Covidien LP

Vivant Medical, Inc.

Mks Instruments, Inc.

Zolo Technologies, Inc.

Ian S Smith

Kenlyn S Bonn

Joseph D Brannan

Darion R Peterson

Bernard Patrick Masterson

Eric Christopher Huelson

A method of performing an ablation procedure includes the initial step of supplying a fluid to a cooling chamber defined within an antenna assembly. The method also includes the steps of decreasing the temperature of the fluid to form a solid material and inserting the antenna assembly into tissue. The method also includes the step of supplying energy to the antenna assembly to treat tissue. Residual heat from the antenna assembly transitions the solid material back to the fluid. The method also includes the step of circulating the fluid within the antenna assembly to dissipate heat emanating from the antenna assembly.

System and method for performing an ablation procedure

A method of manufacturing a surgical antenna includes bonding a trocar screw and a conductor together and overmolding the trocar screw with a puck material to form a puck assembly. A trocar is coupled to the trocar screw, which forms a distal radiating section, and a proximal antenna member is coupled to the puck assembly, which forms a proximal radiating section.

Method of manufacturing surgical antennas

A microwave surgical ablation probe having an arrangement of coolant channels in fluid communication with a cooling chamber disposed within the distal end of the probe is disclosed. A hypotube having one or more longitudinal ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof is coaxially disposed around a coaxial feedline. The longitudinal ribs of the hypotube engage an outer sheath of the feedline to define a fluid inflow channel to deliver coolant to the cooling chamber, and a fluid outflow channel to receive fluid from the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber may be formed from porous ceramic or porous metallic material that provides structural support to the probe while permitting coolant to circulate therethrough. The probe includes dielectric and choke members that are adapted to control the microwave radiation pattern (e.g., ablation shape), and which may provide improved coupling of the probe to tissue.

Perfused core dielectrically loaded dipole microwave antenna probe

Microwave antenna assemblies incorporating a resilient insulating coupler are described herein. The microwave antenna includes a radiating portion connected by a coaxial feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Distal and proximal radiating portions of the antenna, which correspond to inner and outer conductors provided by the coaxial feedline, are separated by the resilient insulating coupler. The described coupler includes a proximal threaded portion, and an overmolded insulating portion formed from an elastomeric material. The inner conductor of the coaxial feedline is joined to the threaded portion of the coupler, and is placed under tension to draw together the distal radiating portion, the coupler, and the proximal radiating portion into a single rigid assembly. In use, the resilient coupler provides increased strength and reliability by absorbing mechanical stresses typically encountered during microwave ablation procedures.

Cooled dielectrically buffered microwave dipole antenna

An optical mode noise averaging device including a multimode optical fiber and means for averaging a modal noise induced signal level variation of light propagating within the multimode optical fiber. The device may average modal noise induced signal level variations by cyclically varying an index of refraction of the multimode optical fiber over a select period of time, scrambling a light distribution within the multimode optical fiber, or both. The index of refraction of the multimode optical fiber may be cyclically varied by cyclically varying the temperature of the multimode optical fiber. Alternatively, the index for refraction may be varied or the light distribution within the multimode optical fiber may be scrambled by cyclically manipulating the multimode optical fiber.

Optical mode noise averaging device

A motor controlled poppet valve is provided of the type including a valve body, a valve seat mounted at one end of the valve body, and a valve element that comprises a threaded shaft having one end engaged to a nut driven by a stepper motor, and a free end reciprocably moveable into a valve opening or a valve closing position, wherein the free end of the shaft assumes a substantially nonvarying distance from the drive nut or the stepper motor when moved into the valve closing position, and a resilient linkage assembly including a constant force spring that interconnects the free end of the shaft with the valve element. The resilient linkage forcibly depresses the valve element into the valve seat when the shaft is moved into the valve closing position with a force that remains substantially constant regardless of variations in the distance between the free end of the shaft and the valve closing position due to thermal expansion and contraction of the valve body. Additionally, the extreme control of the extent to which the valve element is moved toward the valve seat afforded by the combination of the stepper motor and threaded shaft allows the poppet valve to perform not only a gas isolation function, but throttling and soft start functions as well, thereby obviating the need for separate throttling or soft start valves in a vacuum system.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Ian S Smith