Electromagnetic energy delivery devices including an energy applicator array and electrosurgical systems including same

Abstract

An electrosurgical system for directing energy to tissue includes a generator assembly operable to supply power having a selected phase, amplitude and frequency, and an applicator array assembly. The applicator array assembly includes a shell assembly, a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, and a power divider unit electrically coupled to the generator assembly. The power divider unit is operable to divide power into the applicator array assembly.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 an electrosurgical generator assembly configured to supply electromagnetic energy; and   an applicator array assembly including:
 a shell assembly; 
 a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, each of the plurality of energy applicators including:
 an inner conductor; 
 an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor; and 
 a dielectric material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; 
 a balun structure disposed about the outer conductor and electrically coupled to the shell assembly; and 
 
 a power divider unit electrically coupled to the electrosurgical generator assembly, the power divider unit configured to divide the electromagnetic energy among each of the plurality of energy applicators. 
   
     
     
         6 . The electrosurgical system according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes an electrically-conductive cylinder coaxially disposed around a distal portion of the balun structure. 
     
     
         7 . The electrosurgical system according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes a dielectric structure longitudinally extending from a distal end of the balun structure to a distal end of the electrically-conductive cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit includes a plurality of phase shifters. 
     
     
         9 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8 , wherein the power divider unit further includes a plurality of phase monitor units electrically coupled between the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of energy applicators. 
     
     
         10 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit includes a phase-balanced microwave power splitter. 
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the power divider unit is configured to divide the electromagnetic energy to provide a substantially equal power split to the plurality of energy applicators while maintaining a phase balance of about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the shell assembly includes an outer portion formed from an electrically-conductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the electrosurgical generator assembly includes:
 a generator module configured to generate the electromagnetic energy;   a processor operably coupled to the generator module; and   a user interface operably coupled to the processor, the user interface being configured to display an image corresponding to an ablation pattern associated with the applicator array assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 13 , wherein the electrosurgical generator assembly further includes:
 a database in operable communication with the processor and adapted to store parameters associated with the applicator array assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 5 , wherein the balun structure is a quarter wavelength conductive sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . An applicator array assembly including:
 a shell assembly;   a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, each of the plurality of energy applicators including:
 an inner conductor; 
 an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor; and 
 a dielectric material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; 
 a balun structure disposed about the outer conductor and electrically coupled to the shell assembly; and 
   a power divider unit configured to electrically couple to an electrosurgical generator, the power divider unit configured to divide electromagnetic energy among each of the plurality of energy applicators.   
     
     
         17 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes an electrically-conductive cylinder coaxially disposed around a distal portion of the balun structure. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of energy applicators includes a dielectric structure longitudinally extending from a distal end of the balun structure to a distal end of the electrically-conductive cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit includes a plurality of phase shifters. 
     
     
         20 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the power divider unit further includes a plurality of phase monitor units electrically coupled between the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of energy applicators. 
     
     
         21 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit includes a phase-balanced microwave power splitter. 
     
     
         22 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the power divider unit is configured to divide the electromagnetic energy to provide a substantially equal power split to the plurality of energy applicators while maintaining a phase balance of about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         23 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the shell assembly includes an outer portion formed from an electrically-conductive material. 
     
     
         24 . The applicator array assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the balun structure is a quarter wavelength conductive sleeve.