MICROWAVE ANTENNA HAVING A REACTIVELY-LOADED LOOP CONFIGURATION
A microwave ablation system is provided. The microwave ablation system includes a power source. A microwave antenna is adapted to connect to the power source via a coaxial cable feed including an inner conductor defining a portion of a radiating section of the microwave antenna, an outer conductor and dielectric shielding. The inner conductor loops back around and toward the outer conductor of the coaxial cable feed such that a distal end of the inner conductor is operably disposed adjacent the dielectric shielding. The inner conductor includes one or more reactive components disposed thereon forming a reactively-loaded loop configuration configured to maximize delivery of microwave energy from the power source to tissue such that a desired effect to tissue is achieved.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A microwave ablation system, comprising:
a power source; and
a microwave antenna configured to couple to the power source, the microwave antenna including:
an inner conductor;
an outer conductor;
a dielectric disposed between at least a portion of the inner conductor and the outer conductor; and
a reactively-loaded loop including at least two reactive components.
22 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein the microwave antenna includes a radiating section and a shield operably coupled to the radiating section.
23 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 22 , wherein the shield is formed of a conductive material.
24 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 22 , wherein the shield is disposed about at least a portion of the reactively-loaded loop.
25 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 22 , wherein the inner conductor defines at least a portion of the radiating section.
26 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein the inner conductor extends distally of the outer conductor and defines one of the at least two reactive components.
27 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , further comprising a dielectric shielding, wherein the inner conductor defines a loop disposed adjacent the dielectric shielding.
28 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein at least one of the at least two reactive components is selected from the group consisting of an inductor, a capacitor, and combinations thereof.
29 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein the reactively-loaded loop includes a combination of at least one inductor and at least one capacitor.
30 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 29 , wherein the at least one inductor and the at least one capacitor are coupled to the inner conductor in series with respect to each other.
31 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein the inner conductor includes a spiral configuration capacitively coupling the inner conductor to the dielectric.
32 . The microwave ablation system according to claim 21 , wherein the microwave antenna includes a radiating section and a dielectric material surrounding the radiating section and the at least two reactive components, the dielectric material providing an impedance match between the microwave antenna and tissue.
33 . A microwave antenna comprising:
an inner conductor;
an outer conductor;
a dielectric disposed between at least a portion of the inner conductor and the outer conductor; and
a reactively-loaded loop including at least two reactive components.
34 . The microwave antenna according to claim 33 , wherein the microwave antenna includes a radiating section and a shield operably coupled to the radiating section.
35 . The microwave antenna according to claim 34 , wherein the shield is formed of a conductive material.
36 . The microwave antenna according to claim 34 , wherein the shield is disposed about at least a portion of the reactively-loaded loop.
37 . The microwave antenna according to claim 33 , wherein the inner conductor extends distally of the outer conductor and defines one of the at least two reactive components.
38 . The microwave antenna according to claim 33 , further comprising a dielectric shielding, wherein the inner conductor defines a loop disposed adjacent the dielectric shielding.
39 . The microwave antenna according to claim 33 , wherein at least one of the at least two reactive components is selected from the group consisting of an inductor, a capacitor, and combinations thereof.
40 . The microwave antenna according to claim 33 , wherein the reactively-loaded loop includes a combination of at least one inductor and at least one capacitor.