Method for producing a lens and ultrasound device comprising the lens

A method for producing a lens for an ultrasound apparatus, the method comprising the steps of

• providing a barrier tissue model, a soft tissue model surrounded by the barrier tissue model, and a coupling medium model wherein the barrier tissue model presents an acoustic impedance different from that of soft tissue;
• choosing a source point situated in the coupling medium model;
• choosing a predetermined wave frequency and wavelength, the predetermined frequency being comprised between 100 kHz and 20 MHz and the predetermined wavelength being determined by the predetermined frequency and a velocity of propagation of the wave in the coupling medium model;
• providing a treatment volume situated inside the barrier tissue model;
• providing a plurality of nodes distributed inside the treatment volume;
• simulating the emission of a spherical wave from each of the nodes of the plurality of nodes, creating a simulated wave front resulting from the superposition of the spherical waves, each spherical wave requiring an amplitude and a phase, there being at least two nodes with different amplitudes or phases, each spherical wave having the predetermined frequency;
• receiving the simulated wave front on a receiving surface which contains the source point;
• processing the results received on the receiving surface;
• on the basis of the processed results, designing a holographic lens surface which can generate a wave pattern equivalent to the simulated, time-reversed, wave front when it receives a wave from a planar, single-element emitter situated at the source point with the predetermined wave frequency and wavelengths.