Tissue ablation system with internal and external radiation sources

Abstract

A microwave ablation system includes an energy source adapted to generate microwave energy and a plurality of energy delivery devices having a first energy delivery device configured to be inserted into tissue and to generate a non-directional ablation volume and a second energy delivery device configured to be positioned relative to the tissue and to generate a directional ablation volume. The system also includes a power dividing device having an input adapted to connect to the energy source and a plurality of outputs configured to be coupled to the plurality of energy delivery devices. The power dividing device is configured to selectively divide energy provided from the energy source between the plurality of energy delivery devices.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing energy to tissue, comprising:
 coupling a plurality of energy delivery devices including at least one non-directional energy delivery device and at least one directional energy delivery device to a power dividing device having an input adapted to connect to an energy source;   inserting the at least one non-directional energy delivery device into the tissue;   positioning the at least one directional energy device at a surface of the tissue;   selectively dividing energy between the plurality of the energy delivery devices; and   applying energy from the plurality of energy delivery devices to the tissue.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising selectively dividing the energy equally between the plurality of energy delivery devices. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising selectively dividing the energy unequally between the plurality of energy delivery devices. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one non-directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a radiating section including a dipole antenna.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; and   a waveguide section including a radiating cone and a conical reflector.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one directional energy delivery device includes:
 a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween;   a radiating section including a dipole antenna; and   a dielectric shield disposed about a portion of the dipole antenna, the dielectric shield defining a window to expose the radiating section.   
     
     
         13 . A microwave ablation system, comprising:
 at least one energy source configured to generate microwave energy;   a first energy delivery device coupled to the at least one energy source; and   a second energy delivery device coupled to the at least one energy source and including:
 a feedline; 
 a waveguide section coupled to the feedline and configured to deliver microwave energy to tissue, the waveguide section including a radiating cone and a conical reflector; and 
 a membrane disposed between the radiating cone and the conical reflector and configured to contact tissue. 
   
     
     
         14 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the feedline includes:
 an inner conductor having the radiating cone coupled thereto;   an outer conductor having the conical reflector coupled thereto; and   an insulator disposed between the inner and outer conductors.   
     
     
         15 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the membrane defines a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the feedline. 
     
     
         16 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the membrane is annular and planar. 
     
     
         17 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the membrane covers a distally-oriented surface of the radiating cone and a distally-oriented surface of the conical reflector. 
     
     
         18 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the membrane is disposed distally of the radiating cone and the conical reflector. 
     
     
         19 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the waveguide section includes a dielectric shield disposed on an outer surface of the conical reflector. 
     
     
         20 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the membrane is formed of a radiofrequency-transparent material. 
     
     
         21 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the waveguide section includes a dielectric material disposed between the radiating cone and the conical reflector. 
     
     
         22 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a power divider coupling the at least one energy source to the first and second energy delivery devices. 
     
     
         23 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 22 , wherein the power divider is configured to divide an input signal from the at least one energy source into at least two output signals. 
     
     
         24 . The microwave ablation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first energy delivery device is configured to emit microwave energy in a plurality of directions to generate a non-directional ablation volume that is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis defined by the first energy delivery device, the second energy delivery device configured to emit microwave energy to generate a directional ablation volume that is non-spherical.