ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY DELIVERY DEVICES INCLUDING AN ENERGY APPLICATOR ARRAY AND ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME
An electrosurgical system for directing energy to tissue includes a generator assembly operable to supply power having a selected phase, amplitude and frequency, and an applicator array assembly. The applicator array assembly includes a shell assembly, a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, and a power divider unit electrically coupled to the generator assembly. The power divider unit is operable to divide power into the applicator array assembly.
1 - 4 . (canceled)
5 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
an electrosurgical generator assembly configured to supply electromagnetic energy; and
an applicator array assembly including:
a shell assembly;
a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, each of the plurality of energy applicators including:
an inner conductor;
an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor; and
a dielectric material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor;
a balun structure disposed about the outer conductor and electrically coupled to the shell assembly; and
a power divider unit electrically coupled to the electrosurgical generator assembly, the power divider unit configured to divide the electromagnetic energy among each of the plurality of energy applicators.
6 . The electrosurgical system according to claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes an electrically-conductive cylinder coaxially disposed around a distal portion of the balun structure.
7 . The electrosurgical system according to claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes a dielectric structure longitudinally extending from a distal end of the balun structure to a distal end of the electrically-conductive cylinder.
8 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit includes a plurality of phase shifters.
9 . The electrosurgical system of claim 8 , wherein the power divider unit further includes a plurality of phase monitor units electrically coupled between the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of energy applicators.
10 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit includes a phase-balanced microwave power splitter.
11 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit is configured to divide the electromagnetic energy to provide a substantially equal power split to the plurality of energy applicators while maintaining a phase balance of about 45 degrees.
12 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the shell assembly includes an outer portion formed from an electrically-conductive material.
13 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the electrosurgical generator assembly includes:
a generator module configured to generate the electromagnetic energy;
a processor operably coupled to the generator module; and
a user interface operably coupled to the processor, the user interface being configured to display an image corresponding to an ablation pattern associated with the applicator array assembly.
14 . The electrosurgical system of claim 13 , wherein the electrosurgical generator assembly further includes:
a database in operable communication with the processor and adapted to store parameters associated with the applicator array assembly.
15 . The electrosurgical system of claim 5 , wherein the balun structure is a quarter wavelength conductive sleeve.
16 . An applicator array assembly including:
a shell assembly;
a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, each of the plurality of energy applicators including:
an inner conductor;
an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor; and
a dielectric material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor;
a balun structure disposed about the outer conductor and electrically coupled to the shell assembly; and
a power divider unit configured to electrically couple to an electrosurgical generator, the power divider unit configured to divide electromagnetic energy among each of the plurality of energy applicators.
17 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes an electrically-conductive cylinder coaxially disposed around a distal portion of the balun structure.
18 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes a dielectric structure longitudinally extending from a distal end of the balun structure to a distal end of the electrically-conductive cylinder.
19 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit includes a plurality of phase shifters.
20 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the power divider unit further includes a plurality of phase monitor units electrically coupled between the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of energy applicators.
21 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit includes a phase-balanced microwave power splitter.
22 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit is configured to divide the electromagnetic energy to provide a substantially equal power split to the plurality of energy applicators while maintaining a phase balance of about 45 degrees.
23 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the shell assembly includes an outer portion formed from an electrically-conductive material.
24 . The applicator array assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the balun structure is a quarter wavelength conductive sleeve.