Method for correcting of an amplitude of an ultrasound signal

Abstract

Nowadays, the interest to use ultrasound waves in medical field is well established. Such ultrasound waves may be focused for treating a zone in an organ such as the brain for instance. The focus allows to treat only the zone relative to the disease and avoid treating a healthy zone. However, when transmitting an ultrasound signal, toward an area of a brain for instance, it is important to ensure that the amplitude of the ultrasound signal which will be used will not damage the brain. Indeed, because the morphology (e.g. head) is specific to a patient, an amplitude of an ultrasound signal used for a patient may not be suitable for another patient. The present disclosure provides method(s) to ensure that the amplitude of ultrasound signal transmitted in a medium of a patient, for instance in the brain, will be optimal and secure for such a patient.

Description

[0001] Description Title: Method for correcting of an amplitude of an ultrasound signalTechnical Field[1] The present disclosure relates to the domain of ultrasound signal. More specifically, thepresent disclosure relates to a method for determining at least one correction factor A forcorrecting an amplitude of a real ultrasound signal for an area of interest of the medium, a methodfor determining a corrected virtual amplitude for an ultrasound signal in an area of interest, amethod for correcting a real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted into a medium in a viewto obtain a wanted amplitude for an ultrasound signal in an area of the medium, as well as ainsonification system and electronic device for carried out the method(s).Background Art[2] Nowadays, the interest to use ultrasound signal in the medical field no longer needs to beproven.[3] Generally, ultrasound may be generated from a probe comprising one or a plurality oftransducers able to generate individually ultrasound waves, forming an ultrasound signal (oracoustic signal) for instance. Such ultrasound waves may be transmitted toward a medium inorder to generate in response backscattered signals, which may be acquired and used togenerate a 3D ultrasound image for instance.[4] Another use of such ultrasound signal may be in applications for therapeutic purposes forinstance. Indeed, such ultrasound signal may be focused or not towards an organ (e.g. brain orheart, liver, etc.) in order to treat an area of interest of the organ. For instance, in the case of thebrain, this area of interest to treat may be relative to a disease such as essential tremor orGlioblastoma or Depression.[5] However, when transmitting an ultrasound signal, toward an area of interest of a brain of apatient for instance, it is important to ensure that the amplitude (or intensity or power) of the usedultrasound signal will not damage the area of interest. Indeed, because the morphology / anatomyis specific to the patient, such the skull and / or the brain for instance, an output amplitude of anultrasound signal used for a patient may not be suitable for another patient. For instance, theamplitude of a transmitted ultrasound signal in an area of interest for a patient may be too weakfor another patient, and therefore, the area of interest will not be treated correctly. According to another example, the amplitude of a transmitted ultrasound signal in an area of interest for apatient may be too strong for another patient which could lead to damage the area of interest inthe brain of the patient, with all consequences that may result from it.[6] Therefore, there is a need to ensure that the amplitude of ultrasound signal transmitted in anarea of interest of a medium of a patient, for instance in the brain, will be optimal and secure for a person such a patient. Summary[7] To this end, the present disclosure proposes a method for determining at least one correctionfactor A for correcting an amplitude of a real ultrasound signal for an area of interest of a medium, said real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0by at least one real transmitter i of an insonification system, said at least one real transmitter being located at afirst predetermined position located outside the volume of the medium, the medium being formedby at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier, the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and to model at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtualtransmitter i located at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model furthercomprising at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a secondpredetermined position; the method may comprise: - determining a virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) and a virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^(^) for an acoustic setup, the virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) being determined by simulation,using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, of a propagation in themedium of at least one virtual ultrasound wave forming the virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^)transmitted from the at least one virtual transmitter toward the at least one virtual receiver, the atleast one virtual ultrasound wave received at the at least one virtual receiver forming the virtualreceived acoustic signal - determining a real emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and a real received acoustic signal for theacoustic setup, the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) corresponding to at least one real ultrasoundwave transmit into the medium by the at least one real transmitter i of the insonification system at the first predetermined position and based on the acoustic setup, said real received acoustic signalcorresponding to the at least one real ultrasound wave received by at least one realreceiver j of the insonification system after propagation through the medium from the at least onereal transmitter, the at least one real receiver j being located at the second predetermined position; - determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0based on the acoustic signals [8] Thus, advantageously, such one or more real / virtual emitted acoustic signal and / or real / virtualreceived acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) may be then used for correcting an virtual amplitude in an area ofinterest of a patient P (such an area of interest in a brain of a patient P) and for corrected an real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted toward an area of interest of a Patient P.[9] By simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, it maybe understood to simulate the propagation of the real ultrasound signal according to the acousticsetup in a simulated medium which reproduces the real medium. The first wave propagationmodel may use a virtual ultrasound signal (or virtual emitted acoustic signal) for acousticallymodelling the real ultrasound signal.

[0010] By outside the volume of the medium, it may be understood on the surface of the medium,or on the surface of support element. The support element may be a fluid material such as liquidor gel, and / or may be an acoustic lens. The fluid material may be water for instance. ^^ ^

[0011] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of signals ^^ (^) , , ^^ (^) , ^^,^ (^) may bedetermined for a plurality of acoustic setups, each acoustic setup may be used to determinerespective signals ^^(^), , ^^(^), ^^(^), and the at least one correction factor A may be^ ^ ^,^determined based on the respective signals ^^(^), ^^(^), ^^^ ^ ^,^ (^) determined for one or moreacoustic setups.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, a respective correction factor A may be determined for eachacoustic setup, and the at least one correction factor A may be determined based on a pluralityof respective correction factors A.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, an acoustic setup may be defined by at least one setupparameter chosen among:- a frequency F of the at least one ultrasound wave;1- a technical characteristic of the at least one transmitter and / or the at least one receiver;- a plurality of receivers located outside the volume of the medium at one or more secondpredetermined positions, the received acoustic signal being based on the plurality of receivers;- at least one transmitted ultrasound wave is focused or unfocused;- the at least one transmitter located at the first predetermined position is used as at least onereceiver, and the at least one receiver located at the second predetermined position is used as at least one transmitter;- a plurality of transmitters located at one or more first predetermined positions, the virtualtransmitted acoustic signal being based on the plurality of transmitters;- a zone in the medium wherein the at least one ultrasound wave is transmitted, the zone beingdifferent from the area of interest;- a real input amplitude ^^^^ and / or a duration of the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^);- a virtual input amplitude ^^^^ and / or a duration of the virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^).

[0014] By a technical characteristic of the at least one transmitter and / or the at least one receiver,it may be understood the operating frequency, the shape or the materials, etc.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, at least one acoustic setup may comprise at least one setupparameter having a frequency F1 of the ultrasound wave different from the frequency F0 of thereal ultrasound signal.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, at least one acoustic setup may comprise at least one setupparameter having a frequency F1 of the ultrasound wave equal at the frequency F0 of the realultrasound signal.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the frequency F0 and / or F1 of the at least one ultrasound wavemay be in the range of 0.1 to 10 MHz, in particular from 0.2 to 3 MHz, from the outside of the patient P.

[0018] In one or several embodiments, the frequency F1 may be comprised between 0.1 and 10MHz, preferably between 0.2 and 3 MHz.

[0019] In one or several embodiments, at least one correcting factor A may be determined at thefrequency F0.

[0020] In one or several embodiments, at least one real transmitter and / or at least one real receivermay be positioned outside the volume of the medium at predetermined position by using anymethod to register / control its position with respect to the medium, preferably using at least one mechanical part, and / or at least one camera and / or at least one optical positioning system such a neuronavigator.

[0021] In one or several embodiments, at least one real transmitter and / or at least one real receivermay be configured to be coupled with a back surface of an acoustic lens, the acoustic lens havinga front surface configured to only fit in a complementary way with an area of a surface of themedium.

[0022] In one or several embodiments, the acoustic setup may be derived in a virtual configurationand in a real configuration, and wherein ^^^^ and ^^^^ are used to renormalize either ^ ^^ (^) and ^^^(^) or ^^^ (^) and ^^^(^)with respect to a given metric. The given metric may be the total emitted acoustic power, to rescale the virtual configuration to the real configuration.

[0023] In one or several embodiments, the acoustic setup may be derived in a virtual configurationand in a real configuration, and wherein the virtual configuration may be rescaled based on thereal configuration based on one or several control points in space.

[0024] In one or several embodiments, the at least one correction factor may be defined by oneformula among:- If one single emitted acoustic signal i and one single received acoustic signal j are considered:^(^) = , or ^(^) =when renormalized, R being the Fourier transform of the acoustic signal ;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and one single signal j is received :when renormalized, wherein A can be a number;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and one single received acoustic signalj is received for each transmission renormalized, where | | is the Euclidian norm;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations : ^(^) = , or ^(^) ^ ^^ when renormalized, are the spatial coordinates of the location of the receivers;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations : ^ ^ ^∑^^^∑^^^^,^ (^,^^,^^)^^^^^^^^^^^,^ (^,^^,^^)^ ^ ×^^^^^^^ when normalized, where (^^ , ^^) are the spatial coordinates of thelocation of the receivers;- If the receivers are located continuously on a 3D surface the formulas can be extended by taking( ) the integral of the signals : ^ ^ ^^ × ^^^^when normalized, where (x,y) are the spatial coordinates;^^^^- in a more general case, A is a function of the emitted and received signals : ^(^) = when normalized.

[0025] ^^^^ may correspond to a real input amplitude characterizing a real ultrasound signal such a real emitted acoustic signal. ^^^^ may correspond to a virtual input amplitude characterizing a virtual ultrasound signal such a virtual received acoustic signal.

[0026] In one or several embodiments, wherein the received acoustic signal from receivers j forwhich the real signal is too low are not taken into account if ^^^^ (^, ^, ^, ^)^ ≤ ^, where ^ is a noisethreshold.

[0027] The noise threshold may be function of the electronic parts of the insonification system, suchone or several analog-to-digital converters (ADC), as well as the at least one real transmitterand / or receivers.

[0028] In one or several embodiments, the first wave propagation model takes into account amapping of the acoustic properties of the medium, preferably, the mapping of the acoustic properties being determined from CT-scan or / and MRI or / and any known technique adapted to determine such mapping.

[0029] In one or several embodiments, the medium may be a human or animal head, where theaberrating barrier may be a skull and the homogeneous internal part may be a brain of the head,and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[0030] The present disclosure also relates to a method for determining, by simulation, a correctedvirtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^ , ^^, ^^^ for an expected real ultrasound signal in an area of interestof a medium, said expected real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with afrequency F0by at least one real transmitter of an insonification system, said at least one realtransmitter being located at a first predetermined position located outside the volume of themedium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier, the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the method may comprise:- determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequencyF0 and a virtual input amplitude ^^^^ for the expected real ultrasound signal, an initial virtualamplitude ^^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the expected real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of themedium;- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to the presentdisclosure;- determining the corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the expected real ultrasoundsignal based on the determined initial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least onecorrection factor A.

[0031] The wording “a corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for an expected realultrasound signal in an area of interest of a medium” refers to a value obtained by simulation, using a wave propagation model, which estimates the amplitude that would be obtained by a real ultrasound signal at a given location (x0, y0, z0) in the area of interest of the medium, for a given frequency f, if the real ultrasound signal were actually transmitted.

[0032] This corrected virtual amplitude is determined by first simulating the propagation of theultrasound signal in the medium to obtain an initial virtual amplitude, and then applying at least one correction factor derived from the comparison between simulated and measured signals outside the medium. The corrected virtual amplitude thus provides, prior to any actual insonification, a simulation-based estimate of the real amplitude that is expected to be obtained in the area of interest, after model correction based on experimental data.

[0033] Thus, advantageously, it may be possible to determine virtually the truth (or corrected)amplitude of a real ultrasound signal at a frequency F0in an area of interest of a medium, forinstance intended for treating a patient. Such corrected amplitude (or virtual corrected amplitude)allows to check, for the practitioner and before any treating of the area of interest for instance, if the amplitude of the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest is optimal, or too low, or too high for this input amplitude.

[0034] By simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, itmay be understood to simulate the propagation of the real ultrasound signal according to theacoustic setup in a simulated medium which reproduces the real medium. The first wavepropagation model may use a virtual ultrasound signal (or virtual emitted acoustic signal), formedby at least one virtual ultrasound wave, for acoustically modelling the real ultrasound signal.

[0035] By virtual input amplitude ^^^^ , it may be understood an amplitude used in the first wave propagation model. This virtual input amplitude may be derived from the real input amplitude, orvice versa. This virtual input amplitude may characterize the virtual ultrasound signal such thevirtual emitted acoustic signal. The real input amplitude may be the amplitude at the output of thetransmitter located at the first predetermined position.

[0036] By outside the volume of the medium, it may be understood on the surface of the medium,or on the surface of support element. The support element may be a fluid material such as liquid or gel, and / or may be an acoustic lens. The fluid material may be water for instance.

[0037] In one or several embodiments, the corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ at anydesired location ^^^ in the area of interest may be determined by applying the at least onecorrection factor A on the determined initial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ according to^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ = ^ × ^ ^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ or according to ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ =^ ^^, ^^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^^ , wherein F may be a function, or according to ^^^^^,^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^ =^ ^, ^ ^ ^, ^^^^, ^^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^, ^ ^ , ^ ^^ ^, ^ ^^ ^^ ^, wherein F may be a function.

[0038] In one or several embodiments, the medium may be a human or animal head, where theaberrating barrier may be a skull and the homogeneous internal part may be a brain of the head,and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[0039] The present disclosure also relates to a method for correcting an real ultrasound signal^0^ intended to be transmitted with a frequency F into a medium in a view to obtain a wanted^^^^^^^^ ^ amplitude ^ ^, ^ , ^ ^ for the real ultrasound signal at any desired location^, ^ an area of interest of the medium, said real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted by at least one real transmitter of an insonification system located at a first predetermined positionlocated outside the volume of the medium, the medium being formed by at least one substantiallyhomogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier , the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the method may comprise:- determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequency^ F and a virtual input amplitude ^ for the real ultrasound signal, an initial virtual ^^ ^ ^ ^, ^ , ^ ^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;^ ^, ^- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F according to the present0disclosure;- correcting the real ultrasound signalfor forming a corrected real ultrasound signal ^^^^^^ in order to get the wanted amplitude ^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ in the area of interest,the real ultrasound signal being corrected by using the determined initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least one correction factor.

[0040] Thus, advantageously, it may be possible to determine a correction for a real ultrasoundsignal intended to be transmitted toward an area of interest of a medium, for instance in an area of interest of a medium such a brain, in order to get the wanted amplitude in the area of interestif the corrected real ultrasound signal was effectively transmitted toward the medium. In one or more example, the wanted amplitude of the real ultrasound signal may be for instance the amplitude chosen by a user, e.g. practitioner, for this area of interest. The use of a correctionfactor on the real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted toward the area of interest allows to have the wanted amplitude (real or virtual) in the area of interest if the real ultrasound signalwas transmitted toward the area of interest. For instance, the correction factor may be applied on the real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted so that the real input amplitude of the real ultrasound signal is modified.

[41] By simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, itmay be understood to simulate the propagation of the real ultrasound signal according to the acoustic setup in a simulated medium which reproduces the real medium. The first wavepropagation model may use a virtual ultrasound signal (formed by at least one virtual ultrasoundwave) for acoustically modelling the real ultrasound signal.

[0042] By virtual input amplitude ^^^^ , it may be understood an amplitude used in the first wave propagation model. This virtual input amplitude may be derived from the real input amplitude, or vice versa. This virtual input amplitude may characterize the virtual ultrasound signal (formed byat least one virtual ultrasound wave) used in the model. The real input amplitude may be theamplitude at the output of the transmitter located at the first predetermined position.

[43] By outside the volume of the medium, it may be understood on the surface of the medium,or on the surface of support element. The support element may be a fluid material such as liquidor gel, and / or may be an acoustic lens. For instance, the fluid material may be water.

[44] In one or more embodiments, the real ultrasound signal may be corrected according

[45] In one or more embodiments, the real ultrasound signal may be corrected according ,where F may be a function, and ^ ^,^^^^^ (^, ^, ^, ^) may be a corrected real ultrasound signal.

[0046] The present disclosure also relates to an insonification system configured for insonifiying anarea of interest located in a medium, the medium may be formed by at least one substantiallyhomogeneous internal part masked by an aberrating barrier, the system may further comprise:- at least one real transmitter configured to being positioned outside the volume of a medium of apatient and configured to transmit in the area of interest of the medium of the patient at least oneultrasound wave at a frequency F0forming a real emitted acoustic signal,- a control unit configured for having the at least one real transmitter for transmitting at least oneultrasound wave into the medium;- an electronic device configured to carry out the method(s) according to the present disclosure.

[0047] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system further comprises at least one realreceiver configured to being positioned outside the volume of the medium and configured toreceive the at least one ultrasound wave forming a real received acoustic signal.

[0048] In one or several embodiments, at least one real transmitter and / or at least one real receivermay be positioned outside the volume of the medium at predetermined position by using anymethod to register / control its position with respect to the medium, preferably using at least one mechanical part, and / or at least one camera and / or at least one optical positioning system such a neuronavigator.

[0049] In one or several embodiments, at least one real transmitter and / or at least one real receivermay be configured to be coupled with a back surface of an acoustic lens, the acoustic lens havinga front surface configured to only fit in a complementary way with an area of the surface of the medium.

[0050] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system may comprise at least oneultrasound probe comprising the at least one transmitter or the at least one receiver.

[0051] In one or several embodiments, the medium may be a human or animal head, where theaberrating barrier may be a skull and the homogeneous internal part may be a brain, and the areaof interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[0052] The present disclosure also relates to an insonification method of an area of interest in amedium of a patient using an insonification system according to the present disclosure, at least one real transmitter of the insonification system is configured to be positioned outside the volume of the medium at a first predetermined position, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier, the method may comprise:- determining a real ultrasound signalintended to be transmit in the area of interest by the at least one real transmitter;- determining a corrected real ultrasound signal ^^^,^^^^by correcting the real ultrasound signal ^^ ^ according to the present disclosure;- transmitting the corrected real emitted acoustic signal ^^^,^^^^in order to get the wantedamplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ in the area of interest.

[0053] In one or several embodiments, the medium may be a human or animal head, where theaberrating barrier may be a skull and the homogeneous internal part may be a brain of the head,and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[0054] The present disclosure also relates to an insonification system configured for determining atleast one correction factor A for correcting an amplitude of an real ultrasound signal for an area of interest of a medium, said real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with afrequency F0 by at least one real transmitter i of the insonification system, said at least one realtransmitter being located at a first predetermined position located outside the volume of themedium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal partmasked by said aberrating barrier, the insonification system comprising an electronic devicecomprising a circuit and a memory, said memory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and to model at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtualtransmitter i located at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model furthercomprising at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predetermined position; the insonification system may be configured for: - determining a virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) and a virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^(^) for an acoustic setup, the virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) being determined by simulation,using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, of a propagation in themedium of at least one virtual ultrasound wave forming the virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^) transmitted from the at least one virtual transmitter toward at the least one virtual receiver, the atleast one virtual ultrasound wave received at the at least one virtual receiver forming the virtualreceived acoustic signal - determining a real emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and a real received acoustic signal for theacoustic setup, the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) corresponding to at least one real ultrasoundwave transmit into the medium by the at least one real transmitter i of the insonification system at the first predetermined position and based on the acoustic setup, said real received acoustic signalcorresponding to the at least one real ultrasound wave received by at least one realreceiver j of the insonification system after propagation through the medium from the at least one real transmitter, the at least one real receiver j being located at the second predetermined position; - determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0based on the acoustic signals

[0055] The present disclosure also relates to an insonification system configured for determining acorrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for an real ultrasound signal in an area of interestof a medium, said real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0 byat least one real transmitter of the insonification system, said at least one real transmitter beinglocated at a first predetermined position located outside the volume of the medium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberratingbarrier, the insonification system comprising an electronic device comprising a circuit and amemory, said memory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the insonification system may be configured for:- determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequencyF0 and a virtual input amplitude ^^^^ for the real ultrasound signal, an initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to the presentdisclosure;- determining the corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ of the real ultrasound signalbased on the determined initial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least one correctionfactor A.

[0056] The present disclosure also relates to an insonification system configured for correcting anreal ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0into a medium in a viewto obtain a wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal at any desiredlocation ^^^ in an area of interest of the medium, said real ultrasound signal being intendedto be transmitted by at least one real transmitter of the insonification system located at a firstpredetermined position located outside the volume of the medium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier, theinsonification system comprising an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, saidmemory may comprise: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the insonification system may be configured for: -determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequencyF0 and a virtual input amplitude ^ ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal , an initial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to the presentdisclosure; -correcting the real ultrasound signal for forming a corrected real ultrasound signal in order to get the wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ in the area of interest,the real ultrasound signal being corrected by using the determined initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^, and the at least one correction factor.

[0057] The present disclosure also relates to a computer-readable medium having stored thereonthe computer program of the present disclosure.

[58] The present disclosure also relates to a non-transitory computer readable medium havingstored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the methods of the present disclosure.Brief Description of Drawings

[59] Other features, details and advantages will be shown in the following detailed descriptionand on the figures, on which: Fig.1

[60] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates an overall view of an insonification system according to thepresent disclosure. Fig.2

[61] [Fig. 2] illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining at least one correction factoraccording to the present disclosure. Fig.3

[0062] [Fig. 3] illustrates various embodiments of the insonification system of figure 1 allowingvarious possibilities of an acoustic setup.Fig.4

[0063] [Fig. 4] illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining a corrected virtual amplitude for areal ultrasound signal in an area of interest of a medium. Fig.5

[0064] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of a method for correcting a real ultrasound signal intended tobe transmitted toward the area of interest. Fig.6

[0065] [Fig. 6] illustrates an example of an electronic device according to the present disclosure.Description of Embodiments

[0066] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an overall view of insonification system in one or severalembodiments.

[0067] In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar items.

[0068] Particularly, the insonification system 100 may be intended to transmit ultrasound waves 101(or ultrasonic wave) forming a real emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) (or ultrasound signal or realultrasound signal) (with i>=1) having a frequency F0, in a medium 103. After being transmitted inthe medium, the ultrasound waves (forming a real ultrasound signal for instance) may propagatein (or through) the medium.

[0069] The medium 103 may comprise at least one aberrating barrier 105 and at least onesubstantially homogeneous internal part 107 masked by said aberrating barrier 105. Particularly,according to an example or several examples, the medium may comprise (or be formed by) askull 105 and a brain 107 of a head of a patient P (or a head of an animal). The area of interest160 may be located in the at least one substantially homogeneous internal part such as the brainof the patient for instance.

[0070] The frequency F0 of the at least one ultrasound wave (or the emitted acoustic signal) may befor example in the range of 0.1 to 10 MHz, in particular from 0.2 to 3 MHz, from the outside of the patient P.

[0071] In the purpose of being intended to transmit an ultrasound signal toward a medium, theinsonification system may comprise at least one real transmitter i 120 (with i>=1) located at a firstpredetermined position outside the volume of the medium.

[0072] By outside the volume of the medium, it may be understood on the surface of the medium,or on the surface of support element. The support element may be a fluid material such as liquid or gel, and / or may be an acoustic lens. The fluid material may be water for instance.

[0073] According to one example, the at least one real transmitter 120 may be located on the surfaceof the medium 103, for instance on the surface of the skull 105 on the patient P.

[0074] The at least one real transmitter may be configured to transmit (or generate) at least oneultrasound wave 101 forming the real emitted acoustic signal and having the frequency F0 in themedium of the patient, for instance toward (or up to) the area 160 of interest in the medium.

[0075] The real emitted acoustic signal (or real ultrasound signal) may also be characterized (furtherto the frequency) by a real input amplitude ^^^^ and a phase at the output of the at least one real transmitter.

[0076] By real input amplitude ^^^^ , it may be understood an amplitude at the output of the at leastone transmitter located at the first predetermined position which is outside the volume of themedium, for instance on the surface of the medium.

[0077] In the context of the present disclosure, it is understood that a real ultrasound signal with anamplitude at the output of at least one real transmitter does not have the same amplitude in thearea of interest of the medium because of the propagation in the medium as well as because of the barrier 107.

[0078] The first predetermined position may correspond to the position of the at least one realtransmitter which will actually be used during a treatment of the patient P, i.e. the position of theat least one real transmitter chosen by the clinician / practitioner of the patient P. This firstpredetermined position may be used as reference position for the method(s) of the presentdisclosure, in particular, used as reference position in the simulation(s) and / or the measure(s) onthe patient P and / or for treating the patient.

[0079] This transmission (or generation) of ultrasound signal may be intended for example to treatan area of interest of the brain of the patient P which may be associated to a specific pathologyas Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’sDisease or other psychiatric or neurological disorders. The treatment could for example consistin ultrasound thermal ablation, ultrasound neuromodulation, ultrasound histotripsy, or ultrasound blood brain barrier opening for drug delivery.

[0080] In these applications, it should be noted that determining a correction factor, and / ordetermining a corrected virtual amplitude, and / or correcting an real ultrasound signal intendedto be transmitted, are never in themself a therapeutic treatment, but a simple optimization orverification of the amplitude (intensity) for an ultrasound signal to use in the area of interest or at the output of real transmitter(s). The possible therapeutic treatment, selected by a physician,consists in the choice among others, of the area of interest, the duration of the application thereof,the number of applications of this amplitude, and its distribution over time.

[0081] The insonification system may also / further comprise at least one real receiver j 130 (withj>=1) located outside the volume of the medium at a predetermined position, for instance a secondpredetermined position (different from the first predetermined position), and may be configured to receive at least one ultrasound wave 101 transmitted into the medium of the patient by the at least one real transmitter 120 located at the first predetermined position in order to form a real received acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) after propagation through the medium of the at least ultrasoundwave 101. According to an example, the at least one real receiver 130 may be located at secondpredetermined position on the surface of medium such the aberrating barrier (e.g. skull).

[0082] Similar to the real emitted acoustic signal, the real receiver acoustic signal may alsobe characterized (further to the frequency F0) by a real output amplitude ^^^^^and a phase at theinput of the at least one real receiver. The output amplitude ^^^^^and the phase of the real receiver acoustic signal may derive from the real input amplitude and the phase of the real transmitter acoustic signal after propagation through the medium.

[0083] In one or several embodiments, the real transmitter 120 and / or the real receiver 130 may beultrasound transducers.

[0084] According to an example, the transducer, transmitter or / and receiver, may have a circularshape defined by a diameter comprised between 10 and 400 millimeters and have a planar surface or present a radius of curvature which may be comprised between 5 and 200 millimeters. According to one example, the transducer may have curvature radius of 59 millimeters for an aperture of 67 millimeters.

[0085] In one or several embodiments, at least one real transmitter 120 and / or at least one realreceiver 130 may be positioned outside the volume of the medium at predetermined position byusing any method to register / control its position with respect to the area of interest of the medium, preferably using at least one mechanical part, and / or at least one camera and / or at least one optical positioning system such a neuronavigator.

[0086] According to an example, the at least one mechanical part may be a unique helmet / maskadapted to each patient used to position transmitters and receivers for determining real emitted acoustic signal(s) and real received acoustic signal(s) and / or for treating the patient. In one or several embodiments, the insonification system may comprise at least one real transmitter and / or at least one real receiver and / or at least a probe configured to be coupled with a back surface ofan acoustic lens, the acoustic lens having a front surface configured to only fit in a complementary way with an area of the surface of the medium. Such acoustic lens may be determined accordingto the document WO 2023 / 222635 for instance.

[0087] In one or several embodiments, the surface of contact between the front surface of the self-positioning acoustic lens and the outer surface of the medium may be limited to a restricted and specific area on the outer surface of the medium.

[0088] By contact, it may be understood a physical contact between a surface (the front surface forinstance) of the self-positioning acoustic lens and the outer surface of the medium.

[0089] The camera, in visible domain and / or infrared domain, may be used with a facial recognitionsystem in order to correctly place / adjust the at least one real transmitter 120 and / or the at leastone real receiver 130 outside the volume of the medium, and optionally taking into account thelocation of the area of interest.

[0090] Furthermore, the insonification system may be programmed (or configured) such that theultrasonic waves 101 may be transmitted at a rate more than 1 ultrasonic wave per second, for instance hundreds to several thousands of ultrasonic waves per second. The insonification system may for instance include a control unit 100a and a computer 100b. In this example, the control unit 100a may be used for controlling the real transmitter 120 and / or the real receiver 130, while the computer 100b may be used for controlling the control unit 100a.

[0091] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system may also comprise or be connectedto an electronic device 100c comprising a memory and a circuit (see also figure 6), for instancethe electronic device 100c may be a computer.

[0092] In one or several embodiments, the memory may comprise a first wave propagation modelconfigured to acoustically model the medium (.e.g. of the patient) and to model at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position. The first wave propagation model may use a virtualultrasound signal (formed by at least one virtual ultrasound wave) for acoustically modelling thereal ultrasound signal.

[0093] The first wave propagation model may be any kind of conventional wave modeling approachsuch finite differences, and / or finite elements, and / or ray tracing, and / or pseudospectral methods.

[0094] The first wave propagation model may use simulations parameters which may be based (orderived), among others, on the real input amplitude and / or the frequency and / or the phase of the real ultrasound signal. For instance, a simulation parameter may be a virtual input amplitude which may be derived from the real input amplitude of the real ultrasound signal. The virtual input amplitude and / or the real input amplitude may be chosen arbitrarily or chosen by a practitioner, for instance when wanting to determine a corrective factor, and / or when wanting to determine a corrected virtual amplitude in an area of interest of a patient P, and / or when wanting to determine a correction of an real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted in an area of interest of apatient P. Such first wave propagation model may allow, for instance, to determine a virtualemitted acoustic signal having a frequency and a virtual input amplitude, as well as a virtual received acoustic signal having a frequency and a virtual output amplitude.

[0095] In one or several embodiments, the first wave propagation model may take into account amapping of the acoustic properties of the medium, preferably, the mapping of the acoustic properties may be determined from CT-scan or / and MRI or / and any known technique adaptedto determine such mapping. This step of mapping may generally comprise an imaging operation,for instance by computed tomography (CT) and / or by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, withconventional imaging and / or by ultras-short echo-time imaging) and / or by Ultrasound imaging and / or by any known technique, in order to determine the acoustic properties of the barrier 105,i.e. skull of the patient, and / or the at least one substantially homogeneous internal part 107, i.e.the brain of the patient. For instance, the information obtained by imaging the medium 103 may be used to determine in particular the mass density ^, the speed of sound c and / or the absorptioncoefficient τ of said ultrasonic waves, at each point of the aberrating barrier 105 and / or onesubstantially homogeneous internal part 107.

[0096] In one or several embodiments, the first wave propagation model may further comprise atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition. The at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a secondpredetermined position may model the at least one real receiver 130 located outside the volumeof the medium at the second predetermined position (outside of the medium).

[0097] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system and the electronic device 100c maybe distinct from each other. This electronic device 100c may be configured to implement themethod(s) of the present disclosure. In one or several embodiments, the device 100c and / or theinsonification system may be configured to communicate each other by communication means,such by wireless communication (telecommunication, wifi, Bluetooth, etc.). In one or severalembodiments, the electronic device 100c may directly control the control unit 100a or / and control the computer 100b. In one or several embodiments, the electronic device 100c and the computer100b may be just one.

[0098] In a variant, a single electronic device could fulfill all the functionalities of control unit 100a,computer 100b and / or the electronic device 100c.

[0099] In the context of the present disclosure, the insonification system and the first wavepropagation model may carry out an acoustic setup which defines the conditions of emission andreception of an ultrasound signal, for instance such as the position of the transmitters and / or the receivers, their number, the frequency of the ultrasound signal, the input amplitude, etc. Thus, asame acoustic setup may be carried out by the insonification system (i.e. in real), and may becarried out by the first wave propagation model (i.e. in virtual), i.e. the acoustic setup may bederived in a virtual configuration and in a real configuration.

[0100] According to an example, an insonification system with a real transmitter located at a firstpredetermined position (outside the volume of the medium, for instance on the surface of themedium), and a real receiver located outside the volume of the medium, for instance at a secondpredetermined position (and different of the first predetermined position), configured to transmitan ultrasound signal (or real ultrasound signal or acoustic signal) having a frequency F0 into amedium (or real medium) may define (real configuration) a particular acoustic setup (or respectiveacoustic setup). This particular acoustic setup may also be defined (virtual configuration) in thefirst wave propagation model with a virtual transmitter located at the first predetermined position,and a virtual receiver located at the second predetermined position, configured to transmit anultrasound signal, for instance a virtual ultrasound signal, having a frequency F0 into a virtualmedium, i.e. reproducing the real medium.

[0101] According to one or several examples, each change / modification in an acoustic setup maylead to a different / new acoustic setup. For instance, if two real receivers are used rather than onereal receiver in an acoustic setup carried out by the same insonification system, it may considerthe acoustic setup with two real receivers as a different acoustic setup than the one with one real receiver.

[0102] The insonification system according to the present disclosure may be configured to performa treatment in area of interest of a head of a patient P, for instance by using the at least one realtransmitter at the first predetermined position for transmitting an ultrasound signal (or realultrasound signal), such an corrected real ultrasound signal, toward an area of interest, in orderto get a wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ in the area of interest, where ^0,^0, ^0 is anydesired location in the area of the medium and f a frequency, such an area of interest of themedium. The insonification system may also be configured to measure a transmission of anacoustic signal (or ultrasound signal), for instance by using the at least one real transmitter at thefirst predetermined position and the at least one real receiver at a second predetermining position,in a medium such the head of the patient P according to an acoustic setup (or a respectiveacoustic setup). Particularly, the insonification system may be used, beforehand to be used forperforming the treatment for the patient P, for measuring experimentally the transmission of anacoustic signal in the head of the patient P to treat according to a respective acoustic setup inorder to determine one or more real emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and / or one or more real receivedacoustic signal ^^^,^ (^), as well as the electronic device 100c (or the computer 100b) of theinsonification system may be used to determine one or more virtual emitted and / or one or morevirtual received acoustic signal for this respective acoustic setup.

[0103] The real emitted acoustic signal and the real received acoustic signal may correspond toexperimental measurements for an acoustic setup, and the virtual emitted acoustic signal and thevirtual received acoustic signal may correspond to simulated measurements for the same acousticsetup.

[0104] Such one or more real / virtual emitted acoustic signal and / or real / virtual received acousticsignalmay be then used for determining one or more correction factor A(f) for a frequencysuch the frequency F0, and / or for determining a corrected virtual amplitude in an area of interestof a medium, and / or for determining a corrected real ultrasound signal intended to be transmittedtoward the area of interest.

[0105] Figure 2 illustrates the flowchart of a method for determining at least one correction factoraccording to the present disclosure.

[0106] The method for determining at least one correction factor may be implemented by theelectronic device 100c of the insonification system of figure 1 or figure 3 for instance, or by thecomputer 100b of the insonification system for instance.

[0107] The at least one correction factor A may be used for correcting an amplitude of an realultrasound signal for an area of interest of a medium, said real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0 by at least one real transmitter of an insonification system,said at least one real transmitter being located at a first predetermined position located outsidethe volume of the medium, the medium may be formed by at least one substantially homogeneousinternal part 107 masked by said aberrating barrier 105.

[0108] The medium may be, for instance, a human or animal head, such a head of a patient P, theaberrating barrier may be a skull and the homogeneous internal part 107 may be the brain of the head, and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part 107.

[0109] The method may consist of :- determining 220 a virtual emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and a virtual received acoustic signalfor an acoustic setup, the virtual received acoustic signal ^ ^^,^ (^) being determined bysimulation, using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, of apropagation in the medium of at least one virtual ultrasound wave forming the virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) transmitted from the at least one virtual transmitter toward the at least one virtual receiver, the at least one virtual ultrasound wave received at the at least one virtual receiver forming the virtual received acoustic signal- determining 240 a real emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and a real received acoustic signal (^) for the acoustic setup, the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) corresponding to at least one realultrasound wave transmit into the medium by the at least one real transmitter i of the insonification system at the first predetermined position and based on the acoustic setup, said real received acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) corresponding to the at least one real ultrasound wave received by at leastone real receiver j of the insonification system after propagation through the medium from the at least one real transmitter, the at least one real receiver j being located at the second predetermined position; - determining 260 at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0based on the acoustic signals

[0110] The at least one correction factor and / or real / virtual acoustic signal allows to compareexperimental measurements, i.e. real acoustic signals, with simulated measurements, i.e. virtualacoustic signal, and in order to use then for improving an estimation, by simulation, of anamplitude of a real ultrasound signal for an area of interest, such in an area of interest in a brainof a patient, and / or for correcting a real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted toward anarea of interest, such in an area of interest in a brain of a patient. Indeed, a real ultrasound signalwith an amplitude at the output of at least one real transmitter (for instance at the firstpredetermined position) will not have the same amplitude in the area of interest because of thepropagation in the medium as well as because of the barrier 107. Such at least one correctionfactor may be used to correct a simulated virtual amplitude for a real ultrasound signal in an areaof interest according to an virtual input amplitude of the real ultrasound signal, and also to correcta real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted in the medium in order to have a wanted aamplitude for the real ultrasound signal, i.e. the amplitude needed for treating the patient forinstance.

[0111] By simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, itmay be understood to simulate the propagation of the real ultrasound signal according to theacoustic setup in a simulated medium which reproduces the real medium, for instance the mediumof the patient P.

[0112] It may be understood that the acoustic setup is used in the simulation with the first wavepropagation model and is also used in the reality with an insonification system such this one infigure 1 or figure 3 for instance. More specifically, the first wave propagation model may be used to propagate in a simulated medium, reproducing the medium (e.g. skull and brain) of the patient, at least one ultrasound wave according to the acoustic setup, in order to determine a virtualemitted acoustic signal and a virtual received acoustic signal for this acoustic setup. Theinsonification system may be used for performing a measurement according to this acoustic setupon the medium of the patient in order to determine a real emitted acoustic signal and a real received acoustic signal for this acoustic setup.

[0113] According to an example, if the acoustic setup corresponds to the acoustic setup of figure1 comprising a real transmitter 120 located at a first predetermined position, and configured to transmit in the medium 103 at least one ultrasound wave at a frequency F0, and comprising a realreceiver 130 located outside of the medium such at a second predetermined position for instance,a simulation, reproducing the medium and this acoustic setup using the first wave propagationmodel, may also be performed. For instance, the real transmitter of figure 1 may be simulated (ormodeled) by a virtual transmitter located at the first predetermined position and the real receiverof figure 1 may be simulated (or modeled) by a virtual receiver located at the predeterminedsecond location.

[0114] The acoustic setup is not limited to the acoustic setup presented in figure 1 with theinsonification system. The acoustic setup may present multiple variations or configurationsdepending on the characteristics / configurations of the insonification system. Thus, in one orseveral embodiments, it may be possible to use a plurality of acoustic setups, and a plurality of^signals ^^^(^), , ^^^(^), ^^,^ (^) may be determined for the plurality of acoustic setups, eachacoustic setup may be used to determine respective signals ^^^(^),^ ^^(^), ^^^,^(^), and the atleast one correction factor A (or A(f), with f a frequency) may be determined based on therespective signals ^^^^(^), ^^^(^), ^^,^ (^) determined for one or more acoustic setups.

[0115] Likewise, in one or several embodiments, a respective correction factor A may bedetermined for each acoustic setup, and the at least one correction factor A may be determinedbased on a plurality of respective correction factors A.

[0116] In one or more embodiments, the at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 maybe determined based on the Fourier transform of the acoustic signals ^^(^), ^^(^), ^^^ ^,^ ^ (^), and

[0117] The at least one correction factor may be defined, according to one or more embodiments,by one formula among:- If one single emitted acoustic signal i and one single received acoustic signal j are considered:^(^) =when renormalized, R being the Fourier transform of acoustic signal ;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and one single signal j is received :^ ^^(^) ∑= ^^^ ^^,^ (^)∑^ ^^^^^ ^,^ (^) , or ^(^) =when renormalized, wherein A can be a complex number;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and one single received acoustic signalj is received for each transmission : ^(^) = renormalized, where | | is the Euclidian norm;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations : ^ ^× ^ when renormalized, are the spatial coordinates of location of the receivers;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations : ^ ^ ^∑^^^∑^^^^,^ (^,^^,^^)^^^^^^^^^^^, (^,^^,^^)^ ^ ×^^^^^ when normalized, where (^^ , ^^) are the spatial coordinates of the^ ^^location of the receivers;- If the receivers are located continuously on a 3D surface the formulas can be extended by taking^ (^,^,^,^)^( ) ( ) the integral of the signals : ^ ^ , or ^ ^ = ^ ^^ ×^(^,^,^)∈^ ^ ^ (^,^,^,^) ^^^^when normalized, where (x,y) are the spatial coordinates;^^^^( ) - in a more general case, A is a function of the emitted and received signals : ^ ^ =when

[0118] As presented above, each above formula may be derived in a renormalized version. Indeed,because of the conditions of simulation or models used for simulating, some simulationsparameters may slightly differ from reality in the model. For instance, a virtual input amplitudeused for simulating a real input amplitude may slightly differ from the real input amplitude becauseof the way that the model simulates a virtual amplitude. Thus, for instance, the real input amplitudeand the virtual input amplitude may be used for renormalization. Of course, the renormalizationmay be performed by other techniques and / or parameters than the real and virtual inputparameters.

[0119] In one or several embodiments, the received acoustic signal from receivers j for which the^ ^(^, ^, ^, ^) ≤ ^, where ^ is a noise threshold).^ real signal is too low are not taken into account if ^^ The noise threshold may be function of the electronic parts of the insonification system, such oneor several analog- to-digital converters, as well as the at least one real transmitter and / or receivers.

[0120] The spatial coordinates may be expressed in any coordinate system : cartesian, polar,spherical, etc. of the location of the one or more receivers.

[0121] In order to support different possibilities of acoustic setup, the insonification system of thepresent disclosure may present various embodiments.

[0122] Figure 3 illustrates various embodiments of the insonification system of figure 1 allowingvarious possibilities of acoustic setup.

[0123] In these various embodiments, the characteristics of the insonification system 100 orelectronic device 100c shown in Figure 1, may be partially or completely transposable to theembodiment shown in figure 3.

[0124] In one or several examples, the insonification system, such as the insonification system offigure 1 or figure 3, may comprise a plurality of real transmitters 120a,120b,120c,120d located atone or more first predetermined positions outside the volume of the medium, and may comprisea plurality of real receivers 130a,130b,130c,130d located outside the volume of the medium, forinstance at one or more second predetermined positions (locations).

[0125] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system may comprise at least oneultrasound probe comprising the at least one transmitter or the at least one receiver. For instance,the insonification system may comprise a transmitter ultrasound probe 320 comprising a pluralityof real transmitters 120a,120b,120c and / or may comprise a receiver ultrasound probe 330comprising a plurality of real receivers 130a,130b.

[0126] Each real transmitter of a plurality of real transmitters, comprised in a probe or not, may becontrolled individually or simultaneously. Likewise, each real receiver of a plurality of real receivers, comprised in a probe or not, may be controlled individually or simultaneously.

[0127] According to one or several examples, one or more real transmitters, comprised in a probeor not, may be used to transmit ultrasound waves, forming one or several real emitted acoustic signals, in the medium. Likewise, in one or several examples, one or more real receivers, comprised in a probe or not, may be used to receive the ultrasound waves after propagation through the medium from one or more real transmitters, and forming one or several real received acoustic signals.

[0128] Such embodiments of the insonification system of figure 3 may allow to support variousacoustic setups in order to determine a plurality of real acoustics signals (emitted and received).Of course, the various acoustic setups may also be reproduced in the first wave propagationmodel in order to determine a plurality of virtual acoustics signals (emitted and received).

[0129] In this purpose, according to one or more examples, an acoustic setup may be defined byat least one setup parameter chosen among :- a frequency F1 of the at least one ultrasound wave;- a technical characteristic of the at least one transmitter and / or the at least one receiver;- a plurality of receivers located outside the volume of the medium at one or more secondpredetermined positions, the received acoustic signal being based on the plurality of receivers;- at least one transmitted ultrasound wave is focused or unfocused;- the at least one transmitter located at the first predetermined position is used as at least onereceiver, and the at least one receiver located at the second predetermined position is used as at least one transmitter;- a position of the second predetermined position;- a plurality of transmitters located at one or more first predetermined positions, the virtualtransmitted acoustic signal being based on the plurality of transmitters;- a zone in the medium wherein the at least one ultrasound wave is transmitted, the zone beingdifferent from the area of interest;- an input amplitude and / or a duration of the virtual emitted acoustic signal;- a real input amplitude ^^^^ and / or a duration of the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^);- a virtual input amplitude ^^^^ and / or a duration of the virtual emitted acoustic signal

[0130] By a technical characteristic of the at least one transmitter and / or the at least one receiver,it may be understood the operating frequency, the shape or the materials, etc.

[0131] The at least one ultrasound wave may be, for instance, focused or unfocused in the area ofthe medium (e.g. brain) which may be the same or different of the area of interest 160.

[0132] The position of second predetermined position of one or more real receivers may bedifferent between one or more acoustic setup. For instance, in reference to the figure 3, the real receiver 130a may be used in a first acoustic setup, and the real receiver 130c may be used in a second acoustic setup. Likewise, when an ultrasound probe comprising a plurality of realreceivers is used, the real receiver 130a of the probe may be used in a third acoustic setup, andthe real receiver 130b of the ultrasound probe may be used in a fourth acoustic setup, i.e. not inthe same acoustic setup. According to another example, the real receivers 130a, 130b may beused together in a sixth acoustic setup, and the real receivers 130b, 130c may be used togetherin a in a seventh acoustic setup.

[0133] Likewise, the position of first predetermined position of one or more real transmitters maybe different between one or more acoustic setup.

[0134] According to one or more examples, a correction factor may be determined using the realemitted / received signals and / or the virtual emitted / received signals of one or more of the sevenacoustic setups. According to one or more examples, a respective correction factor may bedetermined for one or more of the seven acoustic setups, and the at least one correction factor,further called global one correction factor for instance, may be determined based on the one ormore of respective correction factors determined for one or more of the seven acoustic setups.

[0135] According to one or several examples, when an acoustic setup comprises a plurality ofreceivers located outside the volume of the medium, for instance on the surface on the medium,at second predetermined positions, the real received acoustic signal may be based on the pluralityof real receivers, for instance the real receivers 130a and 130b or / and the 130e, and the virtualreceived acoustic signal may be based on the plurality of virtual receivers (not shown orrepresented in the figures).

[0136] According to an example, for a same acoustic setup, the real received acoustic signal maytake into account the real acoustic signal received at one or more real receivers, and the virtualreceived acoustic signal may take into account the virtual acoustic signal received at one or more virtual receivers. In one or more examples, the real received acoustic signal may be averaged according to the sum of the real received acoustic signal of each real receiver, and the virtual received acoustic signal may be averaged according to the sum of the virtual received acoustic signal of each real receiver.

[0137] By the at least one transmitter located at the first predetermined position is used as at leastone receiver, and the at least one receiver located at the second predetermined position is usedas at least one transmitter, it may be understood that the operation of at least one real receiverand at least one real transmitter may be switched. Indeed, the ultrasound transducer(s) used forthe at least one real receiver and / or the at least one real transmitter may operate as a transmitter(or an emitter) and / or a receiver. Therefore, it may be possible to inverse (or switch) the operateof a real receiver and / or real transmitter. For instance, in reference to the figure 3, the at least one real transmitter 120a may become the at least one real transmitter 130a, and vice versa.

[0138] In one or several embodiments, the frequency F1 may be comprised between 0.1 and 10MHz, preferably between 0.2 and 3 MHz.

[0139] Furthermore, at least one acoustic setup may comprise at least one setup parameter havinga frequency F1 of the ultrasound wave (or ultrasound signal) different from the frequency F0 (orthe central frequency F0) of the real ultrasound signal. For instance, when determining at leastcorrection factor for the frequency F0, several acoustic setups used for determining the correctionfactor may work at frequencies which are different from the frequency F0.

[0140] In one or more embodiments, at least one acoustic setup may comprise at least one setupparameter having a frequency F1 of the ultrasound wave equal at the frequency F0 of the realultrasound signal.

[0141] In one or more embodiments, ^^^^^and ^may be used to renormalize either ^ ^^^ ^ (^) and ^^^(^) or ^^(^) and ^ ^^ ^ (^) with respect to a given metric. The given metric may be the total emittedacoustic power, to rescale the virtual configuration to the real configuration.

[0142] In one or more embodiments, the virtual configuration may be rescaled based on the realconfiguration based on one or several control points in space.

[0143] Once a plurality of real / virtual acoustic signals and / or at least one correction factor aredetermined, they may be used to virtually estimate (or determine) an amplitude for a realultrasound signal in the area of interest or be used to correct a real ultrasound signal intended tobe transmitted toward the area of interest.

[0144] Figure 4 and figure 5 illustrates such above examples of application of the correction factorfor instance. Particularly, figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining a correctedvirtual amplitude for a real ultrasound signal in an area of interest of a medium, figure 5 illustratesa flowchart of a method for correcting a real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted towardthe area of interest.

[0145] In reference to figure 4, the real ultrasound signal may be intended to be transmitted with afrequency F0by at least one real transmitter of an insonification system, such presented at figure 1 or figure 3, said at least one real transmitter being located at a first predetermined positionlocated outside the volume of the medium, the medium being formed by at least one substantiallyhomogeneous internal part 107 masked by said aberrating barrier 105, the method may beimplemented by the electronic device of the present disclosure (or also by the computer of theinsonification system for instance), the electronic device may comprise a circuit and a memory.

[0146] The memory may comprise a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically modelthe medium and at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeledby at least one virtual transmitter i located at the first predetermined position, the first wavepropagation model further comprising at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume ofthe medium at a second predetermined position.

[0147] The medium may be a human or animal head, the aberrating barrier may be a skull and thehomogeneous internal part may be the brain of the head, and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[0148] The method may consist of:- determining 410, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on thefrequency F0 and a virtual input amplitude ^^^^ for the real ultrasound signal, an initial virtualamplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;- determining 420 at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to the presentdisclosure;- determining 430 the corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signalbased on the determined initial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ signal and the at least onecorrection factor A.

[0149] Thus, advantageously, it may be possible to determine virtually the truth (or corrected)amplitude for a real ultrasound signal at a frequency F0 in an area of interest of a medium, forinstance intended for treating a patient, if the real ultrasound signal was transmitted from outsideof the medium with an real input amplitude ^^^^ (using the virtual input amplitude in the simulation)and which would be propagated through the barrier, i.e. the skull, up to the area of interest. Suchcorrected amplitude (or virtual corrected amplitude) allows to check, for the practitioner and beforeany treating of the area of interest for instance, if the amplitude of the real ultrasound signal in thearea of interest is optimal, or too low, or too high for this input amplitude.

[0150] Indeed, an initial amplitude (or initial virtual amplitude), i.e. a no corrected virtual amplitude,may be determined by simulation in the area of interest, such in the brain of the patient, using thefirst wave propagation model and the simulation parameters such as the frequency F and a virtual0input amplitude (derived from the real input amplitude) of the real ultrasound signal. Suchsimulation parameters may be based (derived) on (from) the frequency and / or the real inputamplitude and / or the phase which are intended to be used for the patient P using the insonificationsystem. Once that at least one correction factor is determining, it may be used to correct the initialamplitude which has been simulated in order to determine the corrected virtual amplitude in thearea of interest of the medium. ^^^^,^^ ^

[0151] In one or several embodiments, the corrected virtual amplitude ^ ^, ^^, ^^, ^^ at anydesired location ^^^ in the area of the medium (such an area of interest of the medium forinstance) may be determined by applying the at least one correction factor A on the determinedinitial virtual amplitude ^^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^ according to ^^^^^,^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^ = ^ × ^ ^^ ^, ^ ^ ^, ^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^oraccording to ^^^^^,^^^, ^^, ^ ^ ^ = ^ ^^, ^^^, ^ ^^, ^^, ^^, , wherein F may be a function, oraccording to wherein F may be a function.

[0152] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for correcting a real ultrasound signal^^^intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0into a medium in a view to obtain a wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal at any desired location ^^^, ^^, ^^^ inan area of interest of the medium.

[153] The real ultrasound signal may be intended to be transmitted by at least one real transmitterof an insonification system (such presented in figure 1 or figure 3) located at a first predeterminedposition located outside the volume of the medium, and the medium may be formed by at leastone substantially homogeneous internal part masked by said aberrating barrier.

[154] The method may be implemented by an electronic device according to the presentdisclosure (or also by the computer of the insonification system for instance), and comprising acircuit and a memory.

[155] The memory may comprise a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically modelthe medium of the patient and at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter i located at the first predetermined position, thefirst wave propagation model may further comprise at least one virtual receiver j located outsidethe volume of the medium at a second predetermined position.

[0156] The medium may be a human or animal head, the aberrating barrier may be a skull and thehomogeneous internal part may be the brain of the head, and the area of interest may be located in the homogeneous internal part.

[157] The method may consist of:- determining 510, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on thefrequency F and a virtual input amplitude ^ ^ for the real ultrasound signal , an initial amplitude ^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;- determining 520 at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to the presentdisclosure; -correcting 530 the real ultrasound signal for forming a corrected real ultrasound in order to get the wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^ ^ in the area of interest,the real ultrasound signal being corrected by using the determined initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least one correction factor.

[0158] Thus, advantageously, it may be possible to determine a correction for a real ultrasoundsignal intended to be transmitted toward an area of interest of a medium, for instance in an areaof interest of a medium such a brain, in order to get the wanted amplitude, real and / or virtual, inthe area of interest if the corrected real ultrasound signal was effectively transmitted toward the medium. In one or more example, the wanted amplitude of the real ultrasound signal may be forinstance the amplitude chosen by a user, e.g. practitioner, for this area of interest. Indeed, asexplained, a real ultrasound signal at the output of at least one transmitter, with a frequency F0and an real input amplitude, and which is transmitted toward an area of interest of a medium inorder to have a wanted amplitude of this real ultrasound signal in the area of interest, may beimpacted during its propagation, for instance because of the barrier such the skull, so the wanted amplitude is not obtained in the area of interest. The use of a correction factor on the real ultrasound signal intended to be transmitted toward the area of interest allows to have the wantedamplitude (e.g. real or virtual) in the area of interest if the real ultrasound signal was transmittedtoward the area of interest. For instance, the correction factor may be applied on the realultrasound signal intended to be transmitted so that the real input amplitude of the real ultrasoundsignal is modified.

[0159] According to a non-limiting example, an practitioner / doctor may first determine that acertain real ultrasound signal with a real input amplitude is needed to treat the area of interest ofa patient, and then a corrective factor may be determined, and the real ultrasound signal maythen be properly corrected to ensure that the wanted amplitude of the real ultrasound signal isobtained in the area of interest.

[0160] In one or several embodiments, the real ultrasound signal may be correctedto according [1 In one or several embodiments, the real ultrasound signal may be correctedto F is a function, and ^^^^^^ (^, ^, ^, ^) is a corrected real ultrasound signal.

[0162] Figure 6 is a possible embodiment for an electronic device that may enable the presentdisclosure.

[0163] In this embodiment, the electronic device 100c may comprise a circuit 603 (or electroniccircuit) and a memory 602 to store program instructions loadable into the circuit and adapted tocause circuit 603 to carry out the steps of the present disclosure when the program instructionsare run by the circuit 603.

[0164] The memory 602 may also store data and useful information for carrying the steps of thepresent disclosure as described above.

[0165] For instance, the memory may comprise a first wave propagation model according to thepresent disclosure.

[0166] The circuit 603 (or electronic circuit) may be for instance:- a processor or a processing unit adapted to interpret instructions in a computer language, theprocessor or the processing unit may comprise, may be associated with or be attached to a memory comprising the instructions, or- the association of a processor / processing unit and a memory, the processor or the processingunit adapted to interpret instructions in a computer language, the memory comprising said instructions, or- an electronic card wherein the steps of the disclosure are described within silicon, or- a programmable electronic chip such as a FPGA chip (for « Field-Programmable Gate Array »).

[0167] In one or several embodiments, the insonification system and the electronic device 100cmay be distinct from each other. This electronic device 100c may be configured to implement themethod of the present disclosure. The electronic device 100c may be a computer 601 comprisingthe circuit and the memory. In one or several embodiments, the device 100c and / or the insonification system may be configured to communicate each other by communication means, such by wireless communication (telecommunication, wifi, Bluetooth, etc.). In one or several embodiments, the electronic device 100c may directly control the control unit 100a or / and control the computer 100b.

[0168] In one or several embodiments, the electronic device 100c and the computer 100b are justone.

[0169] In a variant, a single electronic device could fulfill all the functionalities of the control unit100a, and / or the computer 100b and / or the electronic device 100c.

[0170] For instance, the electronic device 100c and / or the computer 100b may be configured tocarry out the simulation, i.e. the propagation of an ultrasound wave in the medium, using the first wave propagation model.

[0171] This electronic device may comprise an input interface 605 for receiving data suchmeasurement data (e.g. real acoustic signals, emitted real acoustic signal, real received acousticsignal, etc.) providing by the insonification system for instance, as well as for receiving parametersrelative to a medium, such mapping properties of the medium, as well as for receiving parameterssuch frequency and / or amplitude (virtual and / or real) and / or phase of the ultrasound signal (real and / or virtual), and / or parameters relative to one or more acoustic setups. This electronic devicemay comprise an output interface 607 for piloting the insonification system 100 and / or thecomputer 100b and / or the control unit 100a for instance, or for providing results of a simulation,such the virtual acoustic signal and / or virtual amplitude (e.g. initial and / or corrected) and / or the atleast one correction factor, to an external device, such another computer and / or the insonificationsystem.

[0172] To ease the interaction with the electronic device such a computer 601, a screen 611 akeyboard 612, a mouse 613, may be provided and connected to the circuit 603.

[0173] Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate", "contain", "is" and "have" are tobe construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly definedalso to be present. Reference to the singular includes the plural where appropriate.

[0174] A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in thedescription may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed may be combined without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A method for determining at least one correction factor A for correcting an amplitude ofa real ultrasound signal for an area of interest of a medium, said real ultrasound signal beingintended to be transmitted with a frequency F0 by at least one real transmitter i of an insonificationsystem, said at least one real transmitter being located at a first predetermined position locatedoutside the volume of the medium, the medium being formed by at least one substantiallyhomogeneous internal part masked by an aberrating barrier, the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory comprising: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and to model at least one real transmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter i located at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model furthercomprising at least one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a secondpredetermined position; the method comprising: - determining a virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) and a virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^(^) for an acoustic setup, the virtual received acoustic signal ^^^,^ (^) being determined by simulation,using the first wave propagation model and based on the acoustic setup, of a propagation in themedium of at least one virtual ultrasound wave forming the virtual emitted acoustic signal ^^^(^)transmitted from the at least one virtual transmitter toward the at least one virtual receiver, the atleast one virtual ultrasound wave received at the at least one virtual receiver forming the virtual received acoustic signal- determining a real emitted acoustic signal ^ ^^ (^) and a real received acoustic signalfor theacoustic setup, the real emitted acoustic signal ^^^ (^) corresponding to at least one real ultrasoundwave transmit into the medium by the at least one real transmitter i of the insonification system at the first predetermined position and based on the acoustic setup, said real received acoustic signalcorresponding to the at least one real ultrasound wave received by at least one realreceiver j of the insonification system after propagation through the medium from the at least one real transmitter, the at least one real receiver j being located at the second predetermined position; - determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0based on the acoustic signals ^

2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein a plurality of signals ^^(^), (^) ^are determined for a plurality of acoustic setups, each acoustic setup is used todetermine respective signals, and the at least one correction factor A is determined based on the respective signals ^^(^), ^^(^), ^^^ ^ ^,^ (^) determined for one or moreacoustic setups.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a respective correctionfactor A is determined for each acoustic setup, and the at least one correction factor A isdetermined based on a plurality of respective correction factors A.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an acoustic setup isdefined by at least one setup parameter chosen among:- a frequency F of the at least one ultrasound wave;1- a technical characteristic of the at least one transmitter and / or the at least one receiver;- a plurality of receivers located outside the volume of the medium at one or more secondpredetermined positions, the received acoustic signal being based on the plurality of receivers;- at least one transmitted ultrasound wave is focused or unfocused;- the at least one transmitter located at the first predetermined position is used as at least onereceiver, and the at least one receiver located at the second predetermined position is used as at least one transmitter;- a plurality of transmitters located at one or more first predetermined positions, the virtualtransmitted acoustic signal being based on the plurality of transmitters;- a zone in the medium wherein the at least one ultrasound wave is transmitted, the zone beingdifferent from the area of interest; ^^- a real input amplitude ^and / or a duration of the real emitted acoustic signal ^ (^);^^ ^^ - a virtual input amplitude ^ and / or a duration of the virtual emitted acoustic signal^^

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one acousticsetup comprises at least one setup parameter having a frequency F of the ultrasound wave1different from the frequency F of the real ultrasound signal.0

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the acoustic setup is^^derived in a virtual configuration and in a real configuration, and wherein ^ are used toand ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^ ^( ) renormalize either ^ (^) and ^ (^) or ^ (^) and ^ ^ with respect to a given metric..^ ^ ^ ^

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least onecorrection factor is defined by one formula among:- If one single emitted acoustic signal i and one single received acoustic signal j are considered:when renormalized, R being the Fourier transform of theacoustic signal ;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and one single signal j is received :when renormalized, wherein A can be anumber; -If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and one single received acoustic signalj is received for each transmissionrenormalized, where | | is the Euclidian norm;- If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted simultaneously and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations : ^(^ ^^ when renormalized,are the spatial coordinates of thelocation of the receivers; -If N emitted acoustic signals i are emitted successively and M received acoustic signals j arereceived at M different locations :^^∑^^^∑^^^^,^ (^,^^,^^)^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^,^ (^,^^,^^)^ ^ ×^^^^^ when normalized, where (^^ , ^^) are the spatial coordinates of thelocation of the receivers; -If the receivers are located continuously on a 3D surface the formulas can be extended by takingthe integral of the signals : ^(^) ^ (^,^,^,^), or ^(^) =^ ^ (^,^,^)∈^^^^(^,^,^,^)^^ ×^^^ ^ ^^^^when normalized, where (x,y) are the spatial coordinates; -in a more general case, A is a function of the emitted and received signals : ^(^) =when normalized.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wavepropagation model takes into account a mapping of the acoustic properties of the medium, preferably, the mapping of the acoustic properties being determined from CT-scan or / and MRI or / and any known technique adapted to determine such mapping.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the medium is a humanor animal head, where the aberrating barrier is a skull and the homogeneous internal part is abrain of the head, and the area of interest is located in the homogeneous internal part.

10. A method for determining, by simulation, a corrected virtual amplitudean expected real ultrasound signal in an area of interest of a medium, saidexpected real ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted with a frequency F0 by at least one real transmitter of an insonification system, said at least one real transmitter being located ata first predetermined position located outside the volume of the medium, the medium beingformed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by an aberrating barrier,the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory comprising: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the method comprising:- determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequency^ for the expected real ultrasound signal, an initial virtualF0 and a virtual input amplitude ^^^amplitude ^^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the expected real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of themedium;- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to any one of thepreceding claims;- determining the corrected virtual amplitude ^^^^^,^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the expected real ultrasoundsignal based on the determined initial virtual amplitude ^^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least onecorrection factor A.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the corrected virtual amplitude^^^^,^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^, ^^, ^^, ^^ at any desired location^^ in the area of interest is determined byapplying the at least one correction factor A on the determined ^^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^according to^ ^, ^^^^^, ^ , ^ ^ ^^ , wherein F is a function, or according to ^^^^^,^^ ^, ^ ^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ = ^^^,wherein F is a function.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 10-11, wherein the medium is ahuman or animal head, where the aberrating barrier is a skull and the homogeneous internal partis a brain of the head, and the area of interest is located in the homogeneous internal part.

13. A method for correcting a real ultrasound signalintended to be transmitted with afrequency F0 into a medium in a view to obtain a wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for thereal ultrasound signal at any desired location^^^ in an area of interest of the medium, saidreal ultrasound signal being intended to be transmitted by at least one real transmitter of aninsonification system located at a first predetermined position located outside the volume of themedium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part masked by an aberrating barrier , the method being implemented by an electronic device comprising a circuit and a memory, said memory comprising: a first wave propagation model configured to acoustically model the medium and at least one realtransmitter, said at least one real transmitter i being modeled by at least one virtual transmitter ilocated at the first predetermined position, the first wave propagation model further comprising atleast one virtual receiver j located outside the volume of the medium at a second predeterminedposition; the method comprising:- determining, by simulation using the first wave propagation model and based on the frequencyF0 and a virtual input amplitude ^ ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal, an initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ for the real ultrasound signal in the area of interest of the medium;- determining at least one correction factor A for the frequency F0 according to any one of thepreceding claims 1-9;- correcting the real ultrasound signalfor forming a corrected real ultrasound signal ^^^^^ in order to get the wanted amplitude ^^^^^^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ in the area of interest,the real ultrasound signalbeing corrected by using the determined initial virtual amplitude^^^^, ^^, ^^, ^^^ and the at least one correction factor.

14. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the real ultrasound signalis,where F is a function, and ^^,^^^^^ (^, ^, ^, ^) is a corrected real ultrasound signal.

15. An insonification system configured for insonifiying an area of interest located in amedium, the medium being formed by at least one substantially homogeneous internal part (107)masked by an aberrating barrier (105), the system further comprises:- at least one real transmitter configured to being positioned outside the volume of a medium of apatient and configured to transmit in the area of interest of the medium of the patient at least oneultrasound wave at a frequency F0forming a real emitted acoustic signal,- a control unit configured for having the at least one real transmitter for transmitting at least oneultrasound wave into the medium;- an electronic device configured to carry out the method(s) according to any one of the precedingclaims,- at least one real receiver configured to being positioned outside the volume of the medium andconfigured to receive the at least one ultrasound wave forming a real received acoustic signal.

16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed bya computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 9 or / and themethod of any one of claims 10 to 12 or / and the method of any one of claims 13 to 14.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program of claim.

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