Implantable Electrodes with Feedback for Electric Field Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric field therapy systems for cancer treatment lack a means of feedback or measurement, limiting their effectiveness in delivering alternating electric fields to tumor cells while minimizing impact on native cells.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for feedback-guided application of electric field therapy using implantable electrodes with a controller device that applies unique stimulation parameters and incorporates measurable feedback to optimize the electric field therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transcutaneous delivery of alternating electric fields is used to treat tumors, then the therapy can be applied non-invasively, but the ability to measure and provide feedback on the generated field is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms by implanting electrodes that can both deliver alternating electric fields to tumor cells and measure the resulting field characteristics. The measured parameters (such as impedance, voltage, current) are fed back to the control system to optimize treatment delivery in real-time, resolving the contradiction between non-invasive application and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses implantable electrodes as intermediaries that bridge the gap between external control systems and internal tumor tissue. These electrodes serve dual functions: delivering therapeutic electric fields from external sources and providing measurement data back to external systems, thereby enabling both non-invasive operation and precise field measurement simultaneously.
2Reliability
If alternating electric fields are applied to tumor cells, then therapeutic effect on cancer cells is achieved, but impact on native cells cannot be minimized without feedback control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control by continuously monitoring electrical parameters (impedance, voltage, current) during treatment and adjusting the electric field delivery accordingly. This allows the system to maintain therapeutic effectiveness on tumor cells while minimizing harmful effects on native cells through real-time optimization based on measured tissue responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in electrical characteristics (impedance, conductivity, permittivity) of tissue to differentiate between tumor and native cells. By monitoring these parameter variations during treatment, the system can adjust electric field parameters to maximize therapeutic effect on tumors while reducing impact on healthy tissue.
3Reliability
If implantable electrodes are used to deliver electric field therapy, then direct field application to tumors is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to lack of feedback mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing implantable electrodes that perform multiple functions: delivering therapeutic electric fields, measuring electrical parameters (impedance, voltage, current), and providing feedback signals. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to separate delivery and measurement systems, while maintaining reliable direct field delivery to tumors.
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 system enables selective and optimized application of electric field therapy to tumor cells, reducing impact on native cells and improving treatment efficacy by using feedback to modulate the therapy.
Implementation Method 1
Alternating electric field application has been explored as cancer therapy for almost two decades with a growing body of literature supporting its use for a variety of cranial and extra-cranial malignancies
Implementation Method 2
measuring one or more electrical parameters (e.g., impedance, voltage, current) of the target tissue
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable electrode system includes a controller device to treat apply electric field therapy (EFT) to a target structure according to specific anatomical properties of the target structure. The system enables selective association of contacts of the implantable electrode system with one or more target locations of varying tissue types within the body for application and measurement of EFT. The one or more target locations are associated with one or more anticipated tissue parameters that the implantable electrode system uses to apply and update waveform parameters to modulate EFT application from each respective contact to the one or more target locations.