Power-stage antenna integrated system with junction member

• US 8,216,227 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Podhajsky, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US12/436,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 606 33- 34, 606/41, 606/32, 600/9, 607/101, 607/102, 607/154, 607/156
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a microwave antenna assembly for applying microwave energy. The assembly includes a proximal portion having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a DC power and a DC neutral each extending therethrough the antenna has a distal radiating section and a proximal radiating section and a junction member. The junction member includes a longitudinal thickness and is disposed between the proximal radiating section and the distal radiating section. The junction member further includes a microwave signal amplifier configured to receive a microwave signal at a first power level from the inner and outer conductor and a DC power signal from the DC power and DC neutral. The microwave signal amplifier amplifies the microwave signal from a first power level to a second power level greater than the first power level.

Claims

1. A microwave antenna assembly for applying microwave energy therapy, comprising:

a proximal portion having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a DC power and a DC neutral each extending therethrough, the inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor and the DC power and DC neutral positioned radially outward from the outer conductor;

an antenna including a distal radiating section and a proximal radiating section;

a junction member having a longitudinal thickness and having at least a portion that is disposed between the proximal radiating section and the distal radiating section, the junction member further including a microwave signal amplifier configured to receive a microwave signal at a first power level from the inner and outer conductor and a DC power signal from the DC power and DC neutral; and

the microwave signal amplifier further configured to amplify the microwave signal from a first power level to at least one second power level greater than the first power level.

2. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion has a length corresponding to a distance of one-quarter wavelength of radiation transmittable through the antenna assembly.

3. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion is adapted to radiate along the length upon transmission of the radiation.

4. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the junction member forms the microwave signal amplifier.

5. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the junction member is configured to receive the inner conductor proximal to the radial center of the junction member, the junction member stepped on the radial outward surface such that the outer conductor contacts the junction member on a first step and the DC power and the DC neutral contacts the junction member at a different radial thickness, the junction member further configured to receive the distal radiating section and the proximal radiating section and to supply the microwave signal thereto.

6. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal portion has a tapered distal end.

7. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal radiating section has an actual length defined along an outer surface of the distal radiating section such that a cumulative distance of the actual length and the thickness of the junction member corresponds to a distance of one-quarter wavelength of radiation transmittable through the antenna assembly.

8. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal portion comprises a metal.

9. The microwave antenna assembly of claim 1 further comprising a dielectric coating disposed at least partially over the antenna assembly.

10. A microwave antenna assembly for applying microwave energy therapy comprising:

a proximal radiating section having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a DC power and a DC neutral each extending therethrough, the inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor and the DC power and DC neutral positioned radially outward from the outer conductor;

a distal radiating section disposed distally of the proximal radiating section;

a junction member having a longitudinal thickness and having at least a portion of which is disposed between the proximal radiating section and the distal radiating sections, the junction member further including a microwave signal amplifier configured to receive a microwave signal at a first power level from the inner conductor and the outer conductor and a DC power signal from the DC power and DC neutral; and

the microwave signal amplifier further configured to amplify the microwave signal from a first power level to at least one second power level, the at least one second power level being greater than the first power level,

wherein the junction member further provides the microwave signal at the second power level to the distal radiating section and the proximal radiating section.