Segmented catheter for tissue ablation
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising an outer sheath, wherein said outer sheath comprises a plurality of segments and non-conductive elements, wherein said plurality of segments are successively aligned in a longitudinal manner, wherein each segment is resonant at a drive frequency, wherein each segment has a length of (2n−
- 1)λ
/4 where n is a non-zero positive integer, wherein one of said non-conductive elements is positioned between each of said successively aligned segments, wherein said non-conductive elements permit efficient passage of microwave energy at said drive frequency along said successively aligned segments while inhibiting the passage of power at other frequencies along said successively aligned segments so as to minimize production of thermal energy along said catheter.
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Abstract
A near-field antenna structure is described that is an effective delivery tool for radiofrequency (RF) and microwave power to achieve coagulative necrosis in metastatic tumors while reducing or eliminating thermal conduction along the structure. This tool is a probe small enough to be used safely virtually anywhere in the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and be guided by computerized tomography (CT) or ultrasonic imaging.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising an outer sheath, wherein said outer sheath comprises a plurality of segments and non-conductive elements, wherein said plurality of segments are successively aligned in a longitudinal manner, wherein each segment is resonant at a drive frequency, wherein each segment has a length of (2n−
- 1)λ
/4 where n is a non-zero positive integer, wherein one of said non-conductive elements is positioned between each of said successively aligned segments, wherein said non-conductive elements permit efficient passage of microwave energy at said drive frequency along said successively aligned segments while inhibiting the passage of power at other frequencies along said successively aligned segments so as to minimize production of thermal energy along said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- 1)λ
Specification