Methods and devices for applying energy to bodily tissues

A microwave energy delivery device for delivering energy from an energy source through a transmission line having a shielding element, the microwave energy delivery device comprising:

• a microwave antenna portion located at a distal portion of the transmission line and comprising a radiating element and a shaping element, the radiating element having a planar loop shape comprising two corners, wherein a proximal portion of the radiating element is stiffer than a distal portion of the radiating element;
• where the radiating element emits a microwave field when energized by the energy source;
• where the shaping element is in electrical contact with the shielding element and is located adjacent to the radiating element such that at least a portion of the shaping element extends along a portion of the radiating element causing the shaping element to affect the microwave field by limiting the microwave field about the microwave antenna portion;
• and
• wherein a shape of the radiating element is configured to generate a microwave field profile that is wider distally and narrower proximally.

A microwave energy delivery device for delivering energy from an energy source through a transmission line having a shielding element, the microwave energy delivery device comprising:

• a microwave antenna portion located at a distal portion of the transmission line and comprising a radiating element and a shaping element, the radiating element having a planar loop shape comprising two corners, wherein a proximal portion of the radiating element is stiffer than a distal portion of the radiating element;
• where the radiating element emits a microwave field when energized by the energy source;
• where the shaping element is in electrical contact with the shielding element and is located adjacent to the radiating element such that at least a portion of the shaping element extends along a portion of the radiating element causing the shaping element to affect the microwave field by limiting the microwave field about the microwave antenna portion;
• and
• where the shaping element is configured to redistribute the microwave field generated by the radiating element to increase uniformity of the microwave field as the microwave field extends volumetrically around the microwave antenna portion.