Allen Sylvia Taflove

6421550, Jul 16, 2002

Jul 23, 1998

09/120749

Jack E. Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Susan Hagness - Madison WI
Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL
Milica Popovic - Evanston IL

Interstitial, L.L.C. - Prospect IL

A61B 505

600407, 324638

A non-invasive method to detect vascularization associated with one or more malignant tumors in living tissue of a living organism, where dielectric properties of the vascularization are different than dielectric properties of normal living tissue. In one embodiment, a non-ionizing input wave within a wide band frequency range is generated, and the input wave is applied to a field excitation antenna to illuminate a discrete volume within the living tissue of the living organism and to develop scattered power returns from the discrete volume. A receiving antenna then collects at least a portion of the scattered power returns. The scattered power returns are detected and then applied to a signal processor to develop a segregated signal, which is then processed in order to identify the vascularization associated with one or more malignant tumors.

44769261, Oct 16, 1984

Mar 31, 1982

6/363765

Jack E. Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL

IIT Research Institute - Chicago IL

E21B 3604
E21B 4324

166248

The effects of radio frequency electric field peaking in the earth formations surrounding a conductor excited by radio frequency energy in the controlled in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous earth formations are mitigated by providing an inert buffer region around the conductor to which radio frequency electromagnetic energy is supplied to produce an electric field within the earth formations. A portion of the earth formations is removed to accommodate insertion of the conductor at a desired location in the earth formations and to provide a buffer region between the conductor and the surrounding earth formations. The conductor is supported at the desired location in spaced relationship to the surrounding earth formations, the buffer region encompassing the principal region of the electric field enhancement region around the conductor where the probability of breakdown in the earth formations over the period of application of the radio frequency energy would be above a tolerable level. The buffer region is filled with dielectric material having an electric field breakdown level greater than that of the surrounding earth formation medium such that the probability of breakdown in the buffer region over the period of application of the radio frequency energy is tolerable. Preferably the filler medium has a power dissipation characteristic less than that of the surrounding earth formations.

RE307386, Sep 8, 1981

Feb 6, 1980

6/118957

Jack Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL

IIT Research Institute - Chicago IL

E21B 4324
E21B 4330

166248

The disclosure describes a technique for uniform heating of relatively large blocks of hydrocarbonaceous formations in situ using radio frequency (RF) electrical energy that is substantially confined to the volume to be heated and effects of dielectric heating of the formations. An important aspect of the disclosure relates to the fact that certain hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, for example raw unheated oil shale, exhibit dielectric absorption characteristics in the radio frequency range. In accordance with the system of the invention, a plurality of conductors are inserted in the formations and bound a particular volume of the formations. The phrase "bounding a particular volume" is intended to mean that the volume is enclosed on at least two sides thereof. Electrical excitation is provided for establishing alternating electric fields in the volume. The frequency of the excitation is selected as a function of the dimensions of the volume so as to establish a substantially non-radiating electric field which is substantially confined in the volume.

41401808, Feb 20, 1979

Aug 29, 1977

5/828904

Jack Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Allen Taflove - Chicago IL
Richard Snow - Chicago IL

IIT Research Institute - Chicago IL

E21B 4324

166248

The disclosure describes a technique for uniform heating of relatively large blocks of hydrocarbonaceous formations in situ using radio frequency (RF) electrical energy that is substantially confined to the volume to be heated and effects dielectric heating of the formations. An important aspect of the disclosure relates to the fact that certain hydrocarbonaceous earth formations, for example raw unheated oil shale, exhibit dielectric absorption characteristics in the radio frequency range. In accordance with the system of the invention, a plurality of conductors are inserted in the formations and bound a particular volume of the formations. The phrase "bounding a particular volume" is intended to mean that the volume is enclosed on at least two sides thereof. Electrical excitation is provided for establishing alternating electric fields in the volume. The frequency of the excitation is selected as a function of the dimensions of the volume so as to establish a substantially non-radiating electric field which is substantially confined in the volume.

46624384, May 5, 1987

Jul 19, 1985

6/757018

Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL
Guggilam C. Sresty - Burbank IL
Korada Umashankar - Wheaton IL

Uentech Corporation - Tulsa OK

E21B 4324
E21B 4330

166245

Method and apparatus for enhancing liquid hydrocarbon production through a single traditional producing borehole recognizing traditional producing well spacing from a slowly producing formation by use of non-uniform heating through interrelated electrode arrays surrounding the borehole. Heating the formation around the borehole through an interrelated electrode array designed for the formations geometry and geophysics favorably redistributes the pressure gradient throughout the formation for a substantial distance beyond the borehole permitting net energy effective production. One optimum electrode array may consist of ring electrodes or electrode segments so disposed as to electrically approximate a ring. Electrically conductive well bore casing in the formation may be used as an electrode. A return electrode of low impedance disposed close to the surface of the earth may be utilized.

44495854, May 22, 1984

Jan 29, 1982

6/343903

Jack E. Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL

IIT Research Institute - Chicago IL

E21B 4324

166248

A system and method for the controlled in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous earth formations involves the application of electromagnetic energy at a selected frequency or at selected frequencies to a waveguide structure formed by electrodes bounding a particular volume of hydrocarbonaceous material. Terminating one end of the structure with different impedances at different times produces electric field standing waves of different respective phase at that end at a selected frequency. Two standing waves substantially 90. degree. out of phase in formations having relatively uniform dielectric properties result in substantially uniform application of heating power if the product of the amplitude-squared of the electric field standing wave and dwell time is substantially the same in each of the two modes. Feeding the line at both ends provides partial offset for attenuation. Various desired controlled heating patterns other than uniform may be effected by utilizing different dwell times or applied fields.

62921444, Sep 18, 2001

Oct 15, 1999

9/418618

Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL
Lena Vasilyeva - Belle Mead NJ

Northwestern University - Evanston IL

H01Q 124

343702

An elongate radiator conformal antenna for portable communication devices is conformed on or in dielectric. The antenna of the present invention is a conformal antenna having an elongate radiator element grounded to a ground plane generally opposite the elongate radiator element, and driven by a feed connected to the elongate radiator element at a point between its connection to the ground plane and its open end. The elongate radiator element and ground plane are conformed with dielectric which, due to its wavelength shortening effect, reduces the required length of the elongate radiator element to less than a quarter wavelength. The dielectric material with which the antenna is conformed and any additional dielectric material between the elongate radiator element and the ground plane is preferably high permittivity and low loss tangent material. The antenna may include multiple elongate radiator elements for multiple or broad band operation with each of the elongate radiator elements being shorter than a quarter wavelength for its respective operating frequency. The elongate radiator elements are mostly opposite a ground plane, with ground ends of the elongate radiator elements being connected to the ground plane.

46706348, Jun 2, 1987

Apr 5, 1985

6/720070

Jack E. Bridges - Park Ridge IL
Harsh Dev - Chicago IL
Richard H. Snow - Bartlesville OK
Allen Taflove - Wilmette IL

IIT Research Institute - Chicago IL

H05B 654

219 1041

A water-containing region at or near the surface of the earth, such as a landfill, that is contaminated with hazardous materials is decontaminated by heating the region with bound radio frequency energy from a bound-wave transmission line excitor array disposed outside the region to a temperature to boil water and thereby increase the permeability of the region. The heating is continued by dielectric heating after water has boiled from at least a portion of the region to heat the portion to elevated temperatures substantially above the boiling point of water. The materials may then be rendered innocuous in situ in a number of ways, as by pyrolysis, thermally assisted decomposition, or reaction with an introduced reagent, such as oxygen. The materials may also be driven from the region, as by distillation or by evaporation and steam drive and then collected and disposed of, as by incineration.