Devices and methods for cooling microwave antennas
First Claim
1. A cooling system for use with a microwave antenna, comprising:
- a cooling jacket adapted to at least partially surround a microwave antenna, wherein the cooling jacket is further adapted to retain a cooling fluid therein such that at least a portion of the microwave antenna is in fluid contact with the cooling fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for cooling microwave antennas are disclosed herein. The cooling systems can be used with various types of microwave antennas. One variation generally comprises a handle portion with an elongate outer jacket extending from the handle portion. A microwave antenna is positioned within the handle and outer jacket such that cooling fluid pumped into the handle comes into contact directly along a portion of the length, or a majority of the length, or the entire length of the antenna to allow for direct convective cooling. Other variations include cooling sheaths which form defined cooling channels around a portion of the antenna. Yet another variation includes passively-cooled systems which utilize expandable balloons to urge tissue away from the surface of the microwave antenna as well as cooling sheaths which are cooled through endothermic chemical reactions. Furthermore, the microwave antennas themselves can have cooling lumens integrated directly therethrough.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. A cooling system for use with a microwave antenna, comprising:
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a cooling jacket adapted to at least partially surround a microwave antenna, wherein the cooling jacket is further adapted to retain a cooling fluid therein such that at least a portion of the microwave antenna is in fluid contact with the cooling fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of cooling a microwave antenna, comprising:
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providing a cooling jacket adapted to surround a microwave antenna at least partially along a length of the microwave antenna; and
flowing a cooling fluid through the cooling jacket such that the fluid is retained within the cooling jacket and directly contacts at least a portion of the microwave antenna. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A cooling sheath system for use with a microwave antenna, comprising:
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a first tubular member defining an antenna lumen therethrough, the first tubular member being adapted to at least partially surround the microwave antenna;
a second tubular member positioned about a length of the first tubular member; and
a fluid channel defined between the first tubular member and the second tubular member, wherein the fluid channel is adapted to retain a cooling fluid therein and envelope at least a portion of the antenna lumen. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of cooling a microwave antenna, comprising:
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providing a cooling sheath adapted to surround a microwave antenna at least partially along a length of the microwave antenna; and
flowing a cooling fluid through the cooling sheath such that the fluid is retained within a fluid channel defined between an outer jacket and an antenna lumen positioned within the outer jacket, wherein the fluid channel envelopes at least a portion of the length of the antenna lumen. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification