Microwave ablation antenna radiation detector
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorJoseph D. Brannan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiation detector disposed on a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The radiation detector includes a receiving antenna adapted to receive errant microwave energy and a rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna that is adapted to rectify at least a portion of the errant microwave energy. A filter is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
Claims18
A radiation detector disposed on a microwave antenna assembly, the radiation detector comprising:
- a receiving antenna adapted to receive microwave energy and including:
- a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- an antenna member disposed on the top surface of the substrate, the antenna member adapted to receive microwave energy;
- and
- a grounding member disposed on the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the antenna and grounding members are electrically insulated by the substrate;
- at least one rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna adapted to rectify at least a portion of the microwave energy;
- and
- a filter coupled to the at least one rectifier and adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
A microwave antenna assembly, comprising:
- a hub adapted to couple the microwave antenna assembly to a microwave generator;
- a radiating section coupled to the hub through a feedline;
- and
- a radiation detector disposed on the microwave antenna assembly proximal to the radiating section, the radiation detector comprising:
- a receiving antenna adapted to receive microwave energy;
- at least one rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna and being adapted to rectify at least a portion of the microwave energy;
- and
- a filter coupled to the at least one rectifier and adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
A method for detecting microwave energy, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving microwave energy with a receiving antenna;
- rectifying at least a portion of the microwave energy through at least one rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna;
- filtering the rectified microwave energy through a filter coupled to the at least one rectifier to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal;
- comparing the detection signal with a predetermined threshold signal;
- and
- suspending supply microwave energy based on the comparison of the detection signal with a predetermined threshold signal.
A radiation detector disposed on a microwave antenna assembly, the radiation detector comprising:
- a receiving antenna adapted to receive microwave energy, wherein the receiving antenna is selected from the group consisting of a linear antenna and a square patch antenna, wherein each side of the square patch antenna is a quarter wavelength;
- at least one rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna adapted to rectify at least a portion of the microwave energy;
- and
- a filter coupled to the at least one rectifier and adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.