Patent ID: 8574227
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical antenna for insertion into tissue, the antenna comprising: an elongated body with an inner conductor along its length, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor and separated therefrom by a dielectric material, a connector for connecting the inner conductor and the outer conductor to a microwave power source to receive microwave frequency energy therefrom, and an insertion tip at a distal end of the elongated body for penetrating the tissue, the insertion tip having an impedance at the microwave frequency that is different from an impedance at the proximal end of the antenna, wherein the insertion tip comprises an independent piece of dielectric material configured to both act as a first impedance transformer to match the dielectric material of the elongated body with the tissue at the microwave frequency and to penetrate the tissue, and wherein the elongated body includes a second impedance transformer arranged to introduce a capacitive or inductive reactance into the antenna.