Garment-Based Thermal Mapping for TTFields Transducer Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal imaging for tumor treating fields (TTFields) is cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to operate, limiting its practical application in treatment planning.
Innovation Solution
A spatial thermal mapping technique using a snug-fitting garment with integrated heating and thermal sensing elements to measure a subject's skin temperature, allowing for effective identification of areas that can dissipate heat, thereby optimizing transducer placement for TTFields treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging equipment is used for spatial thermal mapping, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple temperature sensors to measure skin temperature at different locations, creating a simplified copy of the thermal mapping function that conventional thermal imaging equipment performs. This approach achieves adequate thermal mapping precision without requiring complex and expensive thermal imaging devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive temperature sensors and a simple garment-based measurement system instead of costly thermal imaging equipment. This substitution with cheaper components resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient measurement capability for treatment planning without the high cost and complexity of conventional thermal imaging systems.
2Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging is used, then thermal mapping capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies the essential function of thermal imaging using simple temperature sensors and basic data processing. This simplified approach maintains adequate thermal mapping capability while dramatically improving ease of operation, as the system requires no specialized training or complex operational procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment with integrated temperature sensors automatically measures skin temperature at multiple locations without requiring active operation by the user. The system performs self-service measurement, eliminating the operational complexity of conventional thermal imaging devices while maintaining thermal mapping capability.
3Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging equipment is used, then thermal mapping accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive temperature sensors and a simple computational approach to generate thermal maps. This substitution with low-cost components achieves sufficient thermal mapping accuracy for treatment planning while dramatically reducing system cost, thereby improving cost-effectiveness and reliability for clinical deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an adequate copy of thermal mapping functionality using cheap sensors and basic data processing algorithms. This approach achieves sufficient accuracy for the intended application (treatment planning) without the high cost of conventional thermal imaging equipment, resolving the cost-effectiveness contradiction.
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 method provides a cost-effective and efficient way to generate thermal maps without expensive equipment, enhancing the effectiveness of TTFields treatment by identifying optimal transducer locations based on heat dissipation capabilities of the skin.
Implementation Method 1
providing first signals to heat a plurality of heating elements on a garment worn by the subject
Implementation Method 2
receiving second signals from a plurality of thermal sensing elements on the garment worn by the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for generating spatial thermal mapping of a subject is disclosed. The method includes: providing first signals to heat a plurality of heating elements on a garment worn by the subject; receiving second signals from a plurality of thermal sensing elements on the garment worn by the subject; ceasing the first signals; determining thermal-related values based on the second signals; and generating a spatial thermal mapping of the subject based on at least one of the determined temperatures or the determined times.