# US 2025/0152016 A1 · Radio frequency applicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0152016 A1 - Document ID: US20250152016A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/506,722 - Filed: 2023-11-10 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-10 - Assignees: ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.; Duke University - Applicants: ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.; Duke University - Inventors: Dima Shmidov; Paolo Maccarini; Idan Steinberg; Michael M. Thomton; Christopher Nelson Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250152016A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0093: {Detecting, measuring or recording by applying one single type of energy and measuring its conversion into another type of energy} - A61B 5/4244: {liver} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A radio frequency applicator, including a waveguide having a first interior surface comprising a first aperture, a second interior surface opposing the first interior surface, a third interior surface adjacent to the first and second interior surfaces, a fourth interior surface opposing the third interior surface, and a fifth interior surface perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces, an aperture antenna, a solid dielectric insert within the waveguide, the solid dielectric insert having a second aperture formed therethrough that is configured for alignment with the first aperture, an RF connector, configured to receive generated RF energy pulses, at least one planar-shaped shim, having a third aperture therethrough configured to align with the first and second apertures, and a radio frequency feed pin connected to the RF connector, disposed within the first, second, and third apertures and affixed to the second interior surface of the waveguide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency (RF) applicator, the RF applicator comprising: a waveguide having a first interior surface comprising a first aperture, a second interior surface opposing the first interior surface, a third interior surface adjacent to the first and second interior surfaces, a fourth interior surface opposing the third interior surface, and a fifth interior surface perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces; an aperture antenna; a solid dielectric insert within the waveguide, the solid dielectric insert having a second aperture formed therethrough that is configured for alignment with the first aperture; an RF connector, configured to receive generated RF energy pulses; at least one shim, wherein the at least one shim is planar-shaped and has a third aperture therethrough configured to align with the first and second apertures; and a radio frequency feed pin configured for electrical connection to the RF connector, wherein the radio frequency feed pin is disposed within the first, second, and third apertures and affixed to the second interior surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, wherein the aperture antenna comprises an opening defined by the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces of the waveguide, wherein the opening is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces and opposing the fifth interior surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The radio frequency applicator of claim 2, further comprising: a conductive shim that is planar-shaped having a length corresponding to the fifth interior surface and the opening, and a width defined by the third and fourth interior surfaces and has a fourth aperture therethrough configured for alignment with the first and second apertures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The radio frequency applicator of claim 3, wherein the conductive shim has a conductivity between 1×106 Siemens/meter and 1×108 Siemens/meter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, further comprising: a compressible shim that is planar-shaped having a length corresponding to the fifth interior surface and the opening, and a width defined by the third and fourth interior surfaces and has a fourth aperture therethrough configured for alignment with the first and second apertures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The radio frequency applicator of claim 5, wherein the compressible shim has a bulk modulus between 1.0 Mega Pascal and 1.0 Giga Pascal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The radio frequency applicator of claim 5, wherein the compressible shim has an acoustic attenuation between 5 and 200 dB/(MHz*centimeter). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, wherein the solid dielectric insert comprises a length corresponding to the fifth interior surface and the opening, and a width defined by the third and fourth interior surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The radio frequency applicator of claim 8, wherein the solid dielectric insert has a real relative permittivity between about 20 and 180. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one shim is a dielectric shim. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one shim comprises a length corresponding to the fifth interior surface and the opening, and a width defined by the third and fourth interior surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The radio frequency applicator of claim 1, wherein the at least one shim has a real relative permittivity between about 20 and 180 and an imaginary relative permittivity between about 0 and 18. ### Claim 13 A radio frequency (RF) applicator, the RF applicator comprising: a waveguide having a first interior surface comprising a first aperture, a second interior surface opposing the first interior surface, a third interior surface adjacent to the first and second interior surfaces, a fourth interior surface opposing the third interior surface, and a fifth interior surface perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces; an aperture antenna; a solid dielectric insert within the waveguide, the solid dielectric insert having a second aperture formed therethrough that is configured for alignment with the first aperture; an RF connector, configured to receive generated RF energy pulses; a plurality of planar-shaped shims, each having an aperture therethrough configured to align with the first and second apertures; and a radio frequency feed pin configured for electrical connection to the RF connector, wherein the radio frequency feed pin is disposed within the first, second, and third apertures and affixed to the second interior surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The radio frequency applicator of claim 13, wherein the plurality of planar-shaped shims comprises a conductive shim. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The radio frequency applicator of claim 14, wherein the conductive shim has a conductivity between 1×106 Siemens/meter and 1×108 Siemens/meter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The radio frequency applicator of claim 13, wherein the plurality of planar-shaped shims comprises a compressible shim. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The radio frequency applicator of claim 16, wherein the compressible shim has a bulk modulus between 1.0 Mega Pascal and 1.0 Giga Pascal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The radio frequency applicator of claim 16, wherein the compressible shim has an acoustic attenuation between 5 and 200 dB/(MHz*centimeter). ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The radio frequency applicator of claim 13, wherein the plurality of planar-shaped shims comprises at least one dielectric shim. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The radio frequency applicator of claim 19, wherein dielectric shim has a real relative permittivity between about 20 and 180 and an imaginary relative permittivity between about 0 and 18. ### Claim 21 A radio frequency (RF) applicator, the RF applicator comprising: a waveguide having a first interior surface comprising a first aperture, a second interior surface opposing the first interior surface, a third interior surface adjacent to the first and second interior surfaces, a fourth interior surface opposing the third interior surface, and a fifth interior surface perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces; an aperture antenna; a solid dielectric insert within the waveguide, the solid dielectric insert having a second aperture formed therethrough that is configured for alignment with the first aperture; an RF connector, configured to receive generated RF energy pulses; a plurality of planar-shaped shims, each having an aperture therethrough configured to align with the first and second apertures, wherein the plurality of planar-shaped shims comprises: a conductive shim, a compressible shim, and at least one dielectric shim; and a radio frequency feed pin configured for electrical connection to the RF connector, wherein the radio frequency feed pin is disposed within the first, second, and third apertures and affixed to the second interior surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein the conductive shim has a conductivity between 1×106 Siemens/meter and 1×108 Siemens/meter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein the compressible shim has a bulk modulus between 1.0 Mega Pascal and 1.0 Giga Pascal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein the compressible shim has an acoustic attenuation between 5 and 200 dB/(MHz*centimeter). ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein dielectric shim has a real relative permittivity between about 20 and 180 and an imaginary relative permittivity between about 0 and 18. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein the aperture antenna comprises an opening defined by the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces of the waveguide, wherein the opening is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth interior surfaces and opposing the fifth interior surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The radio frequency applicator of claim 21, wherein the conductive shim, the compressible shim, and the at least one dielectric shim, are planar-shaped having a length corresponding to the fifth interior surface and the opening, and a width defined by the third and fourth interior surfaces and each have an aperture therethrough configured for alignment with the first and second apertures.