Integrated heating/sensing catheter apparatus for minimally invasive applications
First Claim
1. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by said tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter includinga center conductor having a leading end comprising an antenna and a trailing end for connection to a signal transmission path;
- a quarter-wave stub between the leading and trailing ends of the center conductor and tuned to said second frequency, anda filter circuit inside the catheter and comprising a signal receiving path, said filter circuit having an input electrically coupled to a selected location on the center conductor between the antenna and the stub, and an output, said stub and filter circuit together constituting a diplexer for blocking first frequency signals from the signal receiving path and second frequency signals from said signal transmitting path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical catheter apparatus for minimally invasive applications includes a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from that tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature. The probe has an inner conductor extending along the probe to a conductive probe tip and a concentric tubular outer conductor having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a closed trailing end shorted to the inner conductor. A dielectric sheath surrounds the outer conductor which sheath has a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor. A diplexer integrated into the probe includes a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor and a coupling capacitor connected between a point on the inner conductor and the input of the filter circuit such that the conductors between that point and the shorted trailing end of the outer conductor constitute a quarter wave stub at the second frequency.
81 Citations
43 Claims
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1. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by said tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter including
a center conductor having a leading end comprising an antenna and a trailing end for connection to a signal transmission path; -
a quarter-wave stub between the leading and trailing ends of the center conductor and tuned to said second frequency, and a filter circuit inside the catheter and comprising a signal receiving path, said filter circuit having an input electrically coupled to a selected location on the center conductor between the antenna and the stub, and an output, said stub and filter circuit together constituting a diplexer for blocking first frequency signals from the signal receiving path and second frequency signals from said signal transmitting path. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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2. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by said tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter including
a center conductor having a leading end comprising an antenna and a trailing end for connection to a signal transmission path; -
a quarter-wave stub between the leading and trailing ends of the center conductor and tuned to said second frequency, said stub including a segment of the center conductor extending rearwardly from said location and a tubular outer conductor concentric to said segment and having a leading end located adjacent to said location and a trailing end; a conductive member at the trailing end of the outer conductor that short circuits the inner and outer conductors, and a dielectric sleeve interposed between said segment and the outer conductor along substantially the entire lengths thereof, the length and dielectric constant of said sleeve being selected so as to tune the quarter wave stub to said second frequency, and a filter circuit inside the catheter and comprising a signal receiving path, said filter circuit having an input electrically coupled to a selected location on the center conductor between the antenna and the stub, and an output, said stub and filter circuit together constituting a diplexer for blocking first frequency signals from the signal receiving path and second frequency signals from said signal transmitting path. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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13. Medical catheter apparatus comprising a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from said tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature, said probe including
an inner conductor extending along said probe to a conductive probe tip; -
a tubular outer conductor spaced radially out from the inner conductor and having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a trailing end shorted to the inner conductor; a dielectric sheath surrounding the outer conductor, said sheath having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor, and a diplexer, said diplexer including a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor, said filter circuit having an input coupled to a selected location on the inner conductor, said conductors between said point and the trailing end of the outer conductor constituting a quarter wave stub at said second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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14. Medical catheter apparatus comprising a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from said tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature, said probe including
an inner conductor extending along said probe to a conductive probe tip; -
a tubular outer conductor spaced radially out from the inner conductor and having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a trailing end shorted to the inner conductor; an electrically conductive insert within the outer conductor and extending between the leading and trailing ends thereof, said insert having an axial passage for receiving the inner conductor; an electrical insulator between the inner conductor and the insert; a dielectric sheath surrounding the outer conductor, said sheath having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor, and a diplexer, said diplexer including a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor, said filter circuit having an input coupled to a selected location on the inner conductor, said conductors between said point and the trailing end of the outer conductor constituting a quarter wave stub at said second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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25. Medical catheter apparatus comprising a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from said tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature, said probe including
an inner conductor extending along said probe to a conductive probe tip; -
a tubular outer conductor spaced radially out from the inner conductor and having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a trailing end shorted to the inner conductor, said probe tip being rounded and having a maximum diameter that is substantially the same as that of the outer conductor; a dielectric spacer member filling the space between the catheter tip and the leading end of the outer conductor; a dielectric sheath surrounding the outer conductor, said sheath having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor; a diplexer, said diplexer including a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor, said filter circuit having an input coupled to a selected location on the inner conductor, said conductors between said point and the trailing end of the outer conductor constituting a quarter wave stub at said second frequency, and a small wire extending along the spacer member and electrically connecting the probe tip to the leading end of the outer conductor.
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26. A medical catheter apparatus comprising
an inner conductor having a front end and a rear end; -
a tubular outer conductor spaced radially out from the inner conductor and having a trailing end and a leading end spaced rearwardly from said front end of the inner conductor to form an antenna; a conductive insert received in said outer conductor and extending between the leading and trailing ends thereof, said insert being in electrical contact with the outer conductor and having an axial passage receiving the inner conductor and a flat surface spaced from the outer conductor; an insulator electrically insulating the insert from the inner conductor therein; a receiving circuit chip mounted to said surface, said receiving circuit chip having an input and an output, and a circuit path coupling the inner conductor to said input. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by the tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter including
an antenna at a distal end of the catheter; -
a signal transmitting path to the antenna; a signal receiving path from the antenna, and a diplexer connected between said paths inside the catheter, said diplexer including a quarter wave stub in the form of a shorted transmission line in the signal transmitting path that passes first frequency signals and blocks second frequency signals, and a filter circuit in the signal receiving path that passes second frequency signals and blocks first frequency signals.
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36. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by the tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter including
an antenna at a distal end of the catheter; -
a signal transmitting path to the antenna; a signal receiving path from the antenna, and a diplexer connected between said paths inside the catheter, said diplexer including a quarter wave stub in the form of a shorted transmission line in the signal transmitting path that passes first frequency signals and blocks second frequency signals, said transmission line including a center conductor, and a coaxial conductive insert spaced radially out from the conductor, the conductor and insert each having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the conductor extending beyond the distal end of the insert to form a part of the antenna and the proximal end of the insert being shorted to the conductor, and a filter circuit in the signal receiving path that passes second frequency signals and blocks first frequency signals. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. Medical catheter apparatus for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting electromagnetic waves of a second frequency emitted by the tissue indicative of tissue temperature, said apparatus comprising a catheter including
an electrically conductive insert having proximal and distal ends and an axial passage extending between said ends; -
an inner conductor received in said passage, said inner conductor being shorted to the proximal end of the insert and having a distal end extending beyond the distal end of the insert; an outer conductor surrounding the insert and in electrical contact therewith, said inner and outer conductors forming an antenna at a distal end of the catheter; a signal transmitting path to the antenna; a signal receiving path from the antenna, and a quarter wave stub at said second frequency in the signal transmitting path, said stub including a coaxial transmission line composed of said inner conductor and insert. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification