Intracooled Percutaneous Microwave Ablation Probe
AssigneeVivant Medical, Inc.
InventorsKenlyn S. Bonn, Steven E. Butcher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of tissue with microwave energy. The devices and methods disclosed herein incorporate an antenna assembly comprising outer and inner conductors having a dielectric material interposed therebetween, a sealing barrier, and a cooling system to minimize the likelihood that the antenna assembly will overheat.
Claims20
A microwave tissue treatment device, comprising:
- an antenna assembly having proximal and distal ends, the antenna assembly including:
- an elongate member;
- an outer conductor positioned within the elongate member;
- a dielectric material disposed within the outer conductor, at least a portion of the dielectric material defining a lumen and at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- an inner conductor having a distal radiating section, at least a portion of the inner conductor being at least partially disposed within the lumen of the dielectric material;
- a sealing barrier disposed adjacent a distal end of the outer conductor;
- and
- a radiating-portion disposed adjacent the sealing barrier, the radiating-portion including the distal radiating section of the inner conductor and a sheath at least partially disposed about the distal radiating section of the inner conductor such that at least one cavity is defined therein;
- and
- a cooling system including an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are at least partially disposed within the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the dielectric material and are configured and dimensioned to circulate a fluid, and wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are in fluid communication with the at least one cavity such that at least a portion of the radiating section of the inner conductor is at least partially in fluid contact with the fluid.
An improved microwave tissue treatment device having an antenna assembly that includes an outer conductor, an inner conductor having a radiating section, and a radiating-portion that includes the radiating section of the inner conductor and a sheath at least partially disposed thereabout such that at least one cavity is defined, the improvement comprising:
- a cooling system including at least one inlet conduit and at least one outlet conduit, the at least one inlet conduit and the at least one outlet conduit being in fluid communication with the radiating section;
- and
- a dielectric material disposed within the outer conductor, the dielectric material defining a lumen and at least one channel extending longitudinally therethrough, the lumen being configured and dimensioned to at least partially receive at least a portion of the inner conductor, and the at least one longitudinally extending channel being configured and dimensioned to at least partially receive the at least one inlet conduit and the at least one outlet conduit of the cooling system.
A method of cooling a microwave antenna which includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric material, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cooling system including:
- at least one inlet conduit and at least one outlet conduit disposed at least partially within the dielectric material, the at least one inlet conduit and the at least one outlet conduit being in fluid communication with the microwave antenna;
- and
- circulating a cooling fluid through the at least one inlet conduit and the at least one outlet conduit of the cooling system such that the cooling fluid is at least partially in fluid communication with at least a portion of the inner conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.