High-strength microwave antenna assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9549779-B2
Application number	US-201615005504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Nov 2, 2001
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

Various high-strength microwave antenna assemblies are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. The antenna is a dipole antenna with the distal end of the radiating portion being tapered and terminating at a tip to allow for direct insertion into tissue. Antenna rigidity comes from placing distal and proximal radiating portions in a pre-stressed state, assembling them via threaded or overlapping joints, or fixedly attaching an inner conductor to the distal portion. The inner conductor is affixed to the distal portion by, e.g., welding, brazing, soldering, or by adhesives. A junction member made from a hard dielectric material, e.g., ceramic, can be placed between the two portions and can have uniform or non-uniform shapes to accommodate varying antenna designs. Electrical chokes may also be used to contain returning currents to the distal end of the antenna.

First claim

We claim:

1. A microwave antenna assembly comprising:
a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first dielectric disposed between the inner and outer conductors;
a radiating portion coupled to the feedline via compression and electrically connected to the inner conductor; and
a second dielectric separating at least a portion of the radiating portion from contact with the outer conductor.

2. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric is selected from the group consisting of ceramics, air, and thermoplastics.

3. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric is a junction member disposed between the radiating portion and the feedline.

4. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 3 , wherein the radiating portion is coupled to the feedline via a compressive force applied on the junction member by the feedline and the radiating portion.

5. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radiating portion includes a sharpened distal tip configured for insertion into tissue.

6. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured to connect the microwave antenna to a power generating source.

7. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more dielectric layers overlying the outer conductor.

8. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radiating portion is configured to generate spherical ablation zones.

9. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radiating portion and the inner conductor are electrically connected via soldering.

10. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner conductor extends distally beyond the outer conductor.

11. A microwave antenna assembly comprising:
a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first dielectric disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor;
a radiating portion electrically connected to the inner conductor and mechanically coupled to the feedline; and
a second dielectric separating at least a portion of the radiating portion from contact with the outer conductor, the radiating portion coupled to the feedline via a compressive force applied on the second dielectric by at least one of the feedline or the radiating portion.

12. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second dielectric is selected from the group consisting of ceramics, air, and thermoplastics.

13. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second dielectric is a junction member disposed between the radiating portion and the feedline.

14. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the radiating portion forms at least a portion of a needle having a sharpened distal tip configured for insertion into tissue.

15. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a connector configured to connect the microwave antenna to a power generating source.

16. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , further comprising at least one dielectric layer overlying the outer conductor.

17. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the radiating portion is configured to generate spherical ablation zones.

18. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the radiating portion and the inner conductor are electrically connected via soldering.

19. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner conductor extends distally beyond the outer conductor.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Prakash Mani N
• Rossetto Francesca
• Lee Anthony C
• Kim Steven
• Su Ted
• Glassman Jonathan L

Classifications

• A61B2018/00178

  Electrical connectors · CPC title

• A61B2018/00136

  with polymer · CPC title

• A61B2018/00142

  lubricating · CPC title

• A61B2018/00077

  high, i.e. electrically conducting · CPC title

• A61B2018/00083

  low, i.e. electrically insulating · CPC title