Leaky-wave antennas for medical applications

A device for directing energy to tissue, comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length;
• an outer conductor coaxially surrounding the inner conductor along at least a portion of the length, the outer conductor having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the outer conductor including a plurality of conductor apertures defined therein;
• and
• a plurality of inclusion elements disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of a corresponding one of the conductor apertures, each inclusion element extending beyond the edge of a corresponding one of the conductor apertures and inwardly toward the inner conductor at an angle relative to a plane substantially coextensive with the corresponding one of the conductor apertures.

A system for directing energy to tissue, comprising:

• a source of microwave energy configured to generate microwave energy;
• and
• a leaky-wave antenna assembly coupled to the source of microwave energy, the leaky-wave antenna assembly including:
• an inner conductor having a length;
• an outer conductor coaxially surrounding the inner conductor along at least a portion of the length, the outer conductor having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the outer conductor including a plurality of conductor apertures defined therein;
• and
• a plurality of inclusion elements disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of a corresponding one of the conductor apertures, each inclusion element extending beyond the edge of a corresponding one of the conductor apertures and inwardly toward the inner conductor at an angle relative to a plane substantially coextensive with the corresponding one of the conductor apertures.

A method for directing energy to tissue, comprising:

• positioning a leaky-wave antenna assembly adjacent to or within the tissue, the leak-wave antenna assembly including a distal portion configured to emit energy in a radiation pattern and a sleeve member coaxially and slidably disposed about the outer conductor;
• transmitting energy from an energy source to the leaky-wave antenna assembly;
• applying the energy through a plurality of radiating apertures defined in a distal portion of the leaky-wave antenna assembly;
• and
• moving the sleeve member in at least one of rotational or longitudinal displacement relative to the distal portion to adjust the radiation pattern.