Electrosurgical devices, directional reflector assemblies coupleable thereto, and electrosurgical systems including same

Abstract

A directional reflector assembly includes a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and adapted to operably engage an electrosurgical ablation probe, and a conical aperture having a proximal open apex joined to a distal end of the tubular shaft, and a distal open base, wherein an interior volume of the tubular shaft is open to the conical aperture.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A directional reflector assembly for use with an electrosurgical device, comprising:
 a tubular inner shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the tubular shaft defining a lumen adapted to operably engage an electrosurgical ablation probe;   a tubular outer shaft concentrically-disposed about the tubular inner shaft;   a conical aperture including:
 a proximal open apex coupled to a distal portion of the tubular outer shaft; 
 a distal open base; and 
 an interior volume defined between the proximal open apex and the distal open base, the interior volume of the tubular inner shaft being in fluid communication with the conical aperture. 
   
     
     
         22 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the distal portion of the tubular inner shaft extends into the open distal base of the conical aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising a coolant chamber defined within the conical aperture. 
     
     
         24 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 23 , further comprising a fluid conduit defined between the tubular inner shaft and the tubular outer shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a circular plate coupled to the distal open base of the conical aperture, the circular plate including an opening aligned with the lumen.   
     
     
         27 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the circular plate is formed from a dielectric material. 
     
     
         28 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the tubular inner shaft or the tubular outer shaft includes at least one slot adapted to operably engage a corresponding protrusion of the electrosurgical ablation probe. 
     
     
         29 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein a dielectric material is disposed within the interior volume of the conical aperture. 
     
     
         30 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the dielectric material includes a plurality of dielectric materials, wherein each of the dielectric materials has a dielectric property and the dielectric properties of the dielectric materials are different from one another. 
     
     
         31 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 29 , further comprising a cooling aperture defined between an outer surface of the tubular inner shaft and the dielectric material. 
     
     
         32 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the cooling aperture is in fluid communication with a fluid conduit defined between the tubular inner shaft and the tubular outer shaft. 
     
     
         33 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 32 , further comprising a fluid circulating through the cooling aperture, wherein the fluid conduit and the fluid form a dielectric loading within the conical aperture. 
     
     
         34 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the fluid conduit is formed from a thermally-conductive material. 
     
     
         35 . The directional reflector assembly according to  claim 24 , further comprising a heat pipe in thermal communication with the fluid conduit, the heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy from the outer shaft to the fluid conduit.