Patent · US Expired

Gamma matched, helical dipole microwave antenna with tubular-shaped capacitor

US5370677A · kind A · utility

132Cited by
18References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 17, 1993
Grant dateDec 6, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/00523
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A catheter shaft carries a coaxial cable, the terminal end of which contains a dipole antenna with opposing first and second helical elements. The first and second helical elements originate from a common connection to an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The first and second helical elements are formed by winding flat wire around an outer insulator of the coaxial cable near a terminal end of the coaxial cable. A tubular-shaped capacitor is connected between an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and a point on the second helical element where the resistive component of the antenna's impedance matches the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable. This match minimizes reflective losses of the antenna, thereby maximizing power transfer to the antenna. The antenna has an effective electrical length which is equal to one half the wavelength of the radiation emitted, independent of the physical length of the antenna. The antenna also has a radiation length which can be adjusted by varying the number and pitch of turns of the flat wire and the location of the impedance matching point.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.