Microwave ablation system with dielectric temperature probe

Abstract

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor provides a tissue temperature and at least one tissue dielectric property to the controller. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue temperature and the at least one tissue dielectric property to determine tissue status, and to activate and deactivate the generator in accordance therewith.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating an ablation system, comprising:
 activating a source of ablation energy;   sensing tissue temperature;   deactivating the source of ablation energy upon expiration of a predetermined time period;   sensing tissue permittivity and a tissue loss factor;   determining a tissue status from at least one of the sensed tissue temperature, the tissue permittivity, or the tissue loss factor; and   reactivating the source of ablation energy based on the determined tissue status.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising resetting a cycle timer associated with the predetermined time period. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , transmitting an activation signal received from an actuator to the source of ablation energy. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined time period is from about 10 milliseconds to about 10 seconds. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined time period is about one second. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the tissue status is determined based on the tissue temperature, the tissue permittivity, and the tissue loss factor, which are sensed substantially concurrently.