Flexible microwave catheters for natural or artificial lumens

• US 9,358,066 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brannan, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/110,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00172 Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00226 extending from a surface, i.e. Blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1846 : Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1884 : with non-uniform emissions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1892 : Details of electrical isolations of the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 : for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 : Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment

Abstract

A microwave delivery device, including a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric insulator coaxially disposed about, the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about, the inner dielectric, and a radiating portion operably coupled to a distal end. The radiating portion includes a radiating portion inner conductor operable coupled to and extending from a distal end of the coaxial feedline inner conductor, a shielding outer conductor helically wrapped about the radiating portion inner conductor and operably coupled to the coaxial feedline outer conductor; and a shielding dielectric positioned between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor wherein the width of the shielding outer conductor varies according to the longitudinal position thereof along the coaxial feedline inner conductor, and a cap operably coupled to a distal end of the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor to provide an electrical connection therebetween.

Claims

1. A microwave energy delivery device, comprising:

a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric insulator coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric;

a radiating portion operably coupled to a distal end of the coaxial feedline, the radiating portion including;

a radiating portion inner conductor operably coupled to and extending from a distal end of the coaxial feedline inner conductor;

a shielding outer conductor helically wrapped about the radiating portion inner conductor and operably coupled to the coaxial feedline outer conductor;

a shielding dielectric positioned between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor;

a feed gap defined by a void formed between adjacent wraps of the shielding outer conductor; and

a transitional dielectric disposed in the feed gap,

wherein the width of the shielding outer conductor varies according to the longitudinal position thereof along the coaxial feedline inner conductor; and

a cap operably coupled to a distal end of the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor and providing an electrical connection therebetween.

2. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor disposed at a distal end thereof.

3. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a radiation pattern generated by the radiating portion is related to at least one of the variable width of the shielding outer conductor, or a variable helix angle of the shielding outer conductor.

4. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, change linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

5. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the feed gap ratio varies between 0% at the proximal end of the radiating portion and about 50% at the distal end of the radiating portion.

6. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, changes non-linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

7. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the feed gap ratio varies between 0% at the proximal end of the radiating portion and about 50% at the distal end of the radiating portion.

8. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the feed gap ratio varies between 0% on the proximal end of the radiating portion and about 100% on the distal end of the radiating portion.

9. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the microwave energy delivery device generates a helical-shaped electromagnetic field that extends along the longitudinal length of the radiating portion.

10. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the helical-shaped electromagnetic field is related to a void formed between the individual wraps of the shielding outer conductor.

11. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shielding outer conductor includes at least two helix turns.

12. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap provides an electrical connection between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor.

13. A microwave energy delivery device, comprising:

a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric insulator coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric;

a radiating portion operably coupled to a distal end of the coaxial feedline, the radiating portion including;

a radiating portion inner conductor operably coupled to and extending from a distal end of the coaxial feedline inner conductor;

a shielding outer conductor helically wrapped about the radiating portion inner conductor and operably coupled to the coaxial feedline outer conductor;

a shielding dielectric positioned between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor;

a feed gap defined by a void formed between adjacent wraps of the shielding outer conductor; and

a transitional dielectric disposed in the feed gap,

wherein the helix angle of the shielding outer conductor varies according to the longitudinal position thereof along the coaxial feedline inner conductor; and

a cap operably coupled to a distal end of at least one of the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor.

14. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 13, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, change linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

15. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the feed gap ratio varies between 0% at the proximal end of the radiating portion and about 50% at the distal end of the radiating portion.

16. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 13, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, changes non-linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

17. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the microwave energy delivery device generates a helical-shaped electromagnetic field that extends along the longitudinal length of the radiating portion.

18. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the helical-shaped electromagnetic field is related to a void formed between the individual wraps of the shielding outer conductor.

19. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the cap provides an electrical connection between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor.

20. A microwave energy delivery device, comprising:

a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric insulator coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric;

a radiating portion operably coupled to a distal end of the coaxial feedline, the radiating portion including;

a radiating portion inner conductor operably coupled to and extending from a distal end of the coaxial feedline inner conductor;

a shielding outer conductor helically wrapped about the radiating portion inner conductor and operably coupled to the coaxial feedline outer conductor;

a shielding dielectric positioned between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor;

a feed gap defined by a void formed between adjacent wraps of the shielding outer conductor; and

a transitional dielectric disposed in the feed gap,

wherein the pitch of the helix angle of the shielding outer conductor varies according to the longitudinal position thereof along the coaxial feedline inner conductor; and

a cap operably coupled to a distal end of at least one of the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor.

21. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 20, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, change linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

22. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the feed gap ratio varies between 0% at the proximal end of the radiating portion and about 50% at the distal end of the radiating portion.

23. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 20, wherein a feed gap ratio, defined by the ratio of a feed gap circumference and a shielding outer conductor circumference along a cross section, changes non-linearly from a proximal end of the shielding outer conductor to a distal end of the shielding outer conductor.

24. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 20, wherein the microwave energy delivery device generates a helical-shaped electromagnetic field that extends along the longitudinal length of the radiating portion.

25. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 24, wherein the helical-shaped electromagnetic field is related to a void formed between the individual wraps of the shielding outer conductor.

26. The microwave energy delivery device in accordance with claim 20, wherein the cap provides an electrical connection between the radiating portion inner conductor and the shielding outer conductor.