Radiation applicator and method of radiating tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262832-A1
Application number	US-201514940354-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2005
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dipole microwave applicator emits microwave radiation into tissue to be treated. The applicator is formed from a thin coax cable having an inner conductor surrounded by an insulator, which is surrounded by an outer conductor. A portion of the inner conductor extends beyond the insulator and the outer conductor. A ferrule at the end of the outer conductor has a step and a sleeve that surrounds a portion of the extended inner conductor. A tuning washer is attached to the end of the extended inner conductor. A dielectric tip encloses the tuning washer, the extended inner conductor, and the sleeve of the ferrule. The sleeve of the ferrule and the extended inner conductor operate as the two arms of the dipole microwave antenna. The tuning washer faces the step in the ferrule, and is sized and shaped to cooperate with the step in balancing and tuning the applicator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
inserting into the body a radiation applicator for applying electromagnetic radiation to tissue, the radiation applicator comprising:
a central conductor, an outer conductor having an inner surface and an outer surface;
an outer tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer tube coaxially surrounding the outer conductor such that a gap is formed between the outer surface of the outer conductor and the inner surface of the outer tube;
a dielectric tip member; and
a ferrule having a first surface, second surface, and a third surface, the first surface of the ferrule extending coaxially along the inner surface of the outer conductor and the outer surface of the central conductor, the second surface of the ferrule abuts a distal most end of the outer conductor, and the third surface of the ferrule coaxially extends along a distal end of the central conductor, the ferrule is sized such that it seals a distal most part of the gap between the outer surface of the outer conductor and the inner surface of the outer tube;
placing the dielectric tip in the tissue to be treated; powering on the energy source; delivering the energy to the tissue; and withdrawing the radiation applicator.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises the first surface of the ferrule being proximal to the second surface of the ferrule and the second surface of the ferrule being proximal to the third surface of the ferrule.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises an insulator coaxially extending between the central conductor and outer conductor, the insulator extending a selected distance beyond the distal most end of the outer conductor.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises a proximal most end of the ferrule is a selected distance proximal to the distal most end of the outer conductor.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises a tuning conductor received by an abutment wall of the distal end of the central conductor.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the tuning conductor of the radiation applicator is a metal washer.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises a connector for connecting the applicator to an energy source.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises an antenna that is capable of creating a frequency of up to 8 GHz.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target tissue being treated is a tumor or other soft tissue.

10 . A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
inserting into the body a radiation applicator for applying electromagnetic radiation to tissue, the radiation applicator comprising:
a central conductor, an outer conductor an inner surface and an outer surface;
an outer tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer tube coaxially surrounding the outer conductor such that a gap is formed between the outer surface of the outer conductor and the inner surface of the outer tube;
a dielectric tip member; and
a ferrule having a first surface, second surface, and a third surface, the first surface of the ferrule extending coaxially along the inner surface of the outer conductor and the outer surface of the central conductor, the second surface of the ferrule abuts a distal most end of the outer conductor, and the third surface of the ferrule coaxially extends along a distal end of the central conductor, the ferrule is sized such that it seals a distal most part of the gap between the outer surface of the outer conductor and the inner surface of the outer tube;
placing the dielectric tip in the tissue to be treated; flowing fluid through the gap but not beyond the ferrule; powering on the energy source; delivering the energy to the tissue; and withdrawing the radiation applicator.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the applicator further comprises the first surface of the ferrule being proximal to the second surface of the ferrule and the second surface of the ferrule being proximal to the third surface of the ferrule.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the applicator further comprises a proximal most end of the ferrule being a selected distance proximal to the distal most end of the outer conductor.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flowing fluid step further comprises:
a fluid conduit connected to a source of fluid via a pumping device, the pumping device flows fluid at a predetermined rate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the flowing fluid step further comprises fluid being pumped so as to provide a flow rate of at least 1.5 ml/minute.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the flowing fluid step further comprises the fluid being at room temperature or pre-cooled to a temperature below room temperature.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the flowing fluid step further comprises flow of fluid being stopped proximate to the dipole antenna.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises a tuning conductor received by an abutment wall of the distal end of the central conductor.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises a connector for connecting the applicator to an energy source.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiation applicator further comprises an antenna that is capable of creating a frequency of up to 8 GHz.

20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the target tissue being treated is a tumor or other soft tissue.

Assignees

• Angiodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Cronin Nigel
• Boix Maria J

Classifications

• A61B18/04 Primary

  by heating (by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18) · CPC title

• A61B18/1815 Primary

  using microwaves · CPC title

• A61B2018/00023

  closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid · CPC title

• A61N5/045

  specially adapted for treatment inside the body · CPC title

• A61B18/18 Primary

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