Transurethral ultrasound probe for treatment of prostate

The probe (40) according to further including:

• a transducer housing (44) which supports a non-active face of the ultrasound element (420) to the shaft (52) to form a rigid member (62);
• and
• at least one inlet and outlet pair (48) defined adjacent the ultrasound element (42) and connected with fluid conduits (56) to circulate a cooling and acoustic coupling fluid over an active face of the ultrasound element.

A method of operating a therapeutic probe (40) comprising:

• positioning the probe (40) in a tubular passage such that an acoustically transparent membrane (66) allows acoustic access to a target along an entire circumference of the tubular passage;
• rotating and translating an ultrasound element (42) within the probe;
• with the ultrasound element, irradiating the target through the acoustic membrane (66) along the circumference of the tubular passage.