Integrated Radiation and Hyperthermia Device for Simultaneous Cancer Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cancer therapies, such as radiation and thermotherapy, are not entirely satisfactory as they often require sequential administration rather than simultaneous delivery, which may not optimize the synergistic effects of radiation and heat on cancer cells.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic device that integrates radiation therapy and thermotherapy, allowing for simultaneous spatial and temporal administration of ionizing radiation and regional hyperthermia, using a tomotherapy apparatus and a thermotherapeutic heating device, with image-guidance to ensure precise targeting and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation therapy and thermotherapy are administered sequentially in separate locations, then the treatment can be delivered using conventional separate apparatus, but the synergistic effects of radiation and heat on cancer cells are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radiation therapy apparatus and thermotherapy apparatus into a single integrated therapeutic device. The radiation source and heating element are merged within the same treatment chamber, allowing simultaneous delivery of both therapies to the same target area without requiring patient repositioning or separate treatment sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated therapeutic device performs multiple therapeutic functions simultaneously - it can deliver radiation therapy, thermotherapy, or both combined in one treatment session. The device is designed to accommodate different treatment modalities within a single apparatus, making it a universal cancer treatment platform.
2Productivity
If radiation therapy and thermotherapy are administered simultaneously in the same apparatus, then the synergistic effects are maximized, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic control capabilities where the radiation source and heating element can be independently adjusted in intensity and timing. The control system allows real-time modulation of both therapy parameters during treatment, enabling adaptive delivery based on tissue response and treatment progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device includes monitoring systems that provide feedback on treatment delivery for both radiation and heat. This allows the control system to adjust parameters in real-time to maintain optimal treatment conditions, ensure patient safety, and maximize therapeutic effectiveness through closed-loop control.
3Loss of time
If separate therapy sessions are used for radiation and thermotherapy, then each therapy can be optimized independently, but the treatment time and patient inconvenience increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges radiation therapy and thermotherapy into a single treatment session delivered in one location. The integrated apparatus eliminates the need for patients to travel between separate treatment facilities or undergo multiple setup procedures, consolidating both therapies into one convenient visit.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables continuous simultaneous delivery of both radiation and heat therapies during the same treatment period. This eliminates idle time between separate therapy sessions and maintains continuous therapeutic action on the target tissue, maximizing treatment efficiency.
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 enhances the synergistic effects of radiation and heat on cancer cells, improving blood supply and oxygenation, and impairing tumor cell repair mechanisms, leading to more effective treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation therapy apparatus applies an ionizing radiation to the patient
Implementation Method 2
the thermotherapeutic heating device induces a regional hyperthermia in the patient. The term hyperthermia defines a procedure in which the body cells in the area of treatment are heated to a temperature of 40°C-46°C
Implementation Method 3
The therapeutic device according to the invention further comprises at least one body scanner generating images of the body interior of the patient
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a therapeutic device (1) for treatment of a patient, particularly for cancer treatment, comprising a radiation therapy apparatus (2) for applying an ionizing radiation to the patient, characterized by an integrated thermotherapeutic heating device (8) for inducing a regional hyperthermia in the patient.