Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120042506 | Method for Constructing a Dipole Antenna - A method of fabricating a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The fabrication method includes providing a proximal portion having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. The method further includes providing a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion, with the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. A high strength material may be injected from an inflow slot to an outflow slot of the distal portion such that the material is disposed in-between the inner conductor and a ceramic layer. The material bonds the distal portion and the ceramic layer to the proximal portion while providing mechanical strength to the distal portion. | 02-23-2012 |
20120325516 | Thermally Tuned Coaxial Cable For Microwave Antennas - A coaxial cable, including an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor and a thermally responsive material positioned between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. The outer conductor is in a generally concentric relationship to the inner conductor and the inner and outer conductors are adapted to connect to an energy source. A thermal change in the thermally responsive material alters the generally concentric relationship between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. | 12-27-2012 |
20130085488 | NARROW GAUGE HIGH STRENGTH CHOKED WET TIP MICROWAVE ABLATION ANTENNA - An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a coaxial feedline and cooling chamber is disclosed. The disclosed probe includes a dipole antenna arrangement having a radiating section, a distal tip coupled to a distal end of the radiating section, and a ring-like balun short, or choke, which may control a radiation pattern of the probe. A conductive tube disposed coaxially around the balun short includes at least one fluid conduit which provides coolant, such as dionized water, to a cooling chamber defined within the probe. A radiofrequency transparent catheter forms an outer surface of the probe and may include a lubricious coating. | 04-04-2013 |
20130123772 | Perfused Core Dielectrically Loaded Dipole Microwave Antenna Probe - A microwave surgical ablation probe having an arrangement of coolant channels in fluid communication with a cooling chamber disposed within the distal end of the probe is disclosed. A hypotube having one or more longitudinal ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof is coaxially disposed around a coaxial feedline. The longitudinal ribs of the hypotube engage an outer sheath of the feedline to define a fluid inflow channel to deliver coolant to the cooling chamber, and a fluid outflow channel to receive fluid from the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber may be formed from porous ceramic or porous metallic material that provides structural support to the probe while permitting coolant to circulate therethrough. The probe includes dielectric and choke members that are adapted to control the microwave radiation pattern (e.g., ablation shape), and which may provide improved coupling of the probe to tissue. | 05-16-2013 |
20130178843 | System and Method For Treating Tissue Using An Expandable Antenna - A method of repairing an inner vessel wall includes the step of inserting at least a portion of a microwave ablation device into a vessel. The microwave ablation device includes an inner conductor disposed within an outer conductor and defines a longitudinal axis. The method also includes the steps of inserting a repairing sealant into the vessel such that the repairing sealant is disposed between an inner vessel wall and the outer conductor and expanding at least a portion of the outer conductor relative to the longitudinal axis to force at least a portion of the repairing sealant into the inner vessel wall. The method also includes the step of delivering energy to at least one of the inner conductor and the outer conductor to activate the repairing sealant to repair the inner vessel wall. | 07-11-2013 |
20130178844 | System and Method For Treating Tissue Using An Expandable Antenna - An ablation device includes an antenna assembly having a radiating portion configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue of a patient. The radiating portion has an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending therethrough. The inner conductor is disposed within the outer conductor and defines a longitudinal axis. One of the inner conductor and the outer conductor is movable relative to the other to cause at least a portion of the outer conductor to expand radially relative to the longitudinal axis. | 07-11-2013 |
20130231653 | ABLATION DEVICES WITH ADJUSTABLE RADIATING SECTION LENGTHS, ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME, AND METHODS OF ADJUSTING ABLATION FIELDS USING SAME - An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section. | 09-05-2013 |
20130261620 | Microwave-Shielded Tissue Sensor Probe - A tissue sensor probe and corresponding electromagnetic surgical ablation system are disclosed. The system includes an ablation probe operatively coupled to a generator, a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor probe includes an electrically-conductive enclosure configured to shield a temperature sensor from electromagnetic radiation produced by the ablation probe. At least a portion of the electrically-conductive enclosure is made of a high thermal-conductivity material. A material of high thermal-conductivity is disposed in the electrically-conductive enclosure in thermal association with the thermally-conductive material of the electrically-conductive enclosure. The temperature sensor is disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity so as to electrically isolate the temperature sensor from the enclosure. The temperature sensor provides tissue temperature to the controller, which monitors tissue temperature to determine tissue status and to activate and deactivate the generator based on the tissue status. | 10-03-2013 |
20140000098 | MICROWAVE ANTENNA PROBES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING MICROWAVE ANTENNA PROBES | 01-02-2014 |
20140005657 | MICROWAVE ANTENNA PROBES | 01-02-2014 |
20140114302 | TUNABLE MICROWAVE ABLATION PROBE - An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a tunable helical antenna element is disclosed. The probe includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor coaxially disposed within a dielectric, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the dielectric. The inner conductor and dielectric extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer conductor. A helical antenna element is operably coupled to a distal end of the inner conductor. During use, the antenna may be tuned by changing at least one dimension of the helical antenna element. Embodiments are presented wherein a dimensions of the helical antenna element is changed by state change of a shape memory alloy, by a change in temperature, by activation of a piston by fluidic pressure, by linear motion of a conical tip, and by a manual screw-type adjustment. | 04-24-2014 |
20140257267 | ADJUSTABLE TUNING OF A DIELECTRICALLY LOADED LOOP ANTENNA - A microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends. The antenna assembly also includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor each disposed within the elongated member and extending along the longitudinal axis. A portion of the inner conductor is deployable relative to the outer conductor such that the antenna assembly may transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The antenna assembly also includes an expandable sheath at least partially disposed about a distal portion of the inner conductor and defining at one or more lumens configured to couple to a supply of dielectric material used to regulate the expansion of the expandable sheath. | 09-11-2014 |
20140290045 | METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A DIPOLE ANTENNA - A method of fabricating a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The fabrication method includes providing a proximal portion having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. The method further includes providing a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion, with the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. A high strength material may be injected from an inflow slot to an outflow slot of the distal portion such that the material is disposed in-between the inner conductor and a ceramic layer. The material bonds the distal portion and the ceramic layer to the proximal portion while providing mechanical strength to the distal portion. | 10-02-2014 |
20150038957 | MICROWAVE ANTENNA HAVING A COAXIAL CABLE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE OUTER CONDUCTOR CONFIGURATION - A microwave ablation system includes a power source. A microwave antenna is adapted to connect to the power source via a coaxial cable that includes inner and outer conductors having a compressible dielectric operably disposed therebetween. The inner conductor in operative communication with a radiating section associated with the microwave antenna. The outer conductor includes a distal end transitionable with respect to each of the inner conductor, compressible dielectric and radiating section from an initial condition wherein the distal end has a first diameter to a subsequent condition wherein the distal end has second diameter. Transition of the distal end from the initial condition to the subsequent condition enhances the delivery of microwave energy from the power source to the inner conductor and radiating section such that a desired effect to tissue is achieved. | 02-05-2015 |
20150057651 | FLUID COOLED CHOKE DIELECTRIC AND COAXIAL CABLE DIELECTRIC - The microwave antenna assembly includes a feedline electrically connected to an elongated shaft by a choke electrical connector. The feedline includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, an elongated shaft and a choke electrical connector. The inner conductor is disposed in coaxial arrangement with the inner conductor and forms a dielectric supply lumen therebetween. The elongated shaft at least partially surrounding the feedline and form a dielectric return lumen therebetween. The choke electrical connector surrounds at least a portion of the feedline and electrically connects the feedline outer conductor to the elongated shaft. A low-loss dielectric fluid is supplied between the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the feedline and forms a dielectric barrier therebetween. The low-loss dielectric fluid also forms a dielectric barrier between the outer conductor of the feedline and the elongated shaft and the choke electrical connector forms a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the apertures forming at least a portion of the dielectric return lumen. | 02-26-2015 |