| US 7,551,953 B2 | ||
| Magnetic resonance imaging needle antennas | ||
| Albert C. Lardo, Baldwin, Md. (US); Elliott R. McVeigh, Potomac, Md. (US); and Henry R. Halperin, Baltimore, Md. (US) | ||
| Assigned to SurgiVision, Inc., Memphis, Tenn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 12, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/640,406. | ||
| Application 10/640406 is a continuation of application No. 09/775338, filed on Feb. 01, 2001, granted, now 6,606,513. | ||
| Application 09/775338 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/536090, filed on Mar. 24, 2000, granted, now 6,675,033. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/178933, filed on Feb. 01, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/129364, filed on Apr. 15, 1999. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0199071 A1, Oct. 07, 2004 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 5/055 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 600—411 [600/424; 600/423] | 103 Claims |
| 1. An intracranial needle magnetic resonance imaging antenna system, comprising:
a probe shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the probe shaft having a hollow needle at a distalmost
end sharpened for penetrating central nervous system tissue, wherein the probe shaft is tubular and comprises an open lumen
extending axially through the distalmost sharpened end, and the probe shaft further comprising a first conductor;
an insulator or dielectric covering the first conductor over at least the proximal portion of the probe shaft; and
a second conductor covering the insulator or dielectric;
wherein the first conductor, the insulator or dielectric, and the second conductor define a magnetic resonance imaging antenna,
and wherein the first conductor defines the hollow needle with the open lumen and has sufficient rigidity to penetrate the
tissue.
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