Locating features in the heart using radio frequency imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna, which is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves into a living body and to generate signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; and
processing circuitry, which is configured to process the signals so as to locate a feature in the body responsively to a difference in a dielectric constant of the feature relative to surrounding tissue, wherein a front surface of the antenna comprises a printed circuit board, and a planar element of an antenna element of the antenna comprises a conductive radiator printed on the printed circuit board.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Diagnostic apparatus (20) includes an antenna 32, which is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves into a living body and to generate signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body. Processing circuitry (36) is configured to process the signals so as to locate a feature in a blood vessel in the body.
145 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
-
an antenna, which is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves into a living body and to generate signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the signals so as to locate a feature in the body responsively to a difference in a dielectric constant of the feature relative to surrounding tissue, wherein a front surface of the antenna comprises a printed circuit board, and a planar element of an antenna element of the antenna comprises a conductive radiator printed on the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
-
an antenna, having a front surface configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves into the body and to generate signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; a dielectric gel, which is adapted to be spread between the outer surface of the body and the front surface of the antenna; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the signals so as to locate a feature in the body responsively to a difference in a dielectric constant of the feature relative to surrounding tissue, wherein the front surface of the antenna comprises a printed circuit board, and a planar element of an antenna element of the antenna comprises a conductive radiator printed on the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
-
an antenna, which has a front surface and is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from the front surface into a living body and to generate signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body, and which comprises an array of antenna elements, each antenna element comprising a planar element at the front surface of the antenna and a cavity behind the planar element; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the signals so as to locate a feature in the body responsively to a difference in a dielectric constant of the feature relative to surrounding tissue, wherein the front surface of the antenna comprises a printed circuit board, and wherein the planar element of each antenna element comprises a conductive radiator printed on the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification