Patent ID: 6230060
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
In a urethral balloon catheter incorporating an antenna suitable for use in therapeutically heating a diseased prostate of a male patient with energy radiated from said antenna, wherein said urethral catheter comprises (1) a tubular catheter first structure longitudinally extending from a proximate end thereof to a distal end thereof that includes an attached inflatable balloon situated near the distal end thereof together with input and output channels for use in circulating a balloon-inflating fluid, said tubular catheter first structure having a given outer diameter sufficiently small to permit it to be inserted inside of the urethra of said male patient with said balloon in its deflated state, and (2) a second structure inserted within said tubular catheter first structure that comprises said antenna situated toward said distal end of said tubular catheter first structure and a longitudinal coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor having a first given diameter, an outer conductor having a second given diameter and a dielectric having a given dielectric constant situated between said inner and outer conductors, said coaxial cable extending from the proximate end of said tubular catheter first structure to said antenna for use in energizing said antenna; the improvement wherein:said tubular catheter first structure and said second structure of said urethral balloon catheter are constructed to comprise a single integrated structural unit that includes interface structure comprising a longitudinal electrically conductive shield physically attached to both said outer conductor and an inner surface of said tubular catheter first structure;whereby both said antenna and said longitudinal cable may be wider, without any increase in said given outer diameter, than would be the case if said urethral balloon catheter were a non-integrated structure in which said tubular catheter first structure and said second structure constitute separate units that are detached from one another and, therefore, would require clearance between the second structure and the tubular catheter first structure sufficient for a non-permanent insertion of the second structure within the tubular catheter first structure.