Percutaneous transluminal catheter and transmitter therefor

A percutaneous transluminal transmitter for transmitting energy to a localized area, the transmitter comprising:

• a continuous central conductor terminating in a tip for receiving and transmitting a signal to the tip;
• a dielectric material surrounding at least a significant portion of the central conductor;
• a continuous coaxial conductor surrounding the dielectric material for receiving and transmitting a signal to a point adjacent the tip to form an antenna for transmitting energy to tissue when the transmitter is placed into biologic tissue, said coaxial conductor being formed in a first layer of a thin metallic ribbon wrapped in a first direction helically around said dielectric material and overlapped on itself and also in a second layer being wrapped in an opposite second direction helically around said first layer and overlapped on itself and said first layer;
• and
• a waterproof coating around the central conductor to cover the central conductor.

A percutaneous transluminal transmitter for transmitting energy to a localized area, the transmitter comprising:

• a continuous central conductor terminating in a tip for receiving and transmitting a signal to the tip;
• a dielectric material surrounding at least a significant portion of the central conductor;
• a continuous coaxial conductor surrounding the dielectric material for receiving and transmitting a signal to a point adjacent the tip to form an antenna for transmitting energy to tissue when the transmitter is placed into biologic tissue, wherein the coaxial conductor includes conductive elements spirally overlapped first in a first direction along the dielectric material and then in a second direction over the first spirally overlapped elements;
• and
• a coating around the coaxial conductor to cover the coaxial conductor.

A flexible and pushable percutaneous transluminal balloon catheter and microwave transmitter combination which is axially stiff but radially flexible for maneuvering through tortuous human vasculation, said combination comprising:

• a catheter including a dual-lumen elongate tubular body, said tubular body at a distal end portion thereof including an inflation balloon sealingly communicating with one of said dual lumens of said body, a temperature-responsive element disposed in said balloon to respond to local tissue temperature as indicated by the temperature of inflation fluid within said balloon, and an electrical conductor extending from said temperature-responsive element outwardly of said catheter via said one lumen, said body defining a coolant circulation port opening outwardly from the other lumen of said dual lumens proximal of said inflation balloon;
• and
• an elongate microwave transmitter receivable into said other lumen, said transmitter including a central conductor surrounded with dielectric and a coaxial conductor surrounding said dielectric, said coaxial conductor being formed in a first layer of a thin metallic ribbon wrapped in a first direction helically around said dielectric material and overlapped on itself and also in a second layer being wrapped in an opposite second direction helically around said first layer and overlapped on itself and said first layer, said microwave transmitter including a distal antenna portion.