Embodiments of the invention provide a hollow cable for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to an electrosurgical instrument that can fit within, e.g. slide relative to, the hollow cable. The hollow cable provides a bipolar electrical connection to the electrosurgical instrument that is maintained when the electrosurgical instrument is rotated relative to the hollow cable. The cable may comprise a hollow coaxial transmission line having a rotatable component mounted at its distal end. The rotatable component comprises a longitudinal passageway continuous with the hollow coaxial transmission line. The rotatable component is rotatable relative to the transmission line and comprises a first and second conductive portions that are respectively electrically connected to first and second terminals on the coaxial transmission line and which are configured to maintain an electrical connection with their respective terminal when rotated relative to the coaxial transmission line.

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint having a bearing waveguide. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the bearing waveguide of the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

Embodiments of the invention provide a hollow cable for conveying radiofrequency and/or microwave frequency energy to an electrosurgical instrument that can fit within, e.g. slide relative to, the hollow cable. The hollow cable provides a bipolar electrical connection to the electrosurgical instrument that is maintained when the electrosurgical instrument is rotated relative to the hollow cable. The cable may comprise a hollow coaxial transmission line having a rotatable component mounted at its distal end. The rotatable component comprises a longitudinal passageway continuous with the hollow coaxial transmission line. The rotatable component is rotatable relative to the transmission line and comprises a first and second conductive portions that are respectively electrically connected to first and second terminals on the coaxial transmission line and which are configured to maintain an electrical connection with their respective terminal when rotated relative to the coaxial transmission line.

The compact excitation module comprises two radiofrequency RF exciters and a rotary joint coupled together along a common longitudinal axis, the rotary joint comprising two distinct parts, respectively fixed and rotating around the common longitudinal axis, the two radiofrequency exciters being mounted one on each side of the rotary joint, respectively on the fixed and rotating parts, and axially coupled together by the rotary joint. The compact excitation module further comprises a rotary actuator provided with an axial transverse opening, the rotary joint being housed in the axial transverse opening of the rotary actuator.

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint having a bearing waveguide. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the bearing waveguide of the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

A tunable microwave system includes at least two elements, each element being chosen from a propagating guide, an evanescent guide, a resonator, and at least one coupling device arranged between the two elements and configured to couple the two elements to each other, the coupling device having a holder having an aperture and having at least one elongate element the shape of which is elongate in a polarization direction contained in a plane of the aperture, the elongate element being securely fastened to the perimeter of the aperture at at least one end, the coupling device being configured to be rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the aperture so as to modify a value of the polarization direction and so that the coupling between the two elements is dependent on the value of the polarization direction.

The invention relates to a rotary joint which comprises two components mounted for rotation relative to one another about an axis of rotation, and each comprising electrically conductive material and jointly enclosing at least one intermediate gap, which is in the form of a capacitive gap for the purpose of transmitting electrical signals and/or energy. The two components are mounted by means of at least one plain bearing such that they are axially fixed longitudinally relative to the axis of rotation and can be rotated relative to one another about the axis of rotation. The plain bearing has at least one plain bearing gap, at least some regions of which correspond to the capacitive gap. The invention is characterized in that the surface of at least one of the two components has, at least in the region of the capacitive gap, the electrically conductive material with an electrically insulating layer in the form of a metal oxide layer.

A vehicle having a communication system is disclosed. The system includes two electrical couplings, coupled by way of a rotary joint having a bearing waveguide. Each electrical coupling includes an interface waveguide configured to couple to external signals. Each electrical coupling also includes a waveguide section configured to propagate electromagnetic signals between the interface waveguide and the bearing waveguide of the rotary joint. Additionally, the rotary joint is configured to allow one electrical coupling to rotate with respect to the other electrical coupling. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is defined by a center of a portion of the waveguides. Yet further, the rotary joint allows electromagnetic energy to propagate between the waveguides of the electrical couplings.

A transition arrangement for interconnection of waveguide structures or waveguide flanges for forming a waveguide twist, wherein a waveguide twist section arrangement including a number of waveguide twist sections is arranged between the waveguide structures or waveguide flanges for rotating the polarization of waves or signals twisted or forming an angle with an adjacent waveguide flange and/or another adjacent waveguide twist section with respective waveguide openings. The or each twist section on at least one side includes a surface of a conductive material with a periodic or quasi-periodic structure formed by a number of protruding elements allowing waves to pass across a gap between a surface around a waveguide opening to another waveguide opening in a desired direction or waveguide paths, at least in an intended frequency band of operation, and to stop propagation of waves in the gap in other directions.

The invention relates to a rotary joint which comprises two components mounted for rotation relative to one another about an axis of rotation, and each comprising electrically conductive material and jointly enclosing at least one intermediate gap, which is in the form of a capacitive gap for the purpose of transmitting electrical signals and/or energy. The two components are mounted by means of at least one plain bearing such that they are axially fixed longitudinally relative to the axis of rotation and can be rotated relative to one another about the axis of rotation. The plain bearing has at least one plain bearing gap, at least some regions of which correspond to the capacitive gap. The invention is characterized in that the surface of at least one of the two components has, at least in the region of the capacitive gap, the electrically conductive material with an electrically insulating layer in the form of a metal oxide layer.