The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 02, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1996
Kenneth L Carr, Harvard, MA (US);
Microwave Medical Systems, Inc., Acton, MA (US);
Abstract
Microwave tumor detection apparatus includes a probe having a working end arranged to contact tissue. Positioned in the probe is a plurality of rectangular waveguides arranged in columns and rows such that each waveguide has an aperture at the working end of the probe that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the aperture of the waveguide in any adjacent column and row of the array. The waveguides constitute antennas tuned to receive microwave radiation emitted by the tissue opposite the working end of the probe. The waveguides are coupled electrically and mechanically to dedicated radiometers in the probe for detecting the temperatures of tissue opposite the waveguides. These radiometers have thermally conductive casings which are mounted to a common heat sink and are insulated so that all of the radiometers have a uniform thermal distribution. Also, a thin thermally insulating interface pad may be located between the working end of the probe and the tissue contacted by the probe to prevent such contact from causing changes in the surface temperature of the tissue.