Microwave thermometry for microwave ablation systems

摘要

A microwave ablation system incorporates a microwave thermometer that couples to a microwave transmission network connecting a microwave generator to a microwave applicator to measure noise temperature. The noise temperature is processed to separate out components of the noise temperature including the noise temperature of the tissue being treated and the noise temperature of the microwave transmission network. The noise temperature may be measured by a radiometer while the microwave generator is generating the microwave signal or during a period when the microwave signal is turned off. The microwave ablation system may be configured as a modular system having one or more thermometry network modules that are connectable between a microwave applicator and a microwave generator. Alternatively, the modular system includes a microwave generator, a microwave applicator, and a microwave cable that incorporate a microwave thermometry network module.

主权项

1. A microwave thermometry network module comprising:
a housing; a first connector assembly coupled to a first end of the housing and a second connector assembly coupled to a second end of the housing; a microwave transmission line coupled between the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly; a measurement module coupled to the microwave transmission line, the measurement module including a coupling network, a radiometer, and a data bus connector disposed within the housing, the coupling network being configured to couple a portion of the signals propagating through the microwave transmission line to the radiometer, the radiometer being configured to process the portion of the signals to obtain a noise temperature signal, and the data bus connector being configured to transmit the noise temperature signal to at least one component of a microwave ablation system connected to the first connector assembly or second connector assembly.