Flexible microwave catheters for natural or artificial lumens
First Claim
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, a distal portion of the flexible coaxial cable defining a radiating portion; and
a mesh structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the mesh structure disposed about the radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable,wherein during use the mesh structure expands radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning a portion of the radiating portion at a radial center of the mesh structure.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
35 Citations
19 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, a distal portion of the flexible coaxial cable defining a radiating portion; and a mesh structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the mesh structure disposed about the radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, wherein during use the mesh structure expands radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter thereby positioning a portion of the radiating portion at a radial center of the mesh structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A flexible microwave catheter, comprising:
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an outer sheath; a flexible coaxial cable movable relative to the outer sheath, the 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, a distal portion of the flexible coaxial cable defining a radiating portion, wherein the radiating portion includes at least one feed gap; and a centering structure disposed adjacent to the radiating portion of the flexible coaxial cable, the centering structure transitionable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when distally advanced from the confines of the outer sheath of the flexible microwave catheter, wherein the centering structure includes a plurality of centering devices, at least one of the plurality of centering devices being disposed distal to the at least one feed gap along a longitudinal axis and at least one of the plurality of centering devices being disposed proximal to the at least one feed gap along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification