Method of manufacturing surgical antennas

1. A method of manufacturing a surgical antenna, comprising the steps of:

providing a trocar screw adapted to receive a conductor at the proximal end thereof;

electrically bonding a conductor to the trocar screw;

positioning the trocar screw into a mold configured to overmold a puck thereupon;

injecting puck material into the mold;

allowing the puck material to set to form a puck assembly;

releasing the puck assembly from the mold;

providing a trocar adapted at the proximal end thereof to couple to the trocar screw;

electrically coupling the trocar to the trocar screw to form a distal radiating section;

providing a proximal antenna member adapted at the distal end thereof to couple to the puck assembly; and

coupling the proximal antenna member to the puck assembly such that the conductor passes longitudinally through the proximal antenna member and exits at a proximal end thereof.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

tensioning the conductor to draw together the distal radiating section, puck assembly, and proximal antenna member under compression to form an antenna assembly; and

fixing the conductor in relation to the proximal antenna member to maintain the stiffness of the antenna assembly.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bonding of the conductor to the trocar screw is achieved by at least one of welding, soldering, and crimping.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mold is further configured to form at least one of an inflow groove and an outflow groove in the puck assembly.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 , further comprising the step of inserting an inflow tube into an inflow slot.

6. The method in accordance with claim 4 , further comprising the step of inserting an outflow tube into an outflow slot.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying an outer jacket to the antenna assembly.