Ablation Probe Systems

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture;
• (d) an annular heat transfer layer surrounding said coaxial antenna and spaced from said insertion end such that said annular aperture is between said annular heat transfer layer and said insertion end;
• (e) said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (f) said ablation zone having a predetermined shape selected from the group consisting of oblate, spherical, and oblong.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• (d) an annular heat transfer layer surrounding said coaxial antenna, said annular heat transfer layer having an annular edge that is the closest part of said annular heat transfer layer to said annular aperture, said annular edge spaced from said insertion end such that said annular aperture is between said annular heat transfer layer and said insertion end;
• (e) an aperture offset, said aperture offset being a distance between said center of ablation and said annular edge of said annular heat transfer layer;
• and
• (f) said ablation zone having a predetermined shape determined by said aperture offset, such that a relatively short length aperture offset causes said ablation zone to be oblate, a relatively long length aperture offset causes said ablation zone to be oblong, and a medium length aperture offset causes said ablation zone to be spherical.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, said coaxial antenna being a near field antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said near field antenna preventing said center of ablation from migrating up said shaft away from said insertion end.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, said coaxial antenna being a near field antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said near field antenna having a predetermined shape selected from the group consisting of oblate, spherical, and oblong.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, said coaxial antenna being a near field antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said center of ablation is a stationary center of ablation.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said ablation zone having a predetermined power loading density in said ablation zone.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said ablation zone having a predetermined peak temperature in said ablation zone.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said ablation zone having an annular aperture and a power loading density in said ablation zone, said annular aperture and said power loading density selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) a short annular aperture and high power loading;
• (ii) a medium annular aperture and medium power loading;
• and
• (iii) a long annular aperture and low power loading.

An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:

• (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna;
• (b) an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
• (c) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna and surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone;
• and
• (d) said ablation zone having an annular aperture and a peak temperature in said ablation zone, said annular aperture and said peak temperature selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) a short annular aperture and high peak temperature;
• (ii) a medium annular aperture and medium peak temperature;
• and
• (iii) a long annular aperture and low peak temperature.