Dielectric Heating Adipose Cells Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices using electromagnetic fields for therapeutic heating, such as RF or microwave, fail to evenly heat the entire thickness of a treatment region, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes due to varying field amplitudes with depth.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method employing dielectric heating by positioning a treatment region between electrodes to apply an alternating electric field, causing polar molecules to generate heat uniformly throughout, thereby selectively targeting and killing adipose cells without harming non-target cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If electromagnetic fields (RF or microwave) are used to heat treatment region, then therapeutic heating is achieved, but heating is not even throughout the thickness of treatment region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidtherapeutic outcome consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment region is divided into multiple zones with different impedance values. By segmenting the tissue into regions with distinct electrical properties, the system can apply differentiated heating strategies to achieve uniform temperature distribution throughout the entire thickness, resolving the contradiction between heating uniformity and therapeutic consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the treatment zone are assigned different impedance characteristics to optimize local heating. The first region has higher impedance and the second region has lower impedance, allowing each zone to be heated appropriately for its specific properties, thereby achieving both uniform heating and consistent therapeutic outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If electromagnetic field amplitude decreases with penetration depth, then surface heating is strong, but deep tissue heating is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature distributionVSAvoidtherapeutic effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different impedance values at different depths. The first region near the surface has higher impedance while the second region deeper in the tissue has lower impedance, ensuring that each depth receives appropriate heating energy to achieve reliable therapeutic effectiveness throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the impedance parameter across different regions of the treatment zone. By varying impedance from higher in the first region to lower in the second region, the heating distribution is optimized to compensate for the natural decay of electromagnetic field amplitude with depth, ensuring consistent therapeutic effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If alternating electric field is applied to heat treatment region, then adipose cells are heated, but non-target cells may also be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective heating capabilityVSAvoiddamage to non-target cells

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes local quality by exploiting the different impedance characteristics of adipose cells versus non-target cells. By creating a阻抗 gradient across the treatment region, the system achieves selective heating of adipose tissue while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding non-target cells, thus resolving the contradiction between selective heating capability and protection of healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach ensures even heating and selective killing of adipose cells, improving therapeutic efficacy by maintaining consistent current and voltage across the treatment region, thus enhancing treatment outcomes like fat reduction without damaging surrounding tissues.

Implementation Method 1

employing dielectric heating by positioning a treatment region between electrodes to apply an alternating electric field, causing polar molecules to generate heat uniformly throughout

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

activating the generator to apply the alternating electric field between the first and second electrodes and across the treatment region to thereby heat the treatment region, wherein the adipose cells heat at a faster rate than non-targets within the treatment region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9901387B2Apparatus and method for heating adipose cells

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 INNOVOLINK

AI summary

An apparatus and method for selectively heating adipose cells within a treatment region of a subject is disclosed. The method includes positioning the treatment region between first and second electrodes connected to a generator, and activating the generator to apply an alternating electric field between the first and second electrodes and across the treatment region to thereby heat the treatment region. The adipose cells heat at a faster rate than non-targets within the treatment region, which preferably results in the killing of the adipose cells.