Tissue Ablation System With Internal And External Radiation Sources

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure a microwave ablation system is disclosed. The microwave ablation system includes an energy source adapted to generate microwave energy and a plurality of energy delivery devices having a first energy delivery device configured to be inserted into tissue and to generate a non-directional ablation volume and a second energy delivery device configured to be positioned relative to the tissue and to generate a directional ablation volume. The system also includes a power dividing device having an input adapted to connect to the energy source and a plurality of outputs configured to be coupled to the plurality of energy delivery devices. The power dividing device is configured to selectively divide energy provided from the energy source between the plurality of energy delivery devices.

1 . A microwave ablation system, comprising:
 an energy source adapted to generate microwave energy;   a plurality of energy delivery devices including:
 at least one first energy delivery device configured to be inserted into tissue and to generate a non-directional ablation volume; 
 at least one second energy delivery device configured to be positioned relative to 
   the tissue and to generate a directional ablation volume;   a power dividing device having an input adapted to connect to the energy source and a plurality of outputs configured to be coupled to respective ones of the plurality of energy delivery devices, the power dividing device configured to selectively divide energy provided from the energy source between the plurality of energy delivery devices.   
     
     
         2 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 1 , wherein energy is selectively divided equally between the plurality of energy devices. 
     
     
         3 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 1 , wherein energy is selectively divided unequally between the plurality of energy devices. 
     
     
         4 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a radiating section including a dipole antenna.   
     
     
         5 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a waveguide section including a radiating cone and a conical reflector.   
     
     
         6 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween;   a radiating section including a dipole antenna having a length; and   a dielectric shield disposed about a portion of the dipole antenna along the entire length thereof, the dielectric shield defining a window to expose the radiating section,   
     
     
         7 . A microwave ablation system, comprising:
 a plurality of energy sources adapted to generate microwave energy; and   a plurality of energy delivery devices each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of energy sources, the plurality of energy delivery devices including:   at least one first energy delivery device configured to be inserted into tissue and to generate a non-directional ablation volume;   at least one second energy delivery device configured to be positioned relative to the tissue and to generate a directional ablation volume.   
     
     
         8 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a radiating section including a dipole antenna.   
     
     
         9 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a waveguide section including a radiating cone and a conical reflector.   
     
     
         10 . A microwave ablation system according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween;   a radiating section including a dipole antenna having a length; and   a dielectric shield disposed about a portion of the dipole antenna along the entire length thereof, the dielectric shield defining a window to expose the radiating section.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing energy to a target tissue, comprising the steps of:
 coupling a plurality of energy delivery devices including at least one non-directional energy delivery device and at least one directional energy delivery device to a power dividing device having an input adapted to connect to an energy source;   inserting the at least one non-directional energy delivery device into a portion of the target tissue;   positioning the at least one directional energy device at a surface of the target tissue;   selectively dividing energy on a plurality of channels to the plurality of the energy delivery devices; and   applying energy from the plurality of energy delivery devices to the target tissue.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of selectively dividing the energy equally between the plurality of energy delivery devices. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of selectively dividing the energy unequally between the plurality of energy delivery devices. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one non-directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a radiating section including a dipole antenna.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   waveguide section including a radiating cone and a conical reflector.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween;   a radiating section including a dipole antenna having a length; and   a dielectric shield disposed about a portion of the dipole antenna along the entire length thereof, the dielectric shield defining a window to expose the radiating section.