Reinforced high strength microwave antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10537386-B2
Application number	US-201514924904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	May 10, 2005
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

A microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Proximal and distal radiating portions of the antenna assembly are separated by a junction member. A reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member to increase structural rigidity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A microwave antenna assembly, comprising:
a proximal radiating portion including:
an outer conductor;
an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor; and
a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors;

a distal radiating portion coupled to the proximal radiating portion; and
an electrically conductive reinforcing member disposed distal to the outer conductor, the electrically conductive reinforcing member surrounding the inner conductor and at least partially disposed within the distal radiating portion.

2. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a thermocouple disposed within at least one of the proximal radiating portion or the distal radiating portion, the thermocouple configured to sense temperature.

3. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the thermocouple includes a blunt distal tip.

4. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the thermocouple extends distally at least partially along a longitudinal length of at least one of the proximal radiating portion or the distal radiating portion, the thermocouple distally terminating in a thermocouple junction.

5. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the thermocouple is at least partially disposed within the inner conductor.

6. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner conductor extends longitudinally within the distal radiating portion.

7. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a lumen formed around the outer conductor and configured to receive cooling fluid.

8. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed within the lumen and configured to sense a temperature of cooling fluid.

9. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a junction member disposed between the proximal and distal radiating portions, the inner conductor extending longitudinally through the junction member.

10. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member and is more rigid than the junction member.

11. A microwave ablation system, comprising:
a source of microwave energy; and
a microwave antenna assembly including:
a proximal radiating portion configured to be operably coupled to the source of microwave energy, the proximal radiating portion including:
an outer conductor;
an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor; and
a dielectric material disposed between the outer and inner conductors;

a distal radiating portion coupled to the proximal radiating portion; and
an electrically conductive reinforcing member disposed distal to the outer conductor, the electrically conductive reinforcing member surrounding the inner conductor and at least partially disposed within the distal radiating portion.

12. The microwave ablation system according to claim 11 , further comprising a thermocouple disposed within at least one of the proximal radiating portion or the distal radiating portion, the thermocouple configured to sense temperature.

13. The microwave ablation system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermocouple includes a blunt distal tip.

14. The microwave ablation system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermocouple extends distally at least partially along a longitudinal length of at least one of the proximal radiating portion or the distal radiating portion, the thermocouple distally terminating in a thermocouple junction.

15. The microwave ablation system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermocouple is at least partially disposed within the inner conductor.

16. The microwave ablation system according to claim 11 , wherein the inner conductor extends longitudinally within the distal radiating portion.

17. The microwave ablation system according to claim 11 , further comprising a lumen formed around the outer conductor and configured to receive cooling fluid.

18. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 17 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed within the lumen and configured to sense a temperature of cooling fluid.

19. The microwave ablation system according to claim 11 , further comprising a junction member disposed between the proximal and distal radiating portions, the inner conductor extending longitudinally through the junction member.

20. The microwave ablation system according to claim 19 , wherein the reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member and is more rigid than the junction member.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Turovskiy Roman
• Su Ted
• Prakash Mani
• Kim Steven

Classifications

• A61B2018/1892

  Details of electrical isolations of the antenna · CPC title

• A61B2018/00797

  measured by multiple temperature sensors · CPC title

• A61B2018/00821

  measured by a thermocouple · CPC title

• A61B18/18

  by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves · CPC title

• A61B2018/1838

  Dipole antennas · CPC title