figure 1 A first user interface is shown that can be displayed on a display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, and for performing a computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 2 A second user interface is shown that can be displayed on a display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, and for performing a computer-implemented method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In this specification, the present invention will be further described, particularly by demonstrating the practice of a computer-implemented method of the present invention by way of example. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0048] The computer-implemented method of the present invention allows for the automation of ultrasound sessions. Notably, due to the incremental and automatic increase and potentially incremental and automatic decrease, the user interface is capable of conveying, in a single activation of a control element, information for adapting the acoustic power level to a target value, thereby allowing the user to monitor the ultrasound image in real time during the evolution of the acoustic power level without having to focus on the selection of the acoustic power level. This also contributes to the improvement of user interface usability and user comfort.

[0049] The real-time control of the acoustic power level ensures that the intensity spatial peak pulse average (I SPPA ) increases or decreases within an optimal time interval when being controlled.

[0050] The computer-implemented method of the present invention is safer than the methods of the prior art because the user can not only stop the progression while monitoring the image in real time without having to manipulate other elements simultaneously, but also set a lower / safer acoustic power level immediately if needed.

[0051] Similarly, due to the speed criterion in the progressive and automatic increase, the acoustic power level does not immediately reach a higher I SPPA value, thus allowing the user to monitor the object response to the increase in the acoustic power level and, if needed, stop its progression by completely stopping the device or reducing the acoustic power level to a reduced value.

[0052] The present invention also allows adjustment of the I SPPA value to take into account any technical constraints (hardware, I SPPA dose). For example, if the temperature in the power amplifier linked to the ultrasonic transducer reaches a threshold, the determined range of the acoustic power level is adjusted and this is immediately visible to the user in the user interface.

[0053] If the dose accumulated after a given session duration has not reached a given threshold, the determined range of the allowed acoustic power level can be adjusted by restricting its minimum acoustic power level to optimize the effectiveness of the program. The present invention also allows the user to perform a specific session of ultrasound in a shortened time.

[0054] "Cumulative dose" means the sum of the intensities delivered by the device at the target site over the entire time (when generating ultrasound).

[0055] Figure 1 A first user interface is shown, which can be displayed on the display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasound focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, and for performing the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 1 The first user interface of... includes a first region 12 for displaying an image of the target. The displayed image of the target is obtained by the device capable of generating ultrasound focused inside the target. The image can be obtained via any imaging technique, although preferably an ultrasonic imaging transducer for the present invention. Although the displayed image has a specific shape on Figure 1 it, the displayed image can have any shape. Although the displayed image is black and white, the image can also be displayed in color or only partially in color. In the case of this figure, the target to be acoustically treated corresponds to the entire image.

[0057] In a particular embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment, without any specific adjustment to the other embodiments, the first region may display more than one image of the target.

[0058] Figure 1 The user interface of also shows a second region that shows a control element 17 for activating or stopping the generation or emission of focused ultrasound by the device. According to Figure 1 , the control element 17 allows stopping the wave emission of the device.

[0059] Although not shown, the control element 17 can be used to stop the device when the device emits ultrasound, and the same control element 17 can be used to activate the device when the device does not emit ultrasound.

[0060] Alternatively, the control element 17 of the second region includes two parts, one for activating the device and one for stopping the device. The control element 17 can have any shape or color and can change color according to the state of the device (activated or stopped).

[0061] Figure 1 The user interface of also includes a third region 15 that shows the current acoustic power level emitted by the device. The current acoustic power level can be shown by a value 15b and / or by a gauge 15c and / or by a scale 15d. Other symbols or ways of showing the current acoustic power level can be used. The third region 15 also shows the range of the determined acoustic power level, such as using the gauge 15c or the scale 15d. The gauge 15c or the scale 15d can have a specific color combination to indicate the current acoustic power level and / or the range of the determined allowed acoustic power level.

[0062] The third region also shows a control element for selecting any acoustic power level within the range of the allowed acoustic power levels. Such a control element can correspond to the gauge 15c, where the user can directly click on the gauge 15c to select the acoustic power level of the device, or it can correspond to the scale 15d, where the user can directly click on any part of the scale to select the acoustic power level of the device. Other designs of this control element can be used with the present invention.

[0063] The third region can also include control elements for increasing and optionally decreasing the acoustic power level by a unit step, such as Figure 1 the simple square buttons below the scale 15d and above the data shown as 15e in, which are data related to the parameters of the ultrasound device.

[0064] The so-called "unitary steps" means any fixed value or any percentage of a value, such as, for example, a unitary step of watts, or a percentage of a defined range of the acoustic power level, or a percentage of the maximum acoustic power level of the device. For example, such a fixed value can correspond to a percentage of the maximum acoustic power level, such as 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20% or any other value. The user can define the most appropriate percentage based on the application. Similarly, a minimum value of the percentage of the maximum acoustic power level can be set, such as, for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% or any other value. Preferably, the minimum acoustic power level percentage is set to include a percentage value of 20% or more up to 30%. The unitary steps can be different when increasing or decreasing.

[0065] Control elements (such as meter 15c or scale 15d) for selecting the acoustic power level of the device can correspond to controls for increasing and optionally gradually and automatically decreasing the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a value higher or lower than the current acoustic power level of the device, wherein the gradual and automatic evolution of the acoustic power level follows a predetermined speed criterion. The user can select such a predetermined speed criterion before or during the use of the method of the present invention. Information about the peak acoustic power and the focusing intensity 15e is also presented.

[0066] For example, the gradual and automatic evolution of the acoustic power level of the device will be an increase or a decrease and can follow a predetermined speed criterion among at least linear, exponential, logarithmic, quadratic or cubic criteria. In fact, the gradual and automatic evolution can follow any function that can be deployed as a criterion.

[0067] The speed criterion for increasing the acoustic power level of the device can follow a speed criterion different from or the same as the speed criterion for decreasing the acoustic power level of the device. The user is able to define which speed criterion is suitable for the increase and / or decrease of the acoustic power level and select which speed criterion should be applied when the control element for selecting the acoustic power level is activated.

[0068] Figure 1 The user interface of shows a general information area 11, which indicates a plurality of data, such as, for example, hospital and user name number 11a, patient name or number, and treatment plan 11b, and a control element 11c for setting or closing the user interface. The image setting area 16 also allows modification of the brightness and contrast of the image. This general information area 11 and the image setting area can include any other information and are not essential for the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0069] Figure 1 The user interface also includes imaging information 13 about the displayed image, such as frame rate, depth, focus, or any other parameter. The imaging information 13 is not essential for performing the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0070] Figure 1 The user interface displays a procedure summary area 14, which displays session information 14a, including, for example, the current session number, the maximum duration of the current session, and the cumulative treatment time. In addition, the procedure summary area 14 displays the remaining time 14b using the ultrasonic transducer device. Similarly, the procedure summary area 14 displays the average time for scanning the target area and the number 14c of complete target area scans. This information is not essential for performing the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0071] Figure 2 A second user interface is shown, which can be displayed on a display of a computer system in communication with a device capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, and is used for performing the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 2 The user interface includes a first area 22 for displaying an image of the target. In Figure 2 the image of the target includes two parts. The two parts can be obtained from different angles of the imaging transducer. Although the displayed image has a specific shape in Figure 2 it, the displayed image can have any shape. Although the displayed image is black and white, the image can also be displayed in color or only partially in color.

[0073] In Figure 2 the user interface, the image is covered by a layer, which includes a scale 23 indicating depth and a pattern 24 in the shape of a grid suitable for the target when the target is represented by points within a grid perimeter. The pattern allows the user to more quickly identify where the target is, or where the expected focus of the waves emitted by the ultrasonic transducer is. In addition, the color or shape of the pattern can be changed according to the acoustic power level of the ultrasonic transducer or according to any other parameter. Alternatively, depending on the user selection and / or the target and / or the obtained image, the pattern can take any shape or color. Preferably, the shape of the pattern is suitable around or above the expected focus of the ultrasonic waves generated by the device. For example, the pattern can correspond to at least one circle, square, or any other shape suitable for the target, optionally depending on the acoustic power level of the ultrasonic transducer. Using such a pattern - in the shape of a grid or not - can be combined with any other embodiment without any specific adjustment to the other embodiments.

[0074] Figure 2 The user interface also shows a view area 25 that allows switching between different views of the image 22 and adding or removing at least one pattern, such as pattern 24.

[0075] Figure 2 The user interface shows a general information area 21 that indicates a plurality of data such as a hospital and a user name 21a, a patient name or number, and a treatment plan 21b, and control elements 21c for setting or closing the user interface. The general information area also includes an indicator 21d of the temperature of the amplifier. An image setting area 28 allows modifying the brightness and contrast of the image. The general information area 21 and the image setting area may include any other information and are not essential for performing the computer-implemented method of the present invention.

[0076] Figure 2 The user interface shows a second area that shows control elements 27 for activating or stopping the generation or emission of focused ultrasound by the device. According to Figure 2 , the control element 27 allows stopping the wave emission of the device. Although not shown, the control element 27 can be used to stop the device when the device emits ultrasound, and the same control element 27 can be used to activate the device when the device does not emit ultrasound.

[0077] Figure 2 The user interface also includes a third area 26 that shows the current acoustic power level emitted by the device. The current acoustic power level can be shown by a value 26f and / or by a meter or scale 26g. Other symbols or ways of showing the current acoustic power level can be used. The third area 26 also shows the current session time 26a, the number of completed sessions 26b, the total time of completed sessions 26c, the intensity spatial peak pulse average (ISPPA) (inferred value at the focus, in water, or in a human subject), the process cumulative dose 26e, and the maximum authorized acoustic power level 26j.

[0078] The third area shows control elements for selecting any acoustic power level within the allowed range of acoustic power levels. These control elements can correspond to the meter 26g, where the user can directly click on the meter 26g to select the acoustic power level of the device. Other designs of the control elements can be used with the present invention.

[0079] Figure 2 The third area also includes control elements 26h, 26i for increasing or decreasing the acoustic power level by a unit step, such as simple square buttons 26h and 26i.

[0080] A control element for selecting the sound power level of the device, such as the meter 26g, may correspond to a control element for progressively and automatically increasing or decreasing the sound energy level of the device by selecting a value higher or lower than the current sound power level of the device, wherein the progressive and automatic evolution of the sound power level follows a predetermined speed law. The user may select such a predetermined speed criterion before or during the use of the method of the present invention. Before or during the use of the method of the present invention, the user may select such a predetermined speed criterion.

[0081] The various embodiments presented in this specification are not restrictive, but may be combined with each other. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments, but extends to any embodiment within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling the operation of a device capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, the method comprising: - determining or receiving, from a user and / or a memory, a range of allowed acoustic power levels for the device based on the target and at least one configuration parameter of the device; - displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface including at least: ° a first area (12, 22) that displays at least one image of the target, ° a second area that displays control elements (17, 27) for activating or stopping the generation of ultrasonic waves by the device, ° a third area (15, 26d, 26e, 26f) that displays the current acoustic power level emitted by the device, the determined range of allowed acoustic power levels, and at least one control element (15c, 15d, 26g) for selecting any acoustic power level within the range of allowed acoustic power levels, wherein at least one of the control elements (15c, 15d, 26g) displayed in the third area is configured to incrementally and automatically increase the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a higher value and following a progressive and automatic evolution that follows a predetermined speed criterion; - detecting at least one activation of any control element of the user interface when the user interface is displayed, and - sending at least one instruction to the device, wherein the instruction corresponds to the at least one activation of any control element of the user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein At least one of the control elements displayed in the third area is configured to incrementally and automatically decrease the acoustic power level of the device by selecting a lower value and following the progressive and automatic evolution that follows a predetermined speed criterion, and the control element is the same or different from the at least one element for incrementally and automatically increasing the acoustic power level of the device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The progressive and automatic evolution of the acoustic power level of the device follows a first speed criterion when increasing and a second speed criterion when decreasing, and the first speed criterion and the second speed criterion are different.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The device includes a power amplifier, and wherein the range of allowed acoustic power levels is further adjusted according to the temperature of the power amplifier.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, A threshold for the temperature of the power amplifier is predetermined, and wherein when approaching the temperature threshold, the user interface displays a first alert, and / or when exceeding the temperature threshold, the user interface displays a second alert.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The user interface displays a cumulative dose corresponding to the cumulative focused waves generated by the device at the target site, and wherein the range of allowed acoustic power levels is further adjusted according to a predetermined maximum cumulative dose.

7. A computer system in communication with a device, the device being capable of generating ultrasonic waves focused inside a target and obtaining at least one image of the target, the computer system comprising: A display, one or more processors, a memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be run by the one or more processors, and the one or more programs include instructions that, when run by the computer system, perform the method for controlling the operation of a device according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein, The display includes a touch-sensitive surface, and the user interface is displayed on the touch-sensitive surface, and the touch-sensitive surface is capable of detecting the intensity of contact with the touch-sensitive surface.

9. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium, the computer program product including computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of a device according to any one of claims 1-6.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that cause a computer system to perform the method for controlling the operation of a device according to any one of claims 1-6.

Images