Prioritized Multi-Direction TTFields Under Temperature Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumor treating field (TTFields) therapies face limitations due to temperature constraints, preventing the amplitude of alternating electric fields from being maximized, which in turn limits therapeutic efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A signal generator that adjusts the activation duration of electrode assemblies based on temperature data to maintain a duty cycle that prevents overheating, allowing for a preferred channel to operate at a higher duty cycle and duration, thereby enhancing therapeutic effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the amplitude of alternating electric fields is increased to enhance therapeutic efficacy, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the transducer arrays overheat and exceed safety temperature thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies alternating electric fields in periodic cycles, switching between different transducer arrays (e.g., L/R channel and A/P channel) with duty cycles less than 100%. This periodic activation allows each array to be exposed to high power intermittently, achieving therapeutic effect while preventing continuous overheating. The duty cycle is adjusted based on temperature feedback to maintain safety thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are incorporated into the transducer arrays to detect temperature in advance. The system uses this preliminary temperature data to adjust the duty cycle before overheating occurs, preventing the temperature from exceeding safety thresholds while maximizing therapeutic effect within safe limits.
2Productivity
If the duty cycle of transducer arrays is increased to maximize therapeutic effect, then the overall treatment efficacy is improved, but the temperature of electrode assemblies exceeds safety thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between different transducer arrays with optimized duty cycles. Each array is activated for a specific duration then deactivated to cool down, creating a rhythmic pattern of treatment that maximizes cumulative therapeutic effect while preventing any single array from overheating. The duty cycle is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment is segmented into multiple channels (e.g., L/R channel and A/P channel) that are activated alternately. This segmentation allows the total therapeutic dose to be distributed across different arrays over time, with each array receiving a reduced individual duty cycle that prevents overheating while the cumulative effect across all arrays achieves the desired therapeutic outcome.
3Temperature
If both transducer array pairs operate at 50% duty cycle simultaneously, then temperature control is maintained, but the overall therapeutic effect is limited due to equal distribution of treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning different duty cycles to different transducer array pairs based on their specific characteristics and treatment requirements. Instead of uniform 50% duty cycles for all arrays, the optimized system assigns higher duty cycles to arrays that provide greater therapeutic benefit, creating non-uniform treatment distribution that maximizes overall efficacy while maintaining temperature safety through selective activation patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycles of different transducer array pairs based on real-time temperature feedback and therapeutic priorities. The duty cycle allocation is not fixed but adapts during treatment, allowing the system to optimize the balance between temperature control and therapeutic effect by shifting activation patterns between arrays as conditions change.
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 solution increases the overall therapeutic effect of alternating electric fields by optimizing the operation of preferred channels to maintain higher duty cycles and durations while preventing electrode assemblies from exceeding safety temperature thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
The first output is configured to apply a first 50 kHz-1 MHz alternating voltage between a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly, so that a first electric field is induced in the region of interest
Implementation Method 2
because higher amplitudes also cause the transducer arrays to heat up
Data Source
AI summary
Alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) are applied in a region of interest (ROI) by (a) inducing a first electric field in a first direction in the ROI for a first duration of time T1; (b) inducing a second electric field in a second direction in the ROI for a second duration of time T2; and repeating step (a) and step (b) in an alternating sequence. If a determination has previously been made that the first electric field will provide a larger therapeutic effect than the second electric field, the durations T1 and T2 are selected so that, in the aggregate, step (a) is performed for more time than step (b). This increases the overall therapeutic effect of the TTFields with respect to systems that do not prioritize one of the directions over the other direction.