RF-Powered Hyperthermia Implant for Deep Tissue Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hyperthermia treatments are either expensive or lack the ability to target deeper structures within the body, often causing off-target effects and overheating of surface tissues.
Innovation Solution
A battery-free, wireless implant that generates heat using RF energy harvesting, featuring a microcontroller and a ferromagnetic core to treat specific body regions, with a semiconductor switch controlling power levels to maintain a safe temperature range and communicate with an external system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If surface heating devices are used to treat deeper structures, then treatment depth is improved, but off-target effects and surface tissue overheating occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the heating function into multiple independent implantable devices that can be placed at different depths and locations within the body. Each implant independently generates heat locally, allowing deep tissue treatment without requiring surface heating that would cause off-target effects. The segmentation of the heating source enables precise spatial control of thermal energy delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device acts as an intermediary between the external RF energy source and the target tissue. The implant receives RF energy wirelessly from an external coil and converts it to localized heat at the implant site, serving as a mediator that delivers thermal energy directly to deep structures without heating surface tissues. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for direct surface-to-depth energy transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If focused ultrasound heating is used for localized hyperthermia, then treatment precision is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs simple, inexpensive implantable devices that can be disposed of or replaced after use, eliminating the need for expensive phased-array ultrasound transmitters and MRI thermometry systems. Each implant is a straightforward device containing a ferromagnetic core and simple electronics that convert RF energy to heat, providing precise localized heating at a fraction of the cost of focused ultrasound systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical phased-array ultrasound system with a simpler electromagnetic approach. Instead of using mechanical ultrasound waves requiring precise array control and MRI guidance, the implant uses RF electromagnetic fields to generate heat directly through a ferromagnetic core, substituting a simpler electromagnetic mechanism for a complex mechanical one.
3Manufacturing precision
If surface heating pads with infrared lights are used, then anatomical specificity on skin is improved, but treatment depth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional surface heating to three-dimensional volumetric heating by placing implants directly within the target tissue volume. The implants can be positioned at various depths and orientations, enabling treatment of deep structures in three dimensions rather than being limited to surface-level two-dimensional heating patterns.
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 implant provides localized, controlled hyperthermia treatment with minimal risk and complexity, allowing for extended use and simultaneous treatment of multiple body regions while avoiding overheating.
Implementation Method 1
The device may be wireless and be configured to operate using energy harvesting of RF waves from an external coil and system
Implementation Method 2
a ferromagnetic core that is adapted to interact with the inductor to generate heat to treat a target area of the body
Implementation Method 3
the first inductor and first capacitor configure a resonant frequency of the electrical circuit, and are adapted to receive wireless electromagnetic waves and in response, produce power
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with principles of the invention, one or more embodiments are provided of an implant that in use is embedded in a body and generates heat treatment that treats cells in a surrounding area. The device may be wireless and be configured to operate using energy harvesting of RF waves from an external coil and system. The device can be part of such systems and can involve multiple devices for providing simultaneous treatment. The device can be configured to operate to transition between two operating modes when receiving the RF waves that switch the power level of the operating circuit to autonomously move from a low power level that powers a microcontroller and a high power level that powers the microcontroller and generates heat that applies desired treatment to target tissue.