Leaky-wave antennas for medical applications

1. A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue, comprising:

a dual antenna assembly including:

a proximal portion including a first antenna assembly extending therethrough, wherein the first antenna assembly includes a leaky-wave antenna assembly including an inner conductor and an outer conductor disposed around the inner conductor, wherein the outer conductor includes a plurality of apertures defined in at least a distal portion thereof, wherein each aperture has an aperture size associated therewith, wherein the aperture size of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures such that the energy radiated along a longitudinal axis of at least the distal portion of the outer conductor is substantially uniform; and

a distal portion attached to the inner conductor, the distal portion including a second antenna assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each aperture has an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the outer conductor.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the angle of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures such that the energy radiated along the longitudinal axis of the outer conductor is substantially uniform.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second antenna assembly is a helical antenna assembly.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the helical antenna assembly is capable of operating in a first mode of operation for directing energy to a first portion of the target volume of tissue and a second mode of operation for directing energy to a second portion of the target volume of tissue.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the helical antenna assembly includes a helical antenna radiating section.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein when the device operates in the first mode of operation, the helical antenna radiating section radiates energy in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the helical antenna element.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein when the device operates in the second mode of operation, the helical antenna radiating section radiates energy along the longitudinal axis of the helical antenna element.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second antenna assembly is a dipole antenna assembly.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second antenna assembly is a monopole antenna assembly.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second antenna assembly is a microstrip antenna assembly.

12. A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue, comprising:

a proximal portion including a first antenna assembly extending therethrough, wherein the first antenna assembly includes a leaky-wave antenna assembly including an inner conductor and an outer conductor disposed around the inner conductor, wherein the outer conductor includes a plurality of apertures defined in at least a distal portion thereof, wherein each aperture has an aperture length associated therewith, wherein the aperture length of each aperture is progressively increased distally relative to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion such that the energy radiated along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion of the outer conductor is substantially uniform; and

a distal portion attached to the inner conductor, the distal portion including a second antenna assembly.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein each aperture has an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the angle of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures such that the energy radiated along the longitudinal axis of the outer conductor is substantially uniform.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the second antenna assembly is a helical antenna assembly.

16. The device of claim 12 , further comprising a sleeve member located at a periphery of the outer conductor coaxially with the outer conductor, wherein the sleeve member is slideably moveable along a length between a first position, in which a first portion of the distal portion of the outer conductor is exposed, and a second position, in which a second portion larger than the first portion of the distal portion of the outer conductor is exposed.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the sleeve member includes a plurality of apertures disposed therein.

18. A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue, comprising:

a dual antenna assembly including a proximal portion and a distal portion;

the proximal portion of the dual antenna assembly including a first antenna assembly extending therethrough, wherein the first antenna assembly includes a leaky-wave antenna assembly including an inner conductor and an outer conductor disposed around the inner conductor, wherein the outer conductor includes a plurality of apertures defined in at least a distal portion thereof and configured for radiating energy substantially uniformly along a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion of the dual antenna assembly, wherein each aperture has an aperture size associated therewith, wherein the aperture size of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures such that the energy radiated along a longitudinal axis of at least the distal portion of the outer conductor is substantially uniform; and

the distal portion of the dual antenna assembly including a second antenna assembly.

19. The device of claim 18 , further comprising a sleeve member located at a periphery of the outer conductor coaxially with the outer conductor, wherein the sleeve member is slideably moveable along a length between a first position, in which a first portion of the distal portion of the outer conductor is exposed, and a second position, in which a second portion larger than the first portion of the distal portion of the outer conductor is exposed.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the sleeve member includes a plurality of apertures disposed therein.