Hyperthermia Antenna Array with Bidirectional Coupler for Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hyperthermia treatments face challenges with unpredictability, limited depth of heating, and side effects such as burns and swelling, making it difficult to administer localized and controlled hyperthermic therapy while minimizing energy usage and side effects.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus that uses a signal generator, bidirectional coupler, and controller to deliver and monitor radiofrequency signals for optimal electromagnetic radiation penetration, allowing for tailored frequency and depth of heating, and includes a temperature sensor for real-time monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling systems are used to reduce surface temperature during hyperthermia treatment, then skin surface temperature is reduced, but heating depth is affected and treatment coordination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electromagnetic field delivery into multiple antennas with different orientations (azimuth and elevation angles) to independently control heating at different depths and locations, allowing surface cooling while maintaining deep tissue heating
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the amplitude and phase of radiofrequency signals delivered to each antenna in real-time, enabling precise control over the thermal distribution pattern to achieve deep heating while managing surface temperature
2Length of stationary object
If high energy is used to achieve sufficient heating depth, then heating depth is improved, but side effects such as burns and swelling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different energy levels to different spatial locations by independently controlling each antenna, delivering high energy only to deep target areas while maintaining low energy at the surface to prevent burns and swelling
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to provide real-time feedback on tissue temperature, allowing the controller to dynamically adjust radiofrequency signal amplitudes to maintain therapeutic heating depth while preventing excessive temperature rise that causes side effects
3Reliability
If electromagnetic radiation is delivered to achieve localized heating, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but energy delivery predictability and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the phase and amplitude of signals to each antenna based on real-time temperature feedback, maintaining predictable and controlled energy delivery to achieve reliable localized heating
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensor feedback enables the controller to continuously monitor and adjust energy delivery, ensuring predictable thermal outcomes and effective localized heating
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 apparatus provides predictable and controlled localized hyperthermia with reduced side effects by optimizing energy delivery and penetration depth, ensuring effective treatment while minimizing skin surface heating and maximizing subcutaneous temperature increase.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna operable to emit electromagnetic radiation at a specific frequency so as to penetrate a patient's body
Implementation Method 2
generate radiofrequency signal... induce localized hyperthermia... temperatures of bodily tissue easily exceeding 110° F. or at least 42° C.
Implementation Method 3
a bidirectional coupler... operable to provide the radiofrequency signal generated by the signal generator to the output and to measure a power of an output signal
Implementation Method 4
includes a temperature sensor for real-time monitoring and control
Data Source
AI summary
A medical apparatus operable to induce localized hyperthermia in a patient via an electromagnetic field emitted by an antenna connected to an output of the medical apparatus includes a signal generator, a bidirectional coupler, and a controller. The signal generator generate radios frequency signal as a function of an operating parameter. The bidirectional coupler provides the radio frequency signal generated by the signal generator to the output and receives a reflected signal from the output. The controller receives the generated radio frequency signal from the signal generator, determines a power of the radiofrequency signal generated by the signal generator, receives the reflected signal from the bidirectional coupler, determines a power of the reflected signal, and determines delivery efficiency of the medical apparatus as a function of the power of the radiofrequency signal generated by the signal generator and the power of the reflected signal received from the bidirectional coupler.