Antenna Assemblies for Medical Applications

• US 20100094272A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brannan, Joseph D., Rossetto, Francesca, Paulus, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/045 specially adapted for treatment inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas

Abstract

A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes a helical antenna assembly that includes a helical antenna radiating section having a helical antenna element. The helical antenna assembly is capable of operating in at least one of a first mode of operation for directing energy to a first portion of the target volume of tissue and a second mode of operation for directing energy to a second portion of the target volume of tissue.

Claims

1. A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue, comprising:

a helical antenna assembly that includes a helical antenna radiating section, wherein the helical antenna radiating section includes a helical antenna element,

wherein the helical antenna assembly is capable of operating in at least one of a first mode of operation for directing energy to a first portion of the target volume of tissue and a second mode of operation for directing energy to a second portion of the target volume of tissue.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the device operates in the first mode of operation, the helical antenna element radiates energy in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the helical antenna element.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein, when the device operates in the second mode of operation, the helical antenna element radiates energy along the longitudinal axis of the helical antenna element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the helical antenna radiating section further includes a sleeve member located at a periphery of the helical antenna element coaxially with the helical antenna element.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the sleeve member is formed of an inflatable element.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the sleeve member is formed of a shape-memory alloy element.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the shape-memory alloy element is at least one of a copper-zinc-aluminum-nickel alloy, a copper-aluminum-nickel alloy, and a nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the helical antenna element is formed of a shape-memory alloy element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve member is formed of an activateable element to expand the circumference of the helical antenna radiating section.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the helical antenna radiating section further includes a shell located at a periphery of the sleeve member.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the shell is formed of a conductive material.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the shell is slideably moveable along the periphery of the sleeve member between a first position, in which an outer diametrical wall of the sleeve member is entirely covered by the shell, and a second position, in which a portion of the outer diametrical wall of the sleeve member is exposed.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein, when the device operates in the first mode of operation, the shell is positioned in the second position.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein, when the device operates in the second mode of operation, the shell is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the shell is longitudinally divided into a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes separated from one another by a dielectric material.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the helical antenna radiating section further includes a fluid that is circulated around the helical antenna radiating section.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the helical antenna radiating section further includes a number of channels for holding the fluid, the channels formed in a space between the outer shell and the periphery of the helical antenna element.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the helical antenna element is formed of a shape-memory alloy, and wherein a temperature of the fluid is varied to at least one of expand the circumference of the helical antenna radiating section and reduce the circumference of the helical antenna radiating section.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the helical antenna radiating section further includes a dielectric material located at the interior of the helical antenna element coaxially with the helical antenna element.

20. A method for directing energy to a target volume of tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning a helical antenna assembly for the delivery of energy to a target volume of tissue;

operating the helical antenna assembly in a first mode of operation to perform a first procedure on a first portion of the target volume of tissue, the first portion located substantially adjacent to a longitudinal portion of the helical antenna assembly; and

operating the helical antenna assembly in a second mode of operation to perform a second procedure on a second portion of the target volume of tissue, the second portion located distal to an end portion of the helical antenna assembly.