Patent ID: 8308722

Claim:
A hollow coaxial cable device adapted for transmission of radio frequency (RF) energy for the ablation of biological tissue, comprising: an elongate cable adapted for placement adjacent to or within biological tissues and vessels, the elongate cable having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising inner and outer conductors extending substantially the entire length of the elongate cable from the proximal end to a distal end portion of the elongate cable; the inner conductor comprising a first elongated electrically conductive tubular member having a hollow, axially extending lumen and an outer surface; the outer conductor comprising a second elongated electrically conductive tubular member disposed in a substantially coaxial relationship over at least a portion of the inner conductor and having an inner surface spaced from the outer surface of the inner conductor to define an annular space between the inner and outer conductors; a dielectric medium disposed in the annular space and extending between the inner surface of the outer conductor and the outer surface of the inner conductor; a radio frequency (RF) antenna connected to distal end portions of the inner and outer conductors and projecting forwardly from a distal end of the outer conductor, the RF antenna being configured to deliver radio frequency energy to body tissue disposed at the distal end portion of the elongate cable; a pre-shaped deflection member located within the distal end portion of the elongate cable and movable for changing a configuration of the distal end portion of the elongate cable between straight and curved configurations, the pre-shaped deflection member extending through the hollow, axially extending lumen to the distal end portion of the elongate cable; and a temperature sensor located at the distal end portion of the elongate cable within the hollow, axially extending lumen, the hollow, axially extending lumen having a central longitudinal axis, the deflection member extending along the central longitudinal axis, and the temperature sensor being offset from the central axis and having signal wires extending from the temperature sensor alongside the deflection member and up to the proximal end of the elongate cable.