SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, METHODS, AND PROCEDURES FOR THE NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT OF TISSUE USING MICROWAVE ENERGY
A system applies, in a non-invasive manner, energy to a targeted tissue region employing a controlled source of energy, a multiple use applicator, and a single use, applicator-tissue interface carried by the applicator. The system can generate and apply energy in a controlled fashion to form a predefined pattern of lesions that provide therapeutic benefit, e.g., to moderate or interrupt function of the sweat glands in the underarm (axilla).
1 . A method of driving the antennas in an array of microwave antennas, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning an apparatus including a plurality of waveguide antennas;
inputting control information into a Graphical User Interface, wherein a master controller responds to outputs from the Graphical User Interface by:
applying microwave energy by a first waveguide antenna;
applying microwave energy concurrently by the first waveguide antenna and a second waveguide antenna wherein the second waveguide antenna is a next adjacent antenna to the first waveguide antenna and wherein the microwave energy supplied to adjacent antennas is in-phase; and
applying microwave energy by the second antenna alone.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the additional steps of:
applying microwave energy concurrently by the second waveguide antenna and a third waveguide antenna wherein the third waveguide antenna is the next adjacent antenna to the second waveguide antenna; and
applying microwave energy by the third antenna alone.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising the additional steps of:
applying microwave energy concurrently by the third waveguide antenna and a fourth waveguide antenna wherein the fourth waveguide antenna is the next adjacent antenna to the third waveguide antenna and wherein the microwave power supplied to adjacent antennas is in-phase; and
applying microwave energy by the fourth antenna alone.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein there is a phase difference of zero degrees between radiated signals from adjacent waveguide antennas.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein, when the first and second waveguide antennas are driven concurrently, each radiates one-half of the supplied power.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the supplied microwave energy is divided in half and fed into each waveguide antenna.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein microwave energy is applied to each antenna or each pair of antennas for an equal time increment.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the microwave energy is radiated at a frequency of 5.8 GHz.
9 . An apparatus including an array of microwave antennas, the apparatus comprising:
a Graphical User Interface and a master controller, wherein the master controller responds to outputs from the Graphical User Interface to control:
a first waveguide antenna adapted to radiate microwave energy;
means for applying microwave energy concurrently by the first waveguide antenna and a second waveguide antenna wherein the second waveguide antenna is a next adjacent antenna to the first waveguide antenna and wherein the microwave energy supplied to adjacent antennas is in-phase; and
means for applying microwave energy by the second antenna alone.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:
means for applying microwave energy concurrently by the second waveguide antenna and a third waveguide antenna wherein the third waveguide antenna is a next adjacent antenna to the second waveguide antenna; and
means for applying microwave energy by the third antenna alone.
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
means for applying microwave energy concurrently by the third waveguide antenna and a fourth waveguide antenna wherein the fourth waveguide antenna is a next adjacent antenna to the third waveguide antenna and wherein the microwave energy supplied to adjacent antennas is in-phase; and
means for applying microwave energy by the fourth antenna alone.
12 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein there is a phase difference of zero degrees between radiated signals from adjacent waveguide antennas.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein, when two antennas are driven concurrently, each radiates one-half of the supplied power.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the microwave energy is divided in half and fed into each antenna.
15 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein microwave energy is applied to each antenna or each pair of antennas for an equal time increment.
16 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the microwave energy is radiated at a frequency of 5.8 GHz.