Cell necrosis apparatus with cooled microwave antenna
First Claim
1. A cell necrosis apparatus for delivering thermal microwave energy to a specific site in a body, comprising:
- a. a microwave generator, b. a coolant delivery system for delivering and circulating a quantity of cooled liquid coolant via inlet and return passageways, c. a probe comprising a probe handle and a probe body having a proximal portion coupled to said probe handle and a distal portion, d. a microwave antenna in said distal portion of said probe body for applying thermal microwave energy to said specific site in cell necrosis treatment, and e. a microwave transmission line extending from said microwave generator to and through said probe handle and to and through said probe body to said microwave antenna and electrically coupled thereto, f. said inlet and return coolant flow passageways extending from said coolant delivery system to and through said probe handle and thence extending coaxially about said antenna and along the length thereof within said probe body, where a first of said inlet and return coolant flow passageways is radially outward of and immediately adjacent said microwave transmission line and said antenna within said probe body and the other of said inlet flow passageways is radially outward of said first flow passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cell necrosis apparatus for delivering thermal microwave energy to a specific site in a body, including: a. a microwave generator, b. a coolant delivery system for delivering and circulating a quantity of cooled liquid coolant via inlet and return passageways, c. a probe including a probe handle and a probe body having a proximal portion coupled to the probe handle and a distal portion, d. a microwave antenna in the distal portion of the probe body for applying thermal microwave energy to a specific site in cell necrosis treatment, and e. a microwave transmission line extending from the microwave generator to and through the probe handle and to and through the probe body to the microwave antenna and electrically coupled thereto, where the inlet and return coolant flow passageways extend from the coolant delivery system to and through the probe handle and thence extend coaxially about the microwave transmission line and along the length thereof within the probe body, and extend coaxially about the antenna and long the length thereof within the probe body, and where a first of the inlet and return coolant flow passageways is radially outward of and immediately adjacent the microwave transmission line and the antenna within the probe body and the other of the inlet flow passageways is radially outward of the first flow passageway.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A cell necrosis apparatus for delivering thermal microwave energy to a specific site in a body, comprising:
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a. a microwave generator, b. a coolant delivery system for delivering and circulating a quantity of cooled liquid coolant via inlet and return passageways, c. a probe comprising a probe handle and a probe body having a proximal portion coupled to said probe handle and a distal portion, d. a microwave antenna in said distal portion of said probe body for applying thermal microwave energy to said specific site in cell necrosis treatment, and e. a microwave transmission line extending from said microwave generator to and through said probe handle and to and through said probe body to said microwave antenna and electrically coupled thereto, f. said inlet and return coolant flow passageways extending from said coolant delivery system to and through said probe handle and thence extending coaxially about said antenna and along the length thereof within said probe body, where a first of said inlet and return coolant flow passageways is radially outward of and immediately adjacent said microwave transmission line and said antenna within said probe body and the other of said inlet flow passageways is radially outward of said first flow passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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10. A method of cell necrosis treatment with a cell necrosis apparatus including a microwave antenna in a probe, comprising the steps:
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a. providing an annular coolant passageway adjacent and circumferentially surrounding said antenna and extending lengthwise and coaxial therewith, b. providing a source of coolant, inlet and return duct means for communicating said coolant between said source and said antenna, and means for circulating said coolant through said inlet and return duct means, and c. flowing said coolant in said annular coolant passageway while activating said microwave antenna, thereby producing a symmetrical radiation pattern about said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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12. A method of cooling the antenna of a microwave cell necrosis apparatus which includes a probe handle and a probe body having a proximal portion coupled to said probe handle, a microwave antenna in said distal portion of said probe body for applying thermal microwave energy in cell necrosis treatment, a microwave transmission line extending from a microwave generator to and through said probe handle and to and through said probe body to said distal portion thereof and electrically coupled to said microwave antenna, said method comprising the steps:
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a. providing a coolant source and coolant delivery apparatus, b. establishing inlet and return coolant flow passageways extending from said coolant delivery apparatus to and through said probe handle and thence extending coaxially about said microwave transmission line and along the length thereof within said probe body, and extending coaxially about said antenna and along the length thereof within said probe body, where a first of said inlet and return coolant flow passageways is radially outward of and immediately adjacent said microwave transmission line and antenna, and the other of said inlet flow passageways is radially outward of said first flow passageway, and c. circulating said coolant from said source of coolant via said flow passageways to and about said antenna along the length thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification