Microwave Applicator

Abstract

A microwave applicator having a probe which comprises an elongate shaft (14), the shaft having an external tubular wall (18), a radiating portion (15) disposed at the distal end of the shaft (14), a transmission line (17) extending to the radiating portion internally of the tubular external wall (18), and an elongate flow dividing member (19) which co-extends with the transmission line (17) longitudinally of the shaft (14), the side wall of the transmission line (17) and the side wall of the flow dividing member (19) contacting each other and contacting the internal surface of the external tubular wall (18) at two-spatially separated discrete positions, thereby defining a pair of flow channels (20, 21) inside the shaft (14). In use, cooling fluid can pass down one channel (20) and return via the other channel (21). The structure of the probe is uncomplicated and the probe is straightforward to assemble.

1 . A device comprising:
 an elongated shaft comprising an elongated shaft wall inner surface, an elongated shaft proximal end, an elongated shaft distal end, and an elongated shaft length extending therethrough;   a transmission line comprising a transmission line first outer wall side and a transmission line second outer wall side; wherein the transmission line is configured to extend co-axially along the elongated shaft length for a selected distance;   a flow dividing member comprising a flow dividing member first outer wall side and a flow dividing member second outer wall side; wherein the flow dividing member is configured to extend co-axially along the elongated shaft length for a selected distance; and   wherein the transmission line first outer wall side and the flow diving member first outer wall side are configured to contact each other, and the transmission line second outer wall side and the flow dividing member second outer wall side are both configured to contact the external tubular wall inner surface at two-spatially separated locations.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission line and the flow dividing member together are configured to define the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are configured to extend co-axially along the elongated shaft length for a selected distance. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission line further comprises a transmission line distal end and a transmission line proximal end. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising an antenna configured to emit microwave energy. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are in fluid communication with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission line proximal end is configured to be coupled to a microwave feed cable. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the transmission line distal end is configured to be coupled to the antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the antenna is configured to be disposed inside the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the flow dividing member is comprised of a cable or a wire. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the flow dividing member is solid. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the flow dividing member further comprises a flow dividing member distal end and a flow dividing member proximal end. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the flow dividing member distal end is configured to terminate a selected distance proximal to the transmission line distal end. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission line and the flow dividing member further comprise a combined diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the external tubular wall inner surface. 
     
     
         16 . A microwave device comprising:
 an elongated shaft comprising an elongated shaft inner wall surface;   a transmission line comprising a transmission line distal end, a transmission line proximal end, a transmission line first outer wall side, and a transmission line second outer wall side;   a flow dividing member comprising a flow dividing member distal end, a flow dividing member proximal end, a flow dividing member first outer wall side, and a flow dividing member second outer wall side;   wherein the flow dividing member distal end is configured to terminate a selected distance proximal to the transmission line distal end; and   wherein the transmission line first outer wall side and the flow diving member first outer wall side are configured to contact each other, and the transmission line second outer wall side and the flow dividing member second outer wall side are both configured to contact the external tubular wall inner surface at two-spatially separated locations.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission line and the flow dividing member together are configured to define a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are configured to interconnect at a point located a selected distance distal of the distal most end of the fluid dividing member. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein a fluid is configured to flow between the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel at the point in which the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel interconnect. 
     
     
         20 . A microwave device comprising:
 an elongated shaft comprising an elongated shaft inner wall surface;   a transmission line comprising a transmission line first outer wall side, and a transmission line second outer wall side;   a flow dividing member comprising a flow dividing member first outer wall side, and a flow dividing member second outer wall side; and   wherein the transmission line first outer wall side and the flow dividing member first outer wall side are configured to contact each other, and the transmission line second outer wall side and the flow dividing member second outer wall side are both configured to contact the external tubular wall inner surface at two-spatially separated locations thereby defining a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel.