Microwave-shielded tissue sensor probe

Abstract

A tissue sensor probe and corresponding electromagnetic surgical ablation system are disclosed. The system includes an ablation probe coupled to a generator, a controller coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor probe includes an electrically-conductive enclosure configured to shield a temperature sensor from electromagnetic radiation produced by the ablation probe. At least a portion of the electrically-conductive enclosure is made of a high thermal-conductivity material. A material of high thermal-conductivity is disposed in the electrically-conductive enclosure in thermal association with the thermally-conductive material of the electrically-conductive enclosure. The temperature sensor is disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity so as to electrically isolate the temperature sensor from the enclosure. The temperature sensor provides tissue temperature to the controller, which monitors tissue temperature to determine tissue status and activates and deactivates the generator based on the tissue status.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electromagnetic surgical ablation system, comprising:
 a generator that selectively provides surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe;   an ablation probe operatively coupled to the generator and configured to receive ablation energy from the generator and to deliver the ablation energy to tissue;   a controller operatively coupled to the generator; and   a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller, including:
 an electrically-conductive enclosure having a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a material of high thermal conductivity disposed at the distal end within the electrically-conductive enclosure; and 
 a temperature sensor disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity, 
   wherein the controller controls the generator to generate the surgical ablation energy based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive enclosure includes a cap electrically coupled to the proximal end. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor includes a plurality of temperature sensors disposed along the length of the electrically-conductive enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the electrically-conductive enclosure includes at least one of stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide a temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature of body tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor includes at least one of a fluoroptic temperature sensor, a thermocouple, a thermistor, a resistance temperature detector, or an infrared thermometer. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue sensor probe includes a handle disposed at a proximal end of the tissue sensor probe. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 7 , wherein the handle includes a grip-enhancing feature. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the controller and configured to selectively activate the generator. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator is selected from a group consisting of a handswitch, a footswitch, and an orally-activated switch. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the material of high thermal conductivity has low electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical ablation system of  claim 1 , wherein the material of high thermal conductivity includes at least one of silver, gold, carbon nanotube, diamond, copper, aluminum, thermally-conductive gel, and thermally-conductive polymer. 
     
     
         13 . A tissue sensor probe, comprising:
 an electrically-conductive enclosure having a distal end and a proximal end;   a material of high thermal conductivity disposed at the distal end within the electrically-conductive enclosure and in thermal communication with the distal end of the electrically-conductive enclosure; and   a temperature sensor disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity.   
     
     
         14 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide a temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature of body tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor includes at least one of a fluoroptic temperature sensor, a thermocouple, a thermistor, a resistive temperature detector, or an infrared thermometer. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 14 , wherein the tissue sensor probe includes a handle disposed at the proximal end of the electrically-conductive enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the material of high thermal conductivity has low electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the material of high thermal conductivity includes at least one of silver, gold, carbon nanotube, diamond, copper, and aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor includes a plurality of temperature sensors disposed along the length of the electrically-conductive enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue sensor probe of  claim 13 , wherein the material of the electrically-conductive enclosure includes at least one of stainless steel, copper, and aluminum.