Systems and method for decontaminating a tube

Abstract

A system for decontaminating a tube includes a signal generator configured to generate a signal. The system also includes an antenna configured to receive the signal from the signal generator. The antenna is configured to be inserted at least partially into a tube that is positioned at least partially within a body. In response to receiving the signal from the signal generator, the antenna emits electromagnetic waves that at least partially decontaminate the tube. The electromagnetic waves have a frequency from about 10 GHz to about 100 GHz. The electromagnetic waves cause a temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase less than about 3° C. over a time duration that is up to 40 seconds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for decontaminating a tube, comprising:
 a signal generator configured to generate a signal; and   an antenna configured to receive the signal from the signal generator, wherein the antenna is configured to be inserted at least partially into a tube that is positioned at least partially within a body, wherein, in response to receiving the signal from the signal generator, the antenna emits electromagnetic waves that at least partially decontaminate the tube, wherein the electromagnetic waves have a frequency from about 10 GHz to about 100 GHz, and wherein the electromagnetic waves cause a temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase less than about 3° C. over a time duration that is up to 40 seconds.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a power of the electromagnetic waves is from about 0.1 W to about 5 W. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power is less than or equal to 2 W, and wherein the electromagnetic waves cause the temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase less than about 2° C. over the time duration. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power is less than or equal to 1 W, and wherein the electromagnetic waves cause the temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase less than about 1° C. over the time duration. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises fluid and tissue, and wherein a penetration depth of the electromagnetic waves into the body is less than about 1 mm when the frequency is from about 26.5 GHz to about 40 GHz. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein greater than about 75% of the energy from the electromagnetic waves is absorbed by the body between the tube and a distance that is 1 mm from the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is impedance-matched to the tube, the body, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is separate from the tube and is configured to be inserted into and subsequently removed from the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is integral with the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the body and configured to measure the temperature of the body proximate to the tube; and   a controller configured to receive the measured temperature from the sensor and to vary the frequency, the duration, a power, or a combination thereof in response to the measured temperature.   
     
     
         11 . A method for decontaminating a tube, comprising:
 generating a signal that causes an antenna to emit electromagnetic waves, wherein the antenna is positioned at least partially in a tube, wherein the tube is positioned at least partially in a body, wherein the electromagnetic waves at least partially decontaminate the tube, wherein the electromagnetic waves have a frequency from about 10 GHz to about 100 GHz, and wherein the electromagnetic waves cause a temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase from about 0.1° C. to about 3° C. over a time duration that is up to 40 seconds.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 inserting the antenna at least partially into the tube; and   moving the antenna axially within the tube as the electromagnetic waves are emitted.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antenna is embedded at least partially within the tube such that the antenna is not moveable with respect to the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 measuring the temperature of the body proximate to the tube with a sensor that is coupled to or positioned at least partially in the body; and   transmitting the temperature to a controller.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controller modifies the signal when the temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold, thereby modifying the frequency, the time duration, or a power of the electromagnetic waves. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controller modifies the signal when the temperature increases by more than a predetermined threshold, thereby modifying the frequency, the time duration, or a power of the electromagnetic waves. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein modifying the frequency, the time duration, or the power of the electromagnetic waves causes the temperature to decrease. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antenna comprises a first portion and a second portion that are configured to emit the electromagnetic waves independently from one another. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a power of the electromagnetic waves is from about 0.1 W to about 5 W, and wherein the electromagnetic waves cause the temperature of the body proximate to the tube to increase less than about 2° C. over the time duration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises fluid and tissue, and wherein a penetration depth of the electromagnetic waves into the body is less than about 1 mm when the frequency is from about 26.5 GHz to about 40 GHz.