Microwave field-detecting needle assemblies, methods of manufacturing same, methods of adjusting an ablation field radiating into tissue using same, and systems including same

Abstract

A method of adjusting an ablation field radiating into tissue includes the initial steps of providing an energy applicator and providing one or more microwave field-detecting needle assemblies. Each microwave field-detecting needle assembly includes one or more rectifier elements capable of detecting microwave field intensity via rectification. The method includes the steps of positioning the energy applicator and the one or more microwave field-detecting needle assemblies in tissue, transmitting energy from an energy source through the energy applicator to generate an ablation field radiating about at least a portion of the energy applicator into tissue, and adjusting the ablation field radiating about at least the portion of the energy applicator into tissue based on at least one electrical signal transmitted by the one or more microwave field-detecting needle assemblies.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A microwave ablation control system, comprising:
 a microwave field-detecting tool configured to detect an intensity of a microwave field emitted by an energy-delivery device, the microwave field-detecting tool including a junction structure configured to couple to a rectifier element; and   a control unit in communication with the microwave field-detecting tool, the control unit configured to adjust energy delivered by an energy-delivery device based on the intensity detected by the microwave field-detecting tool.   
     
     
         22 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , wherein the rectifier element is configured to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). 
     
     
         23 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , wherein the rectifier element comprises one or more diode, Zener diode, Schottky diode or tunnel diode. 
     
     
         24 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , further comprising an inductor-regulator-capacitor low-pass filter circuit configured to convert a rectified sinusoidal waveform from the rectifier element into an electrical signal. 
     
     
         25 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , wherein the junction structure is disposed between a distal portion and a proximal portion of the microwave field-detecting tool. 
     
     
         26 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , further comprising a handle assembly operably coupled to a proximal portion of the microwave field-detecting tool. 
     
     
         27 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 26 , further comprising an electric circuit disposed within the handle assembly, the electric circuit including an indicator unit configured to generate at least one of a visual signal or an audio signal. 
     
     
         28 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 26 , further comprising a cable assembly electrically coupled to the microwave field-detecting tool via the handle assembly, the cable assembly having a proximal portion configured to connect to the control unit, the cable assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , wherein the microwave field-detecting tool includes a first outer-conductor structure and a second outer-conductor structure, the first and second outer-conductor structures separated by the junction structure. 
     
     
         30 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 29 , wherein the junction structure is configured to diagonally separate the first outer-conductor structure and the second outer-conductor structure. 
     
     
         31 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , further comprising an electrosurgical energy generating source operably coupled to the microwave field-detecting tool, the electrosurgical energy generating source including a processor unit configured to adjust at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical energy generating source based on an electrical signal transmitted by the microwave field-detecting tool. 
     
     
         32 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical energy generating source is selected from the group consisting of temperature, impedance, power, current, voltage, mode of operation, and duration of application of electrosurgical energy. 
     
     
         33 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , further comprising an energy-delivery device configured to transmit microwave energy, wherein the microwave field-detecting tool is configured to be inserted into tissue independently from the energy-delivery device. 
     
     
         34 . The microwave ablation control system of  claim 21 , wherein the microwave field-detecting tool is a needle having a tapered distal tip.