Adaptive Pulsed Electric Field Control for Tumor Ablation Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for cell proliferative diseases, such as surgical intervention, radiation, and chemotherapy, are ineffective for all types of tumors and often cause significant side effects or damage to patients, while irreversible electroporation (IRE) can lead to uncontrolled temperature increases causing adverse effects.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop, algorithmically controlled electrotherapy (ACE) system that dynamically adjusts the energy delivery profile of pulsed electric fields using real-time feedback to control temperature and induce specific cell death pathways, reducing thermal injury and enhancing immune responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If irreversible electroporation (IRE) is used to ablate tumors, then tumor cells are killed through membrane destabilization, but uncontrolled temperature increases occur causing thermal injury to surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time temperature monitoring during IRE treatment using thermocouples or other temperature sensors positioned near the treatment site. The system continuously feeds temperature data back to the control algorithm, which dynamically adjusts pulse delivery parameters (amplitude, duration, interval) to maintain temperature within safe thresholds while ensuring complete tumor ablation
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment protocol transitions from static, pre-programmed pulse sequences to dynamic, adaptive pulse delivery. The system continuously modifies pulse parameters based on real-time temperature measurements and tissue response, optimizing the balance between achieving complete tumor necrosis and preventing thermal damage to adjacent healthy structures
2Reliability
If high energy electrical pulses are delivered to ensure complete tumor ablation, then treatment effectiveness increases, but muscle stimulation and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically varies multiple electrical pulse parameters including amplitude, pulse width, repetition rate, and inter-pulse intervals to identify the optimal combination that achieves complete tumor ablation while minimizing muscle stimulation. By exploring the parameter space, the system finds settings that deliver sufficient energy for necrosis without triggering excessive somatic responses
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment uses periodic pulsed delivery with optimized intervals between pulses to allow tissue recovery and reduce cumulative muscle stimulation. The pulsatile nature of the delivery, combined with adaptive timing based on real-time feedback, maintains therapeutic effectiveness while reducing patient discomfort and unwanted muscle contractions
3Reliability
If traditional treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) are used, then tumor cells are destroyed, but significant side effects and damage to patient occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgical excision with electrical field-based irreversible electroporation, eliminating the need for physical incisions, sutures, and associated surgical trauma. This substitution achieves equivalent tumor destruction through non-thermal electrical membrane disruption, reducing bleeding, infection risk, and recovery time
Solution Approach 2:
The system carefully controls electrical pulse parameters to achieve selective tumor cell death while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. By optimizing voltage, pulse duration, and delivery patterns, the treatment creates a therapeutic window that destroys malignant cells through irreversible membrane permeabilization without causing the systemic toxicity associated with chemotherapy or the collateral damage of radiation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
ACE effectively controls temperature and induces targeted cell death while minimizing side effects, enabling precise tissue ablation and immune stimulation, even in challenging tumor locations.
Implementation Method 1
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) involves placing electrodes within or near the targeted region to deliver a series of low energy, microsecond electric pulses. These pulses permanently destabilize the cell membranes of the targeted tissue (e.g., tumor), thereby killing the cells.
Implementation Method 2
Recent work by the inventors has focused on the ablation of unwanted soft tissue (malignant tumors) by application of excessive electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, a method of performing electronically controlled electrotherapy may include modifying or killing target cells and simultaneously modifying a secondary outcome by delivering electrical pulses and dynamically adjusting an energy delivery profile of the electrical pulses in response to a measurement. The secondary outcome may be a physical outcome, a biological outcome, and/or a systemic outcome.