Directional microwave ablation instrument with off-set energy delivery portion

A directional ablation instrument for ablating of a targeted tissue, comprising:

• at least one ablating element including a RF antenna adapted to emit electromagnetic ablating energy for ablating the targeted tissue in response to applied radio frequency electromagnetic energy;
• and
• an elongated assembly having a central axis and defining a conductive structure about the antenna of the ablation instrument and including a non-conductive window in the conductive structure for directing a majority of the RF ablating energy throught the window in substantially one radial direction with respect to the central axis, the at least one ablating element being fixedly located within the elongated assembly with, the central axis of the at least one ablating element offset toward the window of the elongated assembly.

A directional ablation instrument for ablating target issue, comprising:

• a flexible elongated antenna adapted to generate an electric field sufficiently strong to cause ablation of targeted tissue in response to electromagnetic energy supplied thereto;
• and
• a flexible elongated antenna assembly having an elongated transmission aperture disposed in alignment with a central axis of the assembly, the elongated antenna being fixedly disposed contiguous the transmission aperture and offset from the central axis of the elongated antenna assembly for directing a majority of the electric field in substantially the radial direction with respect to the central axis and through the transmission aperture.

A directional ablation instrument for ablating targeted tissue, comprising:

• an ablating element including an antenna adapted to emit electromagnetic ablation energy for ablating the targeted tissue;
• and
• an electrically conductive elongated assembly fixed disposed about the antenna and having a central axis and forming an outer surface of the ablation instrument, the elongated assembly including an electromagnetic energy transmissin aperture through the outer surface with the antenna disposed contiguous the transmission aperture and offset from the central axis of the elongated assembly for directing a majority of the ablation energy in substantially one radial direction with respect to the central axis and through the transmission aperture.