Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090312754 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING CATHETER CONTACT FORCE DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE - A method for measuring the contact force exerted on tissue by a probe for heating the tissue and containing an antenna which is connected to a radiometer whose output reading indicates the temperature at depth of the tissue contacted by the probe comprises displaying the output reading of the radiometer, applying sufficient power to the probe to heat the tissue to a selected first temperature that is not lethal to the tissue, moving the probe into contact with the tissue, observing the increase in the displayed temperature reading that occurs when the probe contacts the tissue, and advancing the probe toward the tissue until the displayed temperature reading reaches a value corresponding to a selected tissue contact force. After the probe position in the tissue has stabilized, the applied power to the probe may be increased to heat the tissue to a selected second temperature that is lethal to tissue for a sufficient time to ablate the tissue followed by lowering the tissue heating to a sub-lethal temperature. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed. | 12-17-2009 |
20100185191 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING AN ABLATION CATHETER AND A TEMPERATURE PROBE DURING AN ABLATION PROCEDURE - Apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe relatively for an ablation procedure includes an ablation catheter with a first antenna for ablating tissue at an ablation site in a patient's body and a temperature probe for placement in a body passage having a wall portion adjacent to the ablation site so that a second antenna in the probe is positioned opposite the first antenna. A microwave source provides a pulse modulated microwave signal to one of the antennas and a radiometer is in circuit with the other antenna. A synchronizing device in circuit with the microwave source and the radiometer enables the radiometer to synchronously detect the microwave signal so that the radiometer provides an alignment signal whose strength reflects the degree of alignment of the first and second antennas which signal may be used to control an alignment display. An alignment method using the apparatus is also disclosed. | 07-22-2010 |
20110176578 | Devices and Methods for Exercise Monitoring - The disclosure relates to methods and devices for monitoring e.g., fatigue levels by measuring a subject's body core temperature. In one embodiment, microwave radiometry is used to measure such core temperature. | 07-21-2011 |
20120283534 | DUAL MODE TEMPERATURE TRANSDUCER WITH OXYGEN SATURATION SENSOR - Apparatus for detecting intracranial temperature and blood oxygenation includes a transducer having a working surface for placement against a patient's cranium. The transducer forms a microwave antenna having walls defining an aperture having a pair of opposite broader boundaries and a pair of opposite narrower boundaries at the working surface. The antenna is tuned to a frequency which produces a first output signal indicative of heat emanating from the cranium. An oxygen saturation sensor sharing that aperture includes a radiation emitter located at one of narrower boundaries which directs electromagnetic radiation across the aperture to a radiation detector at the other of the narrower boundaries and which produces a corresponding second output signal. A control unit includes a display and a processor for processing the signals to calculate an intracranial temperature and an oxygen saturation value for display by the control unit. | 11-08-2012 |
20140012132 | HEATING/SENSING CATHETER APPRATUS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPLICATIONS - Catheter apparatus comprises a coaxial cable having proximal and distal ends. The cable includes a hollow center conductor, an outer conductor and an electrically insulating layer between the conductors. An antenna is at the distal end of the cable, and a diplexer is connected to the cable, the diplexer including a transmit path for connecting the antenna to a transmitter which transmits first frequency signals and a receive path for connecting the antenna to a receiver which detects second frequency signals the diplexer isolating the signals on the two paths from one another. A transmission line connects the cable to the diplexer, the transmission line having a segment with a tubular inner conductor one end of which is connected to the center conductor and a second end of which is adapted for connection to a coolant source, the center and inner conductors forming a continuous coolant pathway. | 01-09-2014 |
20140018697 | HEATING/SENSING CATHETER APPARATUS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPLICATION - Catheter apparatus comprises a coaxial cable having proximal and distal ends. The cable includes a hollow center conductor, an outer conductor and an electrically insulating layer between the conductors. An antenna is at the distal end of the cable, and a diplexer is connected to the cable, the diplexer including a transmit path for connecting the antenna to a transmitter which transmits first frequency signals and a receive path for connecting the antenna to a receiver which detects second frequency signals the diplexer isolating the signals on the two paths from one another. A transmission line connects the cable to the diplexer, the transmission line having a segment with a tubular inner conductor one end of which is connected to the center conductor and a second end of which is adapted for connection to a coolant source, the center and inner conductors forming a continuous coolant pathway. | 01-16-2014 |
20140343374 | LOW PROFILE TEMPERATURE TRANSDUCER - A low profile temperature transducer has a working surface for placement against a body surface and a first output. The transducer is a flat laminate composed of alternating conductive and dielectric layers. The laminate defines at least one slotline antenna for exposure to the body surface to pick up thermal emissions from the underlying tissue at depth. A feed network having a characteristic impedance is connected to the first output and a slotline-to-stripline transition is connected between the at least one antenna and the feed network, the transition providing a match between the impedance at the at least one antenna and the characteristic impedance. Also, a temperature sensor may be present at the working surface to detect the body surface temperature under the transducer, that surface temperature being used to calculate actual temperature at depth. | 11-20-2014 |
20150092817 | APPARATUSES FOR NON-INVASIVELY SENSING INTERNAL TEMPERATURE - A transducer for noninvasively determining an internal temperature of a location of interest in a body of a subject may be configured to receive native temperature signals originating from the location of interest without substantially receiving interfering signals. Such a transducer may include one or more shielding features for preventing interference. In addition, such a transducer may include a dielectric cavity configured or positioned to increase the native temperature signals sensed, or received, by the antenna. A transducer may be configured to multiplex signals that are indicative of a temperature of a location of interest within the body of a subject and reference temperature signals. Such a transducer may include a connector that facilitates the communication of a multiplexed signal, such as a connector for a coaxial cable. The connector of a transducer may be configured to swivel relative to an end of a cable that has been coupled thereto. Systems including such a transducer are also disclosed. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094608 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF NON-INVASIVELY DETERMINING INTERNAL TEMPERATURE - A system for and noninvasively monitoring temperature within a body of a subject includes a transducer and an interface unit. The transducer receives native temperature signals, which are electromagnetic signals. One or both of the transducer and the interface unit convert the native temperature signals to a standard temperature signal. The interface unit may be configured to be coupled to a standard temperature signal-receiving apparatus, such as a standard vital signs monitor or a standard body temperature management system, which may recognize the standard temperature signal. Methods for noninvasively monitoring temperature, including receiving native temperature signals and converting the native temperature signals to a standard temperature signal, are also disclosed. | 04-02-2015 |