System and method for monitoring ablation size
View Patent ↗A system for monitoring ablation size is provided and includes a power source including a microprocessor for executing at least one control algorithm. A microwave antenna is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue to form an ablation zone. A radiation detection device is operably disposed on the microwave antenna. The radiation detection device is configured to generate a voltage corresponding to a radius of the ablation zone, wherein the radiation detection device is in operative communication with at least one module associated with the power source. The at least one module triggers a signal when a predetermined threshold voltage is measured corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone.
1. A method for monitoring temperature of tissue undergoing ablation, the method comprising:
transmitting microwave energy from a power source to a microwave antenna to form a tissue ablation zone;
monitoring the proximal propagation of tissue temperature along the microwave antenna as the tissue ablation zone forms;
communicating a detection signal when a predetermined dc voltage is reached within the microwave antenna; and
adjusting the amount of microwave energy from the power source to the microwave antenna.
2. A method according to claim 1 , including providing the microwave antenna with a radiation detection device that is operably disposed on the microwave antenna.
3. A method according to claim 2 , further including positioning at least a portion of the radiation detection device at a distal end of a handle associated with the microwave antenna and extending the at least a portion of the radiation detection device within an internal portion of a shaft associated with the microwave antenna.
4. A method according to claim 2 , including utilizing the radiation detection device to generate a voltage corresponding to a radius of the ablation zone, wherein the radiation detection device is in operative communication with at least one module associated with the power source, wherein the at least one module triggers the detection signal when the predetermined dc threshold voltage is measured corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone.
5. A method according to claim 2 , further including providing an ablation zone control module that is in operative communication with a memory associated with the power source, the memory including at least one data look-up table including rectified dc voltages associated with the microwave antenna, the rectified dc voltages corresponding to a radius of the ablation zone.
6. A method according to claim 5 , including utilizing the ablation control module to instruct the power source to adjust the amount of microwave energy being delivered to the microwave antenna when a signal from radiation detection device is received at the ablation zone control module to create a uniform ablation zone of suitable proportion with minimal damage to adjacent tissue.
7. A method according to claim 5 , including activating the ablation control zone module and radiation detection device when the power source is activated.
8. A method according to claim 5 , including activating the ablation control zone module and radiation detection device when the power source is deactivated.
9. A method according to claim 5 , including providing the radiation detection device with a resonator in electrical communication with a resonator coaxial feed extending distally along a length of a shaft of the microwave antenna, a distal end of the resonator coaxial feed positioned adjacent a radiating section of the microwave antenna and configured to detect radiation during the delivery of microwave energy from the power source to tissue and induce an electromagnetic field within the resonator such that a rectified dc voltage is generated at the resonator and communicated to the ablation zone control module.
10. A method according to claim 9 , including substantially enclosing the resonator to resonate an electromagnetic field within the resonator.
11. A method according to claim 9 , including providing the resonator with a generally cylindrical configuration.
12. A method according to claim 9 , including forming the resonator from a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, stainless steel, chrome and brass.
13. A method according to claim 9 , including providing a dielectric coating between the shaft and the resonator coaxial feed to prevent electrical shorting between the resonator coaxial feed and the shaft.
14. A method according to claim 9 , including forming the resonator coaxial feed from a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, stainless steel, chrome and brass.
15. A method according to claim 9 , including providing the resonator with a generally circumferential gap that divides the resonator into two conductive portions that are in electrical communication with one another and electrically isolated from one another, the two conductive portions in electrical communication with the ablation zone control module via a pair of conductive leads.
16. A method according to claim 15 , including providing at least one diode that extends across the generally circumferential gap and operably couples to each of the two conductive portions of the resonator, the at least one diode configured to produce a rectified dc voltage that corresponds to the electromagnetic field within the resonator.
17. A method according to claim 1 , further including producing an ablation zone that is one of spherical and ellipsoidal.
18. A method according to claim 1 , further including providing at least one fluid pump that is 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.