Thermally tuned coaxial cable for microwave antennas
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorKenlyn S. Bonn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coaxial cable, including an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor and a thermally responsive material positioned between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. The outer conductor is in a generally concentric relationship to the inner conductor and the inner and outer conductors are adapted to connect to an energy source. A thermal change in the thermally responsive material alters the generally concentric relationship between the outer conductor and the inner conductor.
Claims16
A method for controlling alignment of an inner conductor and an outer conductor of a coaxial cable of a microwave antenna, the method comprising:
- changing a temperature of at least one thermally responsive material disposed between an inner conductor and an outer conductor of a coaxial cable of a microwave antenna, the inner conductor being disposed within the outer conductor,
- wherein a change in temperature of the at least one thermally responsive material alters alignment of the inner conductor within the outer conductor.
A method for controlling impedance of a coaxial cable of a microwave probe, the method comprising:
- measuring impedance of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable coupling a microwave probe to a microwave generator;
- determining whether the impedance of the coaxial cable substantially matches impedance of at least one of the microwave generator or the microwave probe;
- and
- changing a temperature of at least one thermally responsive material disposed between an inner conductor and an outer conductor of a coaxial cable of a microwave antenna based on the determination, the inner conductor being disposed within the outer conductor,
- wherein a change in temperature of the at least one thermally responsive material alters alignment of the inner conductor within the outer conductor to substantially match the impedance of the at least one of the microwave generator or the microwave probe to the coaxial cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.