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 and defining a fluid channel around at least a portion of the microwave antenna, the cooling jacket further defining at least a first and a second region longitudinally adjacent to and separate from one another, the first region adapted to retain cooling fluid from at least one source that is in fluid contact with a first portion of the microwave antenna, and the second region adapted to retain cooling fluid from at least one source that is in fluid contact with a second portion of the microwave antenna; and
wherein the cooling jacket is further adapted to circulate a cooling fluid through the fluid channel such that at least a portion of the microwave antenna is in direct fluid contact with the cooling fluid and wherein the microwave antenna comprises a distal tip configured to be advanced percutaneously through tissue.
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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.
465 Citations
24 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 and defining a fluid channel around at least a portion of the microwave antenna, the cooling jacket further defining at least a first and a second region longitudinally adjacent to and separate from one another, the first region adapted to retain cooling fluid from at least one source that is in fluid contact with a first portion of the microwave antenna, and the second region adapted to retain cooling fluid from at least one source that is in fluid contact with a second portion of the microwave antenna; and wherein the cooling jacket is further adapted to circulate a cooling fluid through the fluid channel such that at least a portion of the microwave antenna is in direct fluid contact with the cooling fluid and wherein the microwave antenna comprises a distal tip configured to be advanced percutaneously through tissue. - 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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Specification