3D Hydrogel Phantom for Measuring TTField Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) lack the ability to accurately measure the actual shape of the electric field within a patient, relying on computer simulations that cannot replicate real-world interactions with varying organ conductivities.
Innovation Solution
The use of a hydrogel phantom with anatomically accurate representations of body parts, coupled with field-generating pads and sensors, to physically model and measure the TTField distribution, allowing for the determination of actual field shapes and intensities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If computer simulations are used to model TTField distribution, then the complexity of physical measurement is reduced, but the accuracy of field shape determination deteriorates because simulations rely on programming techniques and estimations rather than actual measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy (phantom) of human anatomy using materials with tissue-mimicking electrical conductivity properties. This phantom replica allows direct measurement of TTField distribution without complex patient-specific simulations, achieving accurate field shape determination through physical experimentation rather than computational estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phantom as an intermediary object between the TTField delivery system and actual patients. This intermediary allows researchers to measure and validate field distributions in a controlled environment before applying treatment to patients, bridging the gap between simulation and clinical application.
2Manufacturing precision
If physical 3D models with anatomical accuracy are created, then the precision of TTField interaction modeling is improved, but the complexity of model construction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the electrical conductivity parameters of phantom materials to match those of actual human tissues. By carefully selecting and combining materials with specific conductivity values, the phantom accurately replicates the electrical properties of different anatomical structures, enabling precise modeling of TTField interactions without requiring complex geometric modeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials with different electrical conductivity properties to represent various human tissues (e.g., skull, brain, scalp). These composite constructions allow the phantom to accurately model the differential electrical properties of anatomical structures, improving the precision of field distribution modeling while maintaining manageable construction complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transducer arrays are placed on patient's head for GBM treatment, then the therapeutic coverage is improved, but the ability to measure actual field shape deteriorates because patient anatomy varies and cannot be directly measured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates customizable phantom copies of individual patient anatomies using imaging data (CT or MRI). These patient-specific phantom replicas allow researchers to measure actual TTField distributions for each patient's unique anatomy, overcoming the limitation of not being able to directly measure fields inside living patients while maintaining treatment customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs field measurements in advance using patient-specific phantoms before actual treatment delivery. This preliminary measurement and validation step allows optimization of transducer array placement and parameters based on predicted field distributions for each patient's anatomy, improving both adaptability and measurement capability.
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 enables the precise measurement and validation of TTField shapes and intensities, improving the targeting of tumors and enhancing the therapeutic benefit of TTField therapy by accounting for individual patient anatomy.
Implementation Method 1
The 3D model is sliced into a plurality of substantially coplanar voxels. A liquid hydrogel is ejected and cured, for example, with UV irradiation, to form a plurality of cured, solid hydrogel voxels
Implementation Method 2
a conductive gel, to which electrical current may be applied to generate Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogel phantom is herein described. The hydrogel phantom includes a plurality of adjacently disposed hydrogel elements. A first one of the hydrogel elements has a first electrical impedance and a second one of the hydrogel elements has a second impedance. The first impedance is different from the second impedance.