Flexible ablation instrument
US7033352B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/1861
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flexible microwave antenna assembly for a surgical ablation instrument capable of conforming to a tissue surface for ablation thereof. The ablation instrument includes a transmission line having a proximal portion suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source. The antenna assembly includes a flexible antenna coupled to the transmission line for radially generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. A flexible shield device is coupled to the antenna to substantially shield a surrounding area of the antenna from the electric field radially generated therefrom while permitting a majority of the field to be directed generally in a predetermined direction. A flexible insulator is disposed between the shield device and the antenna which defines a window portion enabling the transmission of the directed electric field in the predetermined direction. The antenna, the shield device and the insulator are formed for selective manipulative bending thereof, as a unit, to one of a plurality of contact positions to generally conform the window portion to the biological tissue surface to be ablated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.