Non-invasive RF Tumor Vaccination via Capacitive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer treatments, including radiofrequency ablation and intravascular pulsed radiofrequency stimulation, are invasive and fail to effectively target 'hidden' tumor cells that evade the immune system by reducing tumor-specific antigen expression, leading to non-specific immune responses and limited efficacy in treating metastases and relapsed cancer.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive method using radiofrequency waves with capacitive coupling in a condenser arrangement, combined with immune stimulants, to enhance the immune system's recognition and response to hidden tumor cells by exposing tumor-specific antigens and inducing immunogenic cell death, thereby activating a specific and systemic immune reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiofrequency ablation is used to treat cancer, then tumor cells are destroyed through heating, but the method is invasive and causes vehement necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive RFA needle insertion with a non-invasive capacitive coupling system using external electrodes that generate RF electric fields to induce immunogenic cell death without physical penetration or severe thermal necrosis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the RF parameter regime from high-power continuous heating (RFA) to lower-power modulated RF fields combined with immune stimulants, shifting the mechanism from thermal necrosis to immunogenic cell death with antigen preservation
2Reliability
If intravascular pulsed radiofrequency stimulation is used to boost immune system, then lymphocytes are stimulated, but the immune response is non-specific and cannot target hidden tumor cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies RF treatment and immune stimulants preliminarily to release tumor antigens from dying tumor cells, creating a personalized antigen source that subsequently guides the immune system to specifically recognize and attack the patient's own hidden tumor cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses immune stimulants as intermediaries that bridge the RF-induced cell death and the immune system activation, enhancing antigen presentation and directing the immune response toward tumor-specific targets rather than causing non-specific activation
3Reliability
If conventional cancer vaccines are used, then immune response is attempted, but no vaccine effectively targets hidden tumor cells with reduced antigen expression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the patient's own tumor cells to serve as the vaccine source by inducing immunogenic cell death that releases the patient's unique tumor antigens in situ, creating a personalized vaccine that specifically targets the patient's hidden tumor cells without requiring external antigen identification or preparation
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 enables the immune system to recognize and effectively target both primary and metastatic cancer cells, including those that are not detectable by standard imaging, and prevents relapse by generating a long-term immune memory against cancer cells.
Implementation Method 1
The applied local current becomes so large, that the tumor is burned thereby causing vehement necrosis
Implementation Method 2
radiofrequency waves with capacitive coupling in a condenser arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vaccine composed of at least one immune stimulant and radiofrequency waves using capacitive coupling and to a method, especially an in-situ and in vivo vaccination method for treatment of primary cancer and its metastases even in disseminated cell-states, which cannot be detected by presently available imaging methods or for prevention of relapse of the cancer disease, and especially for enabling and supporting the patient's own immune system to recognize and kill the cancer cells and to build up a memory to prevent relapse of a cancer disease.