System for monitoring ablation size

1. A system for monitoring ablation size, comprising:

a power source having an electrical circuit that provides microwave energy;

a microwave antenna including a radiating section configured to deliver the microwave energy from the power source to tissue to form an ablation zone; and

a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes operably disposed along a length of the microwave antenna, the electrodes in electrical communication with one another, each of the electrodes having a threshold impedance associated therewith corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone,

wherein the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes includes a series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes along the shaft and a distal electrode operably disposed at a distal tip of the shaft, and

wherein a voltage potential is present between at least one of the series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode as a result of delivery of microwave energy to the microwave antenna such that current flows between the at least one proximal electrode and the distal electrode and returns to the power source via a closed loop electrical circuit that is provided in the microwave antenna and separate from the electrical circuit that provides microwave energy to the radiating section of the microwave antenna.

2. A system according to claim 1 , further including an ablation zone control module in operative communication with the microwave antenna and the power source and configured to instruct the power source to adjust the amount of microwave energy being delivered to the microwave antenna when a predetermined threshold impedance is generated by one of the electrodes to create a uniform ablation zone of suitable proportion with minimal damage to adjacent tissue.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the ablation zone control module and the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes are activated when the power source is activated.

4. A system according to claim 2 , wherein at least one control algorithm operably associated with the ablation zone control module utilizes at least one data look-up table that includes information pertaining to predetermined threshold impedance values associated with the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes and corresponding radii.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the information pertaining to predetermined threshold impedance values associated with the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes and corresponding radii is pre-programmed into the power source and accessible by one of the ablation zone control module and a microprocessor.

6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the information pertaining to predetermined threshold impedance values associated with the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes and corresponding radii is stored on the microwave antenna and downloaded into a memory of the power source and accessible by one of the ablation zone control module and a microprocessor.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes is operably positioned on a portion of a shaft associated with the microwave antenna.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein a wire connects to each of the series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein a dielectric sheathing is operably positioned along a length of the microwave antenna and encases the series of proximally spaced-apart electrodes in a manner that allows current to flow between the series of proximally spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode.

10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the microwave antenna is configured to produce an ablation zone that is one of spherical and ellipsoidal.

11. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one fluid pump configured to supply a cooling fluid to the microwave antenna for facilitating cooling of one of the microwave antenna and tissue adjacent the ablation zone.

12. A microwave antenna adapted to connect to a power source configured for performing an ablation procedure, comprising:

a radiating section configured to deliver microwave energy from a power source to tissue to form an ablation zone, the power source having an electrical circuit that provides the microwave energy to the radiating section; and

a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes operably disposed along a length of the microwave antenna, the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes disposed in electrical communication with one another, each of the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes having a threshold impedance associated therewith corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone,

wherein the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes includes a series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes along the shaft and a distal electrode operably disposed at a distal tip of the shaft, and

wherein a voltage potential is present between at least one of the series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode as a result of delivery of microwave energy to the microwave antenna such that current flows between the at least one proximal electrode and the distal electrode and returns to the power source via a closed loop electrical circuit that is provided in the microwave antenna and separate from the electrical circuit that provides the microwave energy to the radiating section of the microwave antenna.

13. A microwave antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes are operably positioned on a portion of a shaft associated with the microwave antenna.

14. A microwave antenna according to claim 12 , wherein a wire connects each of the series of proximal spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode.

15. A system according to claim 14 , wherein a dielectric sheathing is operably positioned along a length of the microwave antenna and encases the series of proximally spaced-apart electrodes in a manner that allows current to flow between the series of proximally spaced-apart electrodes and the distal electrode.