Insulated Electrode Sheets for Tumor Treating Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumor treating fields systems face issues with low product manufacturing yield and increased costs due to damaged insulated electrodes, as well as insufficient electric field strength and coverage area caused by fixed electrode configurations that do not adapt to varying tumor sizes and positions.
Innovation Solution
The development of an insulated electrode system with detachable electrode sheets and an electrical connector that allows for parallel connection of multiple electrode sheets, enabling easy replacement of damaged sheets and flexible adjustment of electrode configurations to ensure optimal electric field strength and coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all ceramic sheets are connected in series through the same conductive trace, then the insulated electrode can be manufactured with a simple structure, but the alternating electric signal cannot be transmitted to the ceramic sheets due to fracture or poor welding, resulting in low manufacturing yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode into multiple independent electrode sheets, each with its own conductive trace connections to the flexible circuit board. This segmentation allows individual sheets to be replaced if damaged, preventing total electrode failure and improving manufacturing yield while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each ceramic sheet is connected to the flexible circuit board through separate conductive traces rather than all being connected in series through a single trace. This local independence ensures that signal transmission to one sheet does not depend on the integrity of connections to other sheets, improving reliability without significantly increasing overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the insulated electrode has a fixed configuration, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the electric field strength and coverage area cannot adapt to varying tumor sizes and positions
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into multiple detachable electrode sheets that can be selectively assembled based on tumor characteristics. This modular segmentation enables flexible configuration adaptation to different tumor sizes and positions while keeping each individual sheet simple to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode configuration is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. Multiple electrode sheets can be selectively attached or detached from the flexible circuit board to create customized electrode arrangements that adapt to varying tumor geometries, improving versatility without requiring complex manufacturing processes for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A tumor treating fields system and an associated insulated electrode includes at least one electrode sheet applying an alternating electric signal; and an electrical connector detachably connected with the sheet, the sheet includes an individual electrode unit and a first wire connected with the electrode unit, the sheet is detachably connected with the electrical connector through the first wire. The sheet of the insulated electrode is detachably connected with the electrical connector through the first wire, and the sheet includes one electrode unit. When the electrode unit is damaged and is nonfunctional, only the damaged sheet is replaced, reducing the cost of tumor treatment. The electrode units are combined in quantity or adjusted in position according to a patient's tumor site, position and tumor size, to ensure the coverage area for tumor treating fields therapy performed by the insulated electrodes, enhancing the electric field strength for tumor treating fields therapy.