Amplitude Modulated TTFields Overcome Tissue Permittivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficacy of tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be reduced due to the obstructive effects of frequency-dependent electrical tissue properties, such as permittivity and conductivity, which hinder the transmission of effective field strength to the target tumor region.
Innovation Solution
Applying modulated electric fields between pairs of transducers located on the subject's body, where the modulated electric fields comprise a first frequency to disrupt mitosis in the tumor and a second frequency to attenuate the obstructive effects of frequency-dependent tissue properties, thereby enhancing the intracellular field strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard AC voltage is applied between transducers to generate TTFields, then the electric field can be induced to treat tumors, but the efficacy decreases due to obstructive effects of tissue permittivity and conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies amplitude modulation to the AC voltage signal, transforming it from a standard sinusoidal waveform to a modulated waveform with varying amplitude. This parameter change in the electrical signal allows the field to overcome the obstructive effects of tissue permittivity and conductivity by creating peaks and troughs in the amplitude that can penetrate through the capacitive barriers more effectively, thereby maintaining TTField efficacy despite the harmful tissue properties
Solution Approach 2:
The amplitude-modulated signal introduces a periodic variation in the amplitude of the AC voltage at a modulation frequency. This periodic action creates alternating high and low amplitude phases that can more effectively navigate through the capacitive effects of different tissue layers, allowing the therapeutic electric field to reach the tumor region with sufficient strength
2Adaptability or versatility
If AC voltage is applied to generate electric fields in different directions using multiple transducer pairs, then comprehensive tumor coverage is achieved, but the complex capacitive effects of multiple tissue layers interfere with field transmission
Solution Approach 1:
By applying amplitude modulation to each transducer pair's AC voltage signal, the patent transforms the electrical parameters of the applied field. This parameter change allows each transducer pair to effectively penetrate through its specific path of tissue layers with different capacitive properties, enabling comprehensive tumor coverage while overcoming the complex capacitive interference that would otherwise prevent effective field transmission through multiple tissue layers
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
The use of modulated electric fields improves the delivery of TTFields to the tumor site, increasing the intracellular field strength and enhancing the therapeutic effect by overcoming the obstructive effects of tissue properties.
Implementation Method 1
TTFields are induced non-invasively into a region of interest by transducers placed directly on the patient's body and applying AC voltages between the transducers
Implementation Method 2
Due to the effects of electrical permittivity and conductivity of the intervening tissues (e.g., hair, scalp, skull, cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and within its ventricles, blood-brain-barrier, and the gray and white matter), the efficacy of TTFields can decrease
Data Source
AI summary
A method of applying tumor treating fields to a subject's body includes: inducing a modulated electric field between a first transducer and a second transducer to treat a tumor of the subject's body, wherein the first transducer is located at a first location of the subject's body, and wherein the second transducer is located at a second location of the subject's body.