Shielded diathermy applicator with automatic tuning and low incidental radiation
Inventors
Unetich, Robert M. • Hanlon, James
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8489201-B2
Publication Date
2013-07-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An applicator supplying RF power for therapeutic diathermic treatment of a patient includes a radiation shielding device for shielding the applicator against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body, and a coupling device for electrically coupling the radiation shielding device to at least one point of the body of a patient in a low impedance manner that reduces the potential drop from the grounded radiation shield to the body tissue.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an RF therapeutic diathermic applicator apparatus that supplies RF power for therapeutic diathermic treatment of a patient. The applicator apparatus includes a radiation shielding device that shields the applicator apparatus against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body, and a coupling device for electrically coupling the radiation shielding device to at least one point of the body of the patient.
The radiation shielding device comprises a conductive grid. The coupling device comprises at least one conductive pad electrically connected to the conductive grid and providing capacitive coupling to the body of the patient at the at least one point, and the conductive grid adjacent its periphery comprises radially extending spurs or fingers curved around the non-radiation-applying areas of the applicator, with each pad adjacent the distal end of one radial spur or finger.
The invention is described as using RF electrical tuning/matching and isolation components, including a balun/isolation device and tuning to maintain consistent resonant frequency/impedance across different patients. A variable capacitor design is described that varies a dielectric constant by using two low-loss dielectric materials while not requiring moving contacts, and the shield construction includes a nonconductive pouch, foam spacers, and flexible insulative substrate materials such as FR-4, G-10, and Kapton/polyimide.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an RF therapeutic diathermic applicator apparatus with a conductive-grid radiation shielding device and a capacitive coupling low-impedance connection to patient tissue, and a method of constructing a radiation-shielded diathermy applicator device using flexible coil structures and a conductive grid pattern on a flexible insulative substrate. The inventive features comprise multiple inventive components, including the conductive grid with peripheral radial fingers and positioned conductive pads, and the flexible shield/grid construction used with coil structures and non-conductive spacers.
Radiation shielding device with conductive grid and peripheral radial fingers
A radiation shielding device for shielding the applicator apparatus against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body, wherein said radiation shielding device comprises a conductive grid; and wherein said conductive grid adjacent its periphery comprises radially extending spurs or fingers curved around the non-radiation-applying areas of the applicator.
Low-impedance capacitive coupling from grounded conductive grid to patient tissue
A coupling device for electrically coupling said radiation shielding device to at least one point of the body of said patient in a low impedance manner that reduces the potential drop from the grounded radiation shield to the body tissue, wherein said coupling device comprises at least one conductive pad electrically connected to said conductive grid and providing capacitive coupling to the body of said patient at said at least one point, with each pad adjacent the distal end of one radial spur or finger.
Flexible shield/grid with conductive pads positioned on a surface opposite a flexible coil structure
A method of constructing a radiation shielded diathermy applicator device, comprising providing a radio frequency diathermy applicator device comprising a first flexible coil structure, a second flexible coil structure, and a first non-conductive spacer between the first and second flexible coil structures; providing a second non-conductive spacer disposed between the first flexible coil structure and a radiation shield that includes an electrically conductive grid pattern on a flexible, insulative substrate having radial fingers, wherein the electrically conductive grid pattern includes conductive pads on the radial fingers; and wherein said radial fingers are curved around the first non-conductive spacer, the first flexible coil structure, and the second non-conductive spacer, and coupled to the first non-conductive spacer, wherein said conductive pads are positioned on the first non-conductive spacer on a surface thereof opposite the first flexible coil structure.
The claims focus on shielding with a conductive grid having peripheral radially extending curved fingers, and a low-impedance coupling arrangement using conductive pads providing capacitive coupling to patient tissue with pads positioned adjacent the distal ends of the radial fingers. Construction is further specified using flexible coil structures, non-conductive spacers, and a radiation shield with an electrically conductive grid pattern on a flexible insulative substrate with radial fingers and conductive pads positioned on a surface opposite a flexible coil structure.
Stated Advantages
Reduces the potential drop from the grounded radiation shield to the body tissue.
Shields the applicator apparatus against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body.
Documented Applications
RF therapeutic diathermic treatment of a patient using an RF therapeutic diathermy applicator apparatus supplying RF power.
Radiation shielding of the applicator apparatus against misapplication of radiation to objects in the surroundings and unintended areas of the patient's body.
Construction of a radiation-shielded diathermy applicator device having the described flexible coil structures, non-conductive spacers, and a conductive-grid radiation shield.
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