1.3- What is Ablatherm®?

The Ablatherm® is a combination of various components:

• A table for the patient to lie on during the treatment.
• An ultrasound imaging system, which allows the visualization
• of the prostate in real time by the surgeon.

- An endorectal head consisting of the imaging transducer and the treatment transducer, which emits the focused ultrasounds. These two elements are placed in a latex balloon filled with cooled liquid.

- A computer which controls and aims the shots according to the firing plan established by the surgeon.

Many safety devices are connected to the equipment to guarantee the patient’s security and the optimal effectiveness of the treatment:

- A continuous control of the treatment transducer's position in relation with the rectum wall.

- A detector of patient's movements.

- A constant control of the rectal temperature

- A constant control of the power delivered to the patient.

These systems stop the shots automatically if an abnormality is detected during the treatment (displacement of the prostate and/or of the patient during the treatment) and guarantee the treatment safety.