Insulated Electrode Thermal Management for Tumor Treating Fields

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tumor treating field electrodes cause excessive heating of the patient's skin, limiting the effectiveness and comfort of cancer treatment due to poor heat dissipation capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The electrodes are designed with a ceramic layer, a metalized layer, and a circuit element, where the metalized layer is coupled to the ceramic layer and the circuit element across its outer surface, allowing for efficient heat dissipation through thermally conductive materials and a unique construction that includes a moat for maximum heat transfer and minimal heat storage, along with a water-soluble medical adhesive for secure placement without obstructing heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional insulated electrodes are used to deliver tumor treating fields, then the electrodes can effectively deliver electrical signals to treat cancer cells, but the electrodes cause excessive heating of the patient's skin due to poor heat dissipation capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor treating field delivery effectivenessVSAvoidskin temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode uses a composite structure combining thermally conductive materials (metalized layer, ceramic layer) with electrically insulating properties. The metalized layer provides thermal conduction pathways while the ceramic layer maintains electrical insulation, allowing heat to dissipate effectively while preserving the electrode's ability to deliver tumor treating fields.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit element acts as an intermediary thermal pathway between the metalized layer and the patient's skin. It provides a controlled thermal conduction route that manages heat flow, preventing excessive heat accumulation at the skin-electrode interface while maintaining effective electrical signal delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If high-intensity tumor treating fields are delivered to maintain treatment efficacy, then cancer cell treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to skin overheating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor treating field intensityVSAvoidpatient discomfort from heat

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode design converts the harmful heat generation from high-power tumor treating field delivery into a beneficial thermal management system. The thermally conductive materials and moat structure actively channel and dissipate the heat that would otherwise cause patient discomfort, transforming a harmful byproduct into a controlled thermal flow that maintains treatment effectiveness while protecting patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Temperature

If the electrode structure includes thermally conductive materials for heat dissipation, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the electrode construction complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidelectrode construction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is segmented into distinct functional layers: a metalized layer for thermal conduction, a ceramic layer for electrical insulation, and a circuit element for signal delivery. Each layer performs a specific function, and their modular arrangement simplifies the overall construction process while achieving effective thermal management. The segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 electrodes effectively reduce skin temperature, maintaining it below 105°F, thereby enhancing patient comfort and treatment efficacy by maintaining high-intensity tumor treating field delivery without overheating.

Implementation Method 1

The metalized layer is coupled to the ceramic layer on one side of the ceramic layer. The metalized layer has an outer surface facing away from the ceramic layer. The circuit element is coupled to the metalized layer. The coupling of the circuit element to the metalized layer is across substantially all of the outer surface of the metalized layer. The circuit element conducts the electrical signals to the metalized layer as directed by the control device.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11759628B2Insulated electrode for delivering tumor treating electromagnetic fields

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 LIFEBRIDGE INNOVATIONS PBC

AI summary

A tumor treating system for the delivery of tumor treating electric fields to a patient including a control device, a field generator, and electrodes. The control device has a frequency range, a firing configuration and a firing sequence. The field generator generates electrical signals within the frequency range. The electrodes are placed in optimized locations on the patient. Each electrode includes a ceramic layer, a metalized layer and a circuit element. The metalized layer is coupled to the ceramic layer on one side of the ceramic layer. The metalized layer has an outer surface facing away from the ceramic layer. The circuit element is coupled to the metalized layer. The coupling of the circuit element to the metalized layer is across substantially all of the outer surface of the metalized layer. The circuit element conducts the electrical signals to the metalized layer as directed by the control device.