Abstract:
A coupler for coupling a flexible coaxial cable, a fluid cooling system and the outer sheath of a catheter, the coupler including a fluid coupler body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a bypass bulb, an outer sheath, and a fluid sealing system housed in the fluid coupler body. The fluid sealing system includes a distal sealing diaphragm and a proximal sealing diaphragm configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the fluid coupler body.
Abstract:
Ablation probes can include one or more metalized ceramic components. A metalized ceramic component can include one or more traces for conducting electrical energy and/or for functioning as an antenna for emitting radiation during an ablation procedure. A shaft of an ablation probe may be formed of metalized ceramic to give the shaft strength and to provide an electrical insulator between traces formed on the shaft and other components of the probe. A tip of an ablation probe may also be formed of metalized ceramic.
Abstract:
An antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a coaxial cable, an antenna, and an impedance matching structure. The coaxial cable includes a center conductor extending a length of the coaxial cable, a dielectric material surrounding the center conductor along the length of the coaxial cable, and a conductive shield surrounding the dielectric material along the length of the coaxial cable. The antenna includes a conductor having an electrical length of half a wavelength at a selected operating frequency. The impedance matching structure includes a second center conductor mounted between an end of the center conductor of the coaxial cable and a feed end of the antenna. The impedance matching structure is configured to match an impedance of the coaxial cable to an impedance of the antenna.
Abstract:
A microwave ablation device including a cable assembly configured to connect a microwave ablation device to an energy source and a feedline in electrical communication with the cable assembly. The microwave ablation device further includes a balun on an outer conductor of the feedline, and a temperature sensor on the balun sensing the temperature of the balun.
Abstract:
An energy-delivery device suitable for delivery of energy to tissue includes an antenna assembly, a chamber defined about the antenna assembly, and a cable having a proximal end suitable for connection to an electrosurgical energy source. The energy-delivery device also includes a flexible, fluid-cooled shaft coupled in fluid communication with the chamber. The flexible, fluid-cooled shaft is configured to contain a length of the cable therein and adapted to remove heat along the length of the cable during delivery of energy to the antenna assembly.
Abstract:
An electrosurgical device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and a dielectric material disposed therebetween. A proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor at a distal end of the coaxial feedline. A distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor. First and second dielectric segments are coupled to the inner conductor and disposed between the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The device also includes an elongated shaft overlying the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve, the first dielectric segment, the second dielectric segment and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The elongated shaft includes an opening defined therethrough, wherein the opening is at least partially aligned with the first dielectric segment. A balun structure is disposed on the elongated shaft, at least partially overlying the opening in the elongated shaft.
Abstract:
A catheter is disclosed for creating a lesion in nerve-containing tissue spaced from a body lumen while protecting tissue forming and adjacent to a wall of the body lumen from injury. The catheter includes a catheter body having at least one fluid passage therein, a balloon in communication with the at least one fluid passage to receive cooling fluid for inflating the balloon, a microwave antenna carried by the catheter that emits microwave energy omnidirectionally, thereby heating the tissue spaced from the body lumen to a temperature sufficient to cause thermal damage while the tissue forming and adjacent to the wall of the body lumen are maintained at a temperature where thermal damage does not occur, and a tip structure located at an end of the catheter body, configured to receive a guide wire extending through the at least one fluid passage in the catheter body.
Abstract:
An electrosurgical energy channel splitter apparatus includes a channel input a plurality of channel outputs, and a controller. The channel input is configured to receive electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical energy source. Each channel output is configured to couple to a respective electrosurgical device. The controller is coupled to the channel input and the plurality of channel outputs. The controller is configured to selectively direct the electrosurgical energy from the channel input to one of the plurality of channel outputs.
Abstract:
A microwave ablation device including a cable assembly configured to connect a microwave ablation device to an energy source and a feedline in electrical communication with the cable assembly. The microwave ablation device further includes a balun on an outer conductor of the feedline, and a temperature sensor on the balun sensing the temperature of the balun.
Abstract:
The present invention related to devices and methods that use returned power (RP) measurements during microwave energy delivery to perform one or more functions. For example, microwave devices and systems that comprise one or more features to measure the returned microwave power. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power may be used to obtain information about one or more of: antenna shape, system status and system performance. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power shaping elements may also be used to obtain information about one or more properties of the target material. The invention also discloses devices and methods for delivering microwave energy to a variety of target materials to achieve a variety of desired microwave effects.