Flexible microwave catheters for natural or artificial lumens
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible microwave catheter, comprising:
- a flexible coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric;
at least one feedpoint defining a microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable; and
a mesh structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and disposed about the microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable,wherein the mesh structure expands radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning the at least one feedpoint at the radial center of the mesh structure.
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Abstract
A flexible microwave catheter, including a flexible coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric, at least one feedpoint defining a microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, a mesh structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and disposed about the microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, wherein the mesh structure expands radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning the at least one feedpoint at the radial center of the mesh structure.
34 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A flexible microwave catheter, comprising:
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a flexible coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric; at least one feedpoint defining a microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable; and a mesh structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and disposed about the microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, wherein the mesh structure expands radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning the at least one feedpoint at the radial center of the mesh structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A flexible microwave catheter, comprising:
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a flexible coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an inner dielectric coaxially disposed about the inner conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed about the inner dielectric; at least one feed gap defining a microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable; and a centering structure disposed adjacent the microwave radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, the centering structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the centering structure extends radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning the at least one feed gap at the radial center of the centering structure and wherein the centering structure includes a stent-like expandable element that expands to a tubular shape when distally advanced from the confines of an outer sheath of the flexible microwave catheter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification