Field Guide for Deep-Tumor Electric Field Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating tumors using electric fields struggle to deliver sufficient field strength to deep-seated tumors due to rapid attenuation of the electric field with distance from the electrodes, resulting in diminished treatment efficacy, especially in areas like the human head where field strength near the surface is weak.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible field guide is positioned between the body surface and the target region, with electrodes on either side, applying an AC voltage to route the electric field effectively to the desired location, using insulating or conductive materials with high dielectric properties to enhance field intensity, and optionally using conductive gel or rods to direct the field deeper into tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrodes are placed on the patient's skin to generate an electric field for tumor treatment, then the treatment can be applied non-invasively, but the field intensity attenuates rapidly with distance and becomes insufficient for deep-seated tumors
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive gel is introduced as an intermediary substance between the electrodes and the tissue. This gel has high electrical conductivity that is intermediate between the electrodes and the tissue, allowing it to efficiently transmit and concentrate the electric field into the tissue while maintaining the non-invasive electrode placement configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductivity parameter of the medium between electrodes and tissue is changed by applying conductive gel. This changes the field distribution parameters, allowing the electric field to penetrate deeper and maintain higher intensity at the target location while still using surface electrodes.
2Volume of moving object
If the electric field is applied to treat deep-seated tumors, then treatment coverage can be achieved, but the field strength at the target region becomes weak due to rapid attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive gel acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the electrodes and deep tissue targets. It efficiently conducts the electric field from the electrode surface through the gel and into the deep tissue, maintaining field strength over the extended distance required to reach deep-seated tumors.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the conductivity parameter of the intermediate medium (adding conductive gel), the electric field can maintain higher intensity at greater distances from the electrodes, enabling effective treatment of deep-seated tumors while expanding treatment coverage volume.
3Reliability
If field intensity is increased at the target location to improve treatment efficacy, then treatment effectiveness improves, but the complexity of the electrode arrangement and field delivery system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive gel serves as a simple intermediary substance that can be applied directly to the skin surface between electrodes. This simple addition significantly improves field delivery effectiveness and treatment efficacy without requiring complex electrode arrangements or additional field generation components.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of complicating the electrode arrangement to increase field intensity, the solution changes the parameter of the intermediate medium (conductivity) by applying conductive gel. This parameter change achieves improved treatment efficacy with minimal increase in system complexity.
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 field guide significantly increases electric field strength at the target location, improving treatment efficacy for deep-seated tumors by maintaining higher field intensities closer to the electrodes, thus enhancing the effectiveness of tumor treatment.
Implementation Method 1
an AC voltage with an appropriate frequency and amplitude is applied between the electrodes so that the field guide routes the electric field to the target region
Implementation Method 2
the insulated electrodes have a conductive core and an insulating layer with a high dielectric constant as described in US-A-6868289
Data Source
AI summary
Electric fields with certain characteristics have been shown to be effective at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells (and other rapidly dividing cells). However, when the cancer is located in a target region beneath the surface of a body, it can be difficult to deliver the beneficial fields to the target region. This difficulty can be surmounted by positioning a biocompatible field guide between the surface of the body and the target region, positioning electrodes on either side of the field guide, and applying an AC voltage with an appropriate frequency and amplitude between the electrodes. This arrangement causes the field guide to route the beneficial field to the target region. In an alternative embodiment, one of the electrodes is positioned directly on top of the field guide.