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EP1092452A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dipole microwave antenna for asymmetrical thermal therapy

Assignee: Urologix Inc
•
Filing: 1993-03-01
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-03-01
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Abstract

Abstract An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft (32) contains a microwave antenna (74), which is surrounded by means (64A-64B, 66A-66B) within the shaft (32) for asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna (74) - a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shaft (32). This asymmetrical absorption effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and protects healthy tissue posterior to the urethra. Means (64A-64B, 66A-66B) also absorbs thermal energy conducted by the periurethral tissue, which protects the urethra while the antenna (74) is energized (Fig. 5).

Inventors

  • 👤 Eric N. Rudie
  • 👤 Bruce H. Neilson
  • 👤 James V. Kauphusman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 20:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/045; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00547; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 65 words
A device for transurethral thermal therapy comprising a urethral probe (32), an antenna (74) placed in the urethral probe (32), and cooling means (64A-64B, 66A-66B) around the antenna 74, characterized in that the antenna (74) is located in urethral probe (32) so as to be closer to a first side (68) of urethral probe (32) than to a second side (72) of urethral probe (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 46 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the cooling means (64A-64B, 66A-66B) comprises anterior energy absorbing means (64A-64B) and posterior energy absorbing means (66A-66B), the posterior energy absorbing means (66A-66B) having a greater dimension in a radial direction than that of the anterior energy absorbing means (64A-64B).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the anterior energy absorbing means (64A-64B) comprises at least one humen (64A or 64B) circumjacent the first side (68) of urethral probe (32), and wherein the posterior energy absorbing means (66A-66B) comprises at least one lumen (66A or 66B) circumjacent the second side (72) of urethral probe (32).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
The device of claim 3 further comprising means (36) for supplying the at least one lumen (64A or 64B) circumjacent the first side (68) of the urethral probe (32) and the at least one lumen (66A or 66B) circumjacent the second side (72) of the urethral probe (32) with a liquid capable of absorbing energy by the antenna (74).
Claim 5
Independent Claim 92 words
The device of claims 3, wherein the at least one lumen circumjacent the second side of the probe (66A-66B) has a cross-sectional width which is greater than that of the at least one lumen circumjacent the first side of the probe (64A-64B) so that when the cooling means (64A-64B, 66A-66B) are provided with fluid, a greater amount of energy emitted by the antenna is absorbed on the second side (72) of the probe (32) than on the first side (68) of the probe (32) and thereby generating a cylindrically asymmetrical heating pattern.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 16 words
The device of anyone of the preceding claims wherein the antenna (74) is a microwave antenna.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 17 words
The device of anyone of the preceding claims wherein the antenna (74) is a helical dipole antenna.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 17 words
The device of anyone of the preceding claims wherein the antenna (74) is a gamma matched antenna.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4813429A Cited
US4967765A Cited
EP0370890A1 Cited

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