US4462412A — Annular electromagnetic radiation applicator for …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

An electromagnetic radiation hyperthermia system for causing heating in generally cylindrical biological tissue specimens comprising: (a) a source of electromagnetic radiation energy having a preselectable radiation frequency, f; (b) an annular applicator apparatus having a specific characteristic impedance and including radiation input portions and means coupled thereto defining a central, axial opening sized to receive the tissue specimens for irradiation thereof; wherein the central opening defining means also defines a peripheral radiation emitting aperture around and along the opening, wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of radiating segments, said aperture having an axial height, h, and circumferential length, w, selected for causing impedance matching at said frequency, f, between the applicator apparatus characteristic impedance and a load impedance of the received specimens as presented to the emitting aperture, and wherein the aperture is configured to cause an enhanced heating region within the specimen; and (c) electromagnetic radiation transmission means for interconnecting said source with the radiation input portions of said applicator apparatus, wherein said transmission means couples energy to each of said radiating segments in a predetermined phase relationship to cause constructive interference in the enhanced heating region.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 188 words

An electromagnetic radiation hyperthermia system for causing heating in generally cylindrical biological tissue specimens comprising: (a) a source of electromagnetic radiation energy having a preselectable radiation frequency, f; (b) an annular applicator apparatus having a specific characteristic impedance and including radiation input portions and means coupled thereto defining a central, axial opening sized to receive the tissue specimens for irradiation thereof; wherein the central opening defining means also defines a peripheral radiation emitting aperture around and along the opening, wherein the aperture comprises a plurality of radiating segments, said aperture having an axial height, h, and circumferential length, w, selected for causing impedance matching at said frequency, f, between the applicator apparatus characteristic impedance and a load impedance of the received specimens as presented to the emitting aperture, and wherein the aperture is configured to cause an enhanced heating region within the specimen; and (c) electromagnetic radiation transmission means for interconnecting said source with the radiation input portions of said applicator apparatus, wherein said transmission means couples energy to each of said radiating segments in a predetermined phase relationship to cause constructive interference in the enhanced heating region.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The electromagnetic radiation hyperthermia system as claimed in claim 1, wherein energy generated by said source has a frequency which corresponds to a wavelength in the tissue specimen which is a preselected function of the specimen cross-sectional dimension.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The electromagnetic radiation hyperthermia system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy generated by said source has a frequency which corresponds to a wavelength in the tissue specimen which is greater than two thirds the specimen cross-sectional dimension.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

The electromagnetic radiation hyperthermia system of claim 1, wherein said applicator apparatus further includes a flexible, annular, fluid containing envelope disposed around the central opening in a space filling relationship between the applicator apparatus and biological tissue specimens received thereinto, and wherein the fluid has a dielectric constant close to a dielectric constant of the specimen.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for electromagnetic heating of a generally cylindrical, biological tissue specimen, comprising the steps of: (a) determining a typical cross-sectional dimension and lossy material properties of typical specimens to be irradiated; (b) selecting, from said specimen typical cross-sectional dimension and lossy material properties, an electromagnetic radiation heating frequency for causing specimen deep heating; (c) determining from said selected electromagnetic radiation frequency and specimen lossy material properties, a typical specimen dielectric constant; (d) encircling the specimen to be radiation heated with an annular applicator apparatus comprised of a plurality of applicator segments, a composite annular radiation emitting aperture of the apparatus being configured to enable, at said selected frequency, impedance matching between the applicator apparatus and a load impedance of the encircled specimen as seen through said composite emitting aperture; (e) connecting each of said segments individually to a common source of electromagnetic energy; (f) irradiating the encircled specimen at said selected radiation frequency; and (g) controlling the phase relationship between the radiation emitted by each of said segments to cause a region of constructive interference at a desired location within the specimen.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for electromagnetic heating of a generally cylindrical, biological tissue specimen, comprising the steps of: (a) determining a typical cross-sectional dimension and lossy material properties of typical specimens to be irradiated; (b) selecting, from said specimen typical cross-sectional dimension and lossy material properties, an electromagnetic radiation heating frequency for causing specimen deep heating; (c) determining from said selected electromagnetic radiation frequency and specimen lossy material properties, a typical specimen dielectric constant; (d) encircling the specimen to be radiation heated with an annular applicator apparatus comprised of a plurality of applicator segments, a composite annular radiation emitting aperture of the apparatus being configured to enable, at said selected frequency, impedance matching between the applicator apparatus and a load impedance of the encircled specimen as seen through said composite emitting aperture; (e) connecting each of said segments individually to a common source of electromagnetic energy; (f) irradiating the encircled specimen at said selected radiation frequency; and (g) controlling the phase relationship between the radiation emitted by each of said segments to cause a region of constructive interference at a desired location within the specimen.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 121 words

A system for heating tissue specimens or simulations thereof, comprising: a plurality of radiators coupled together to form an annular array, thereby defining an aperture, wherein said radiators are suitable for emitting transverse electromagnetic radiation radially toward a center of the aperture, and wherein the electric field component of the radiation emitted from each of said applicators is substantially parallel to an axis through the center of the aperture; source means for causing said radiators to emit transverse electromagnetic radiation having the same frequency; and means for causing the transverse electromagnetic radiation emitted by said radiators to have a predetermined phase relationship, whereby a location is predetermined for a region of constructive interference caused by the radiation emitted by said applicators.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 121 words

A system for heating tissue specimens or simulations thereof, comprising: a plurality of radiators coupled together to form an annular array, thereby defining an aperture, wherein said radiators are suitable for emitting transverse electromagnetic radiation radially toward a center of the aperture, and wherein the electric field component of the radiation emitted from each of said applicators is substantially parallel to an axis through the center of the aperture; source means for causing said radiators to emit transverse electromagnetic radiation having the same frequency; and means for causing the transverse electromagnetic radiation emitted by said radiators to have a predetermined phase relationship, whereby a location is predetermined for a region of constructive interference caused by the radiation emitted by said applicators.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system of claim 6, wherein said source means comprises: a power source having a selectable frequency output; a line splitter coupled to said power source for splitting the power source output into a plurality of available outputs having the same frequency and phase; a plurality of transmission lines coupled to the available outputs and to said radiators for coupling energy to said radiators.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 6, wherein energy generated by said source means has a frequency which corresponds to a wavelength in the tissue specimen which is a preselected function of the specimen cross-section.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 6, wherein energy generated by said source means has a frequency which corresponds to a wavelength in the tissue specimen which is greater than approximately two-thirds the specimen cross-section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system of claim 6, further comprising: a flexible annular envelope disposed in said aperture adjacent said radiators, wherein said envelope defines a central opening smaller than said aperture; and dielectric fluid contained within said flexible envelope which presents low resistivity to the passage of transverse electromagnetic radiation therethrough.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 10, further comprising means for causing said dielectric fluid to flow, thereby cooling surface portions of a specimen located in the central opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 50 words

A system according to claim 6 further including a flexible envelope disposed adjacent to said radiators and adapted to be between said radiators and said tissue specimens and dielectric fluid contained within said flexible envelope, said fluid having a dielectric constant close to a dielectric constant of said tissue specimens.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system according to claim 12 further including means for causing said dielectric fluid to flow through said envelope, thereby cooling surface portions of said specimens.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for deep heating of tissue specimens and simulations thereof, comprising the steps of: (a) irradiating the specimen from a surrounding, annular radiator having a plurality of radiating portions, wherein the electric field of the radiation is parallel to a central axis of the radiator and the same frequency is emitted by each portion; (b) controlling the frequency of the radiation; (c) controlling the power radiated by the individual radiating portions; (d) determining a desired location for a region of constructive interference between the radiation emitted by the radiating portions; and (e) controlling the phase of radiation emitted by the radiating portions to position the constructive interference region in the desired location.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for deep heating of tissue specimens and simulations thereof, comprising the steps of: (a) irradiating the specimen from a surrounding, annular radiator having a plurality of radiating portions, wherein the electric field of the radiation is parallel to a central axis of the radiator and the same frequency is emitted by each portion; (b) controlling the frequency of the radiation; (c) controlling the power radiated by the individual radiating portions; (d) determining a desired location for a region of constructive interference between the radiation emitted by the radiating portions; and (e) controlling the phase of radiation emitted by the radiating portions to position the constructive interference region in the desired location.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of: (f) changing the size and location of the constructive interference region by varying the controlled radiation properties of steps b, c and e.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-07-31	1988-01-30	1988-07-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-07-31	1992-01-30	1992-07-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-07-31	1996-01-30	1996-07-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Annular electromagnetic radiation applicator for biological tissue, and method

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag