Patent ID: 8068921

Claim:
A microwave antenna assembly comprising: an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen defined therebetween; a conductive member at least partially disposed within the inner lumen of the elongate shaft, the conductive member being selectively deployable relative to a distal end of the elongate shaft from a first condition wherein a distal end of the conductive member at least partially abuts the distal end of the elongate shaft to a second condition wherein the distal end of the conductive member is spaced relative to the distal end of the elongate shaft; a dielectric material operably secured within the inner lumen of the elongate shaft and disposed between the elongate shaft and the conductive member; and a cooling sheath operably coupled to the elongate shaft and configured to secure a transition member thereto, the cooling sheath substantially surrounding an outer surface of the transition member, the transition member acting as a dielectric electrically insulating the distal end of the conductive member from the cooling sheath and the elongate shaft, wherein a portion of the conductive member is distal to the distal end of the elongate shaft and is adapted to penetrate tissue.