Microwave antenna having a curved configuration

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• and
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region;
• and
• a second curved distal portion for at least partially surrounding the area of tissue to be treated.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors;
• and
• an elongate introducer having a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen defined therebetween, the microwave antenna being adapted to be advanced through the lumen such that the curved distal portion extends at least partially beyond the distal end of the introducer;
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• and
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region, and
• wherein the curved distal portion comprises a separate elongate conductor in electrical communication with the inner conductor.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors;
• and
• an insulative covering which covers at least a majority of the curved distal portion, wherein a distal tip of the curved distal portion is uncovered by the insulative covering, and
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors;
• and
• an inflatable balloon disposed over the length of the curved distal portion,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion, wherein the inner conductor comprises an electrically conductive coating at least partially over the length of the inner conductor;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• and
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length, wherein the outer conductor comprises an electrically conductive coating at least partially over an inner surface of the outer conductor;
• and
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• a dielectric material separating the inner and outer conductors;
• and
• an alignment guide for releasably positioning the microwave antenna, the guide comprising a body member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining at least one passage therebetween, at least one alignment channel defined along the body and in communication with the passage, and at least one locking mechanism positioned along the body and configured to releasably maintain a position of the microwave antenna,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor and the dielectric material, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to define an ablation region that at least partially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated in such a manner that at least a portion of the area of tissue to be treated is located within the ablation region.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion, wherein the curved distal portion comprises a separate elongate conductor in electrical communication with the inner conductor;
• and
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor directly contacts tissue and at least substantially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated within an ablation region defined by the curved distal portion.

A microwave antenna for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

• an inner conductor having a length with a proximal portion and a curved distal portion;
• an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length;
• and
• a plurality of additional curved distal portions for enclosing the area of tissue to be treated,
• wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is located distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor is configured to extend laterally from a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor, and wherein the curved distal portion of the inner conductor directly contacts tissue and at least substantially surrounds an area of tissue to be treated within an ablation region defined by the curved distal portion.

A microwave antenna for applying a therapeutic amount of microwave energy, the microwave antenna comprising:

• an outer conductor defining a distal-most end and a longitudinal axis;
• a dielectric material fixedly disposed within the outer conductor, the dielectric material terminating in a distal-most end which does not extend distally beyond the distal-most end of the outer conductor;
• and
• an inner conductor reciprocally disposed within the dielectric material and separated from the outer conductor by the dielectric material, the inner conductor having a distal portion including a preformed curvature such that when the distal portion of the inner conductor is advanced distally beyond the distal-most end of the dielectric material the distal portion of the inner conductor curves away from the longitudinal axis of the outer conductor to directly contact tissue and at least partially surround an area of tissue to be treated, wherein the curved distal portion comprises a separate elongate conductor in electrical communication with the inner conductor.