Patent ID: 7197356

Claim:
Microwave detection apparatus comprising an intravascular catheter containing an inner conductor and an outer conductor, each conductor having proximal and distal ends, the distal ends of said conductors forming an antenna at a distal end of the catheter; means defining a gap in the inner conductor relatively near the antenna thereby forming spaced-apart opposing distal and proximal inner conductor segments, and an electrical circuit in said catheter and connected electrically between said conductor segments, said circuit including a temperature reference, and a Dicke-switch switchable in response to a switching signal between a first condition wherein the switch connects the proximal inner conductor segment to the temperature reference thereby delivering a temperature reference signal from the temperature reference to the proximal ends of the conductors and a second condition wherein the switch connects the proximal inner conductor segment to the distal inner conductor segment thereby delivering an antenna signal from the antenna to the proximal ends of the conductors, and a detector responsive to the antenna signal for providing an indication of microwave emissions picked up at the antenna.