Method for manufacturing a radio frequency applicator

    公开(公告)号:US11456518B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-27

    申请号:US16896096

    申请日:2020-06-08

    摘要: A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) applicator which includes covering a ceramic insert with a coating, wherein the ceramic insert has dimensions that substantially match an internal volume of an open-ended, hollow waveguide, and wherein the ceramic insert has a recess therein configured to accept a radio frequency emitter, heating the waveguide to a temperature that is above a melting point of the coating, placing the coated ceramic insert into the internal volume of the heated waveguide, wherein the internal volume is completely filled except for the recess, and cooling the waveguide, ceramic insert, and coating to a temperature below the melting point of the coating so that the coating solidifies and fills gaps between facing surfaces of the insert and the waveguide.

    Broadband applicator for thermoacoustic signal generation

    公开(公告)号:US11369272B1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-28

    申请号:US17554675

    申请日:2021-12-17

    摘要: An RF applicator has an open-ended waveguide having an aperture and a dielectric cone extending through the aperture and is electrically connected to an RF source that is configured to generate RF energy pulses. A top fin is mounted to an inner top surface of the waveguide and comprises a conductive material, is electrically connected to the RF source, and has dimensions configured to optimize a bandwidth that the RF applicator applies to tissue. A bottom fin is mounted to an inner bottom surface of the waveguide and comprises a conductive material electrically isolated from the RF source, with dimensions configured to optimize a bandwidth that the RF applicator applies to tissue. A dielectric cone is inserted into the waveguide. A filler material between inner surfaces of the waveguide and the solid dielectric cone can fill gaps and has a dielectric constant similar to the dielectric cone.

    METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A RADIO FREQUENCY APPLICATOR

    公开(公告)号:US20200303803A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-09-24

    申请号:US16896096

    申请日:2020-06-08

    IPC分类号: H01P11/00 H01P3/12

    摘要: A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) applicator which includes covering a ceramic insert with a coating, wherein the ceramic insert has dimensions that substantially match an internal volume of an open-ended, hollow waveguide, and wherein the ceramic insert has a recess therein configured to accept a radio frequency emitter, heating the waveguide to a temperature that is above a melting point of the coating, placing the coated ceramic insert into the internal volume of the heated waveguide, wherein the internal volume is completely filled except for the recess, and cooling the waveguide, ceramic insert, and coating to a temperature below the melting point of the coating so that the coating solidifies and fills gaps between facing surfaces of the insert and the waveguide.

    Acoustically compatible radio-frequency applicator method and system

    公开(公告)号:US11337676B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-24

    申请号:US16714848

    申请日:2020-02-12

    IPC分类号: A61B8/00 G01K11/22 A61B5/00

    摘要: A method and system for optimizing RF energy delivery to a tissue ROI with a thermoacoustic system includes directing with a RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the tissue ROI having an object of interest and a reference separated by a boundary; detecting with a thermoacoustic transducer, a multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary in response to the RF energy pulses and processing the multi-polar acoustic signal to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; detecting with the thermoacoustic transducer, an artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary and processing it to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; utilizing an electromagnetic model coupled with a model of patient anatomy to place dielectric or conducting materials near the thermoacoustic transducer or the RF applicator to optimize a signal-to-noise ratio of the multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary or minimize the artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary; and directing with the RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the ROI for a thermoacoustic measurement and determine a parameter of the object of interest.

    Method and system for enhancing RF energy delivery during thermoacoustic imaging

    公开(公告)号:US11304606B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-19

    申请号:US16182650

    申请日:2018-11-07

    IPC分类号: A61B5/00 A61B5/20 A61B5/02

    摘要: A method and system for enhancing radio frequency energy delivery to a tissue region of interest. The method and system direct with a radio frequency (RF) applicator, one or more RF energy pulses into the tissue region of interest, the tissue region of interest comprising an object of interest and at least one reference that are separated by at least one boundary; detect with an acoustic receiver, at least one bipolar acoustic signal generated in the tissue region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses and processing the at least one bipolar acoustic signal to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude thereof; adjust the RF applicator to maximize the peak-to-peak amplitude of bipolar acoustic signals generated in the tissue region of interest in response to RF energy pulses generated by the adjusted RF applicator; and direct with the adjusted RF applicator, one or more RF energy pulses into the region of interest.

    THERMOACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER WITH INTEGRATED SWITCH

    公开(公告)号:US20210321873A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-10-21

    申请号:US17230480

    申请日:2021-04-14

    摘要: A thermoacoustic transducer integrating at least one piezoelectric element having a first surface and a second surface, a potential electrode that is electrically connected to the second surface, a ground electrode that is electrically connected to the first surface, a switch electrically connected to both the potential electrode and the ground electrode, a timer configured to match a pulse emanating from a radio-frequency emitter, further wherein the potential electrode and the ground electrode are electrically connected through an impedance when the switch is in an active state, further wherein the potential electrode and the ground electrode are not electrically connected when the switch is in an inactive state; and a housing accommodating the at least one piezoelectric element, potential electrode, ground electrode, and switch.

    Acoustically Compatible Radio-Frequency Applicator Method and System

    公开(公告)号:US20210244384A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-08-12

    申请号:US16714848

    申请日:2020-02-12

    IPC分类号: A61B8/00 A61B5/00 G01K11/22

    摘要: A method and system for optimizing RF energy delivery to a tissue ROI with a thermoacoustic system includes directing with a RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the tissue ROI having an object of interest and a reference separated by a boundary; detecting with a thermoacoustic transducer, a multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary in response to the RF energy pulses and processing the multi-polar acoustic signal to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; detecting with the thermoacoustic transducer, an artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary and processing it to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; utilizing an electromagnetic model coupled with a model of patient anatomy to place dielectric or conducting materials near the thermoacoustic transducer or the RF applicator to optimize a signal-to-noise ratio of the multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary or minimize the artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary; and directing with the RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the ROI for a thermoacoustic measurement and determine a parameter of the object of interest.