System and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure using an ablation device with an integrated imaging device

1. An ablation device, comprising:

an antenna assembly having a radiating portion configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue of a patient, wherein the radiating portion includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending therethrough, the inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor and configured for selective deployment from the outer conductor into tissue; and

an imaging device coupled to the radiating portion and configured to generate imaging data corresponding to the tissue.

2. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound transducers, CAT scan devices, MRI devices, and PET scan devices.

3. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is movable relative to the radiating portion to generate three-dimensional image data of tissue surrounding the radiating portion.

4. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein a lumen is defined coaxially through at least a portion of the radiating portion, the imaging device disposed within the lumen.

5. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is configured to communicate the imaging data to a processing unit adapted to generate a display based on the imaging data.

6. An ablation device according to claim 5 , wherein the imaging device is configured to communicate the imaging data to the processing unit wirelessly.

7. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna assembly includes a straight probe configuration.

8. An ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna assembly includes a loop probe configuration configured to deploy in a curved orientation along a curvilinear path to define an ablation area.

9. A microwave ablation system, comprising:

an antenna assembly configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue of a patient, the antenna assembly having a radiating portion configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue of a patient, wherein the radiating portion includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending therethrough, the inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor and configured for selective deployment from the outer conductor into tissue;

an introducer having a distal end configured to penetrate tissue and having a lumen disposed coaxially therein at least partially along the length thereof and configured to receive the antenna assembly therein; and

an imaging device disposed on the introducer and configured to provide imaging data to a processing unit corresponding to tissue proximate the introducer.

10. A microwave ablation system according to claim 9 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound transducers, CAT scan devices, MRI devices, and PET scan devices.

11. A microwave ablation system according to claim 9 , wherein the introducer is placed relative to the tissue based on the imaging data.

12. A microwave ablation system according to claim 9 , wherein the introducer is rotatable 360° about a longitudinal axis thereof to facilitate radial imaging of tissue proximate the introducer.

13. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

providing an ablation device having an antenna assembly having a radiating portion configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue of a patient, wherein the radiating portion includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending therethrough, the inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor and configured for selective deployment from the outer conductor into tissue, and an imaging device coupled thereto;

positioning the ablation device proximate a desired tissue site of a patient;

imaging the desired tissue site to generate corresponding imaging data;

generating a display of the desired tissue site based on the imaging data; and

supplying energy from an energy source to the ablation device for application to the desired tissue site.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising re-positioning the ablation device proximate the desired tissue site based on the display.

15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

repeating the imaging step; and

repeating the re-positioning step based on the corresponding image data generated during the repeated imaging step.

16. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising terminating the supply of energy from the energy source to the ablation device during the imaging step.

17. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

positioning an introducer proximate the desired tissue site based on the display; and

placing the ablation device within the introducer.

18. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the imaging step further comprises the step of generating ultrasound sound waves to generate the corresponding imaging data.