Microwave antenna probe having a deployable ground plane

摘要

A surgical ablation system employing an ablation probe having a deployable ground plane is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a source of ablation energy and a source of electrosurgical energy, and a switching assembly configured to select between ablation and electrosurgical modes. The probe includes a cannula having a shaft slidably disposed therein. The shaft includes a deployable ground plane electrode assembly and a needle electrode disposed at distal end of the shaft. As the shaft is extended distally from the cannula, the ground plane electrode unfolds, and the needle electrode is exposed. Electrosurgical energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to facilitate the insertion thereof into tissue. Ablation energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to achieve the desired surgical outcome. The shaft, ground plane electrode and needle electrode are retracted into the cannula, and withdrawn from the surgical site.

主权项

1. A surgical ablation probe, comprising:
a cannula having a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis; a shaft disposed within the cannula and being movable along the longitudinal axis and relative to the cannula between a stowed position and a deployed position; an inner conductor disposed within the shaft, the inner conductor including a distal portion; a needle electrode electrically coupled to the distal end of the inner conductor; and a deployable ground plane assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft and disposed within the cannula when the shaft is in the stowed position, wherein when the shaft is moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, the distal portion of the inner conductor and the deployable ground plane assembly extend past the distal end of the cannula thereby expanding deployable ground plane assembly radially from the distal end of the shaft.