Radiation applicator for microwave medical treatment

Abstract

A radiation applicator with a dielectric body (2) surrounding the antenna. The dielectric body (2) is comprised of three sections (3, 4 and 5) with different dielectric constants to provide broad-band matching of the applicator to surrounding material. Washers (10) and (11) are mounted on the antenna to act as reflectors.

Claims

1. A method for treating tissue using microwave, comprising: inserting an applicator into a target site, the applicator comprising: an outer conductor; an inner conductor; a first body having a proximal end; wherein the first body is comprised of a first material having a first dielectric constant; wherein the proximal end of the first body is configured to extend coaxially within the outer conductor; a second body having a sharp end and a cavity; wherein the second body is comprised of a second material having a second dielectric constant; wherein the sharp end is configured to pierce tissue; a tuning reflector comprised of a third material having a third dielectric constant; wherein the tuning reflector is configured to be inside of the cavity of the second body; and wherein the first dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant, and the third dielectric constant are all different; applying microwave energy from the applicator to the target site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner conductor is coaxially positioned within the outer conductor for a selected distance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target site is comprised of human tissue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the tuning reflector comprises a washer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner conductor further comprises a distal end.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tuning reflector is connected to the distal end of the inner conductor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step: transferring energy at a frequency of up to 3 GHz.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the energy is transferred at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy is transferred at a power of 50 watts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer conductor is rigid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer conductor is flexible.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator further comprises an antenna.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step: avoiding local surface heating surrounding the target site.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step: imaging the applicator to guide the applicator into the target site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the imaging is ultrasound.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharp end of the second body is tapered.

17. A method for treating tissue using microwave, comprising: inserting an applicator into a target site, the applicator comprising an antenna; wherein the antenna comprises: an outer conductor; an inner conductor; a first body having a proximal end; wherein the first body is comprised of a first material having a first dielectric constant; wherein the proximal end of the first body is configured to extend coaxially within the outer conductor; a second body having a sharp end and a cavity; wherein the second body is comprised of a second material having a second dielectric constant; wherein the sharp end is configured to pierce tissue; a tuning reflector comprised of a third material having a third dielectric constant; wherein the tuning reflector is configured to be inside of the cavity of the second body; and wherein the first dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant, and the third dielectric constant are all different; applying microwave energy from the applicator to the target site; wherein the microwave energy is applied at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

18. A method for treating tissue using microwave, comprising: inserting an applicator into a target site, the applicator comprising an antenna; wherein the antenna comprises: an outer conductor; an inner conductor; a first body having a proximal end; wherein the first body is comprised of a first material having a first dielectric constant; wherein the proximal end of the first body is configured to extend coaxially within the outer conductor; a second body having a sharp end; wherein the second body is comprised of a second material having a second dielectric constant; wherein the sharp end is configured to pierce tissue; a tuning reflector comprised of a third material having a third dielectric constant; and wherein the first dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant, and the third dielectric constant are all different; applying microwave energy from the applicator to the target site; wherein the microwave energy is applied at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second body comprises a cavity.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the tuning reflector is configured to be inside of the cavity of the second body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to toe accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an axially section through the tip of the radiation applicator according to the invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a graph of reflected radiation at the input of the radiation applicator of FIG. 1 against fee input frequency.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(4) The radiation applicator illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a coaxial conductor 1, which may be rigid or flexible, and which is connected to a microwave power supply art one end (not shown) and terminates at its other end in a radiation emitting tip 2. The tip 2 consists of a cylindrical dielectric body composed of three sections 3,4,5, coaxially aligned and abutting one another at interfaces between them so as to form a continuous body. One outer section 3 is connected to the end of the coaxial conductor 1. A portion 6 of the section 3 at one end is of reduced diameter and is inserted a short distance into the outer conductor 7 of the coaxial conductor to make a secure connection. The central conductor 8 of the coaxial conductor extends through an axial hole 9 in the body 2, through all three sections but terminating within the outer third section 5. During assembly, a metal washer 10 is soldered to the section 3 at the interface with section 4, and is soldered to the central conductor 8; and a second metal washer 11 is soldered to the middle section 4 at the interface with the third section 5, and is soldered to the central conductor 8. The washers 10 and 11 therefore serve to secure the two sections 3 and 4 of the dielectric body to the end of the coaxial conductor 1 via the central conductor 8. The third section 5 is then bonded to the second washer 11 and central conductor 8.

(5) The third section 5 of the applicator has a pointed shape to assist insertion into material to be treated, and this will be made as sharp as is necessary for the application, for example, the treatment of liver cancer.

(6) In operation, that portion of the central conductor 8 that extends from the outer conductor 7, acts as an antenna to emit radiation. The wavelength of the radiation within the dielectric body is determined by the frequency of tire power supply and the dielectric constant of the various components. Thus the wavelength of the radiation is different in each of the three sections 3, 4 and 5. By appropriate selection of the dielectric constant of these three sections relative to one another and to the surrounding material in which the applicator is to be used, it is possible to tune the applicator to give optimum performance.

(7) Another factor which affects the tuning of the applicator is the metal gaskets 10 and 11 which act as radiation reflectors. Both gaskets serve to reflect radiation back to the input, and with appropriate matching at the input ensures a maximum transfer of energy to the tip 2. The gasket 11 has a larger surface area than the gasket 10 so as to reduce the amount of energy transmitted to the third section 5.

(8) Other factors which affect tuning are the length of the central conductor 8 extending beyond the outer conductor 7, the diameter and axial length of the individual dielectric sections 3, 4 and 5, and die thickness and diameter of the washers 10,11.

(9) It will be appreciated that the choice of dielectric materials and dimensions of the various components allows great flexibility in designing a radiation applicator to suit a wide range of applications and performance requirements, bearing in mind that the dielectric constant of the surrounding material when the device is in use, will effect performance.

(10) For example, a radiation applicator designed for medical use has the dimensions shown in FIG. 1 and the following further specifications: the washer 10 has an outer diameter of 1.9 mm; die washer 11 has an outer diameter of 2.7 mm; the central conductor 8 protrudes beyond the outer conductor by 8.5 mm; and the dielectric sections 3,4,5 are composed, respectively, of alumina with dielectric constant 10, titanium oxide with dielectric constant 100 and a CaTiNdAl dielectric wife dielectric constant 47. The applicator of this example is capable of operating well at frequencies in the vicinity of 3 GHz. In particular, the applicator of this example is especially suited to operation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a power of 50 W.

(11) The performance of the applicator of the above example is illustrated in FIG. 2. This shows the power reflected from the tip of the applicator against the operating frequency, and shows that there is a dip in the reflected power at about 2.45 GHz, which corresponds to a maximum transfer of energy to the tip at this frequency. The width of the dip in FIG. 2, which is about 0.6 GHz, gives the applicator a broadband characteristic which allows it to better accommodate use with surrounding materials with a range of dielectric constant values.

(12) In alternative embodiments of the invention, other dielectric materials may be used, including air, and instead of three dielectric sections there may be just two or may be four or more. Grooves may be formed hi the outer surface of each or any of the dielectric section circumferentially. Also, the dielectric sections may be tapered longitudinally.

(13) Also, an imaging process could be used to guide the applicator to the desired location. The applicator may be of small enough diameter to be inserted through a guidewire, such as used in ultrasound imaging techniques, so as to ensure accurate treatment in use.