Shiftable Transducer Array for TTFields Skin Irritation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tumor treating field (TTFields) transducers cause skin irritation due to uneven current distribution, leading to 'hot spots' and limited maximum operational current, which restricts the strength of the induced fields.

Innovation Solution

The transducers are designed with an anisotropic material layer and a shiftable configuration, allowing rotation or translation to redistribute heat and current, reducing skin irritation while maintaining optimal field intensity by covering at least 80% of the original footprint, and incorporating medication regions for soothing the skin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional transducer designs with rectangular arrays of ceramic disks are used, then the transducers can generate TTFields, but skin irritation occurs due to uneven current distribution and hot spots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield intensityVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transducer array is made shiftable relative to the electrode elements, allowing dynamic repositioning to redistribute current density and eliminate hot spots that cause skin irritation, while maintaining therapeutic field intensity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Medication regions are selectively placed in specific locations within the transducer array to provide localized skin care at areas prone to irritation, without affecting the overall field generation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Power

If higher current is applied to increase field strength, then therapeutic effectiveness improves, but skin irritation and hot spots worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational currentVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shiftable transducer array enables dynamic adjustment of current distribution by repositioning the transducer relative to the electrode elements, allowing higher operational currents to be applied therapeutically while redistributing heat away from skin contact points to prevent irritation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Medication regions act as an intermediary between the electrode elements and the skin, providing protective and soothing effects that enable higher currents to be applied without causing skin irritation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the transducer array is shifted to redistribute heat and current, then skin irritation is reduced, but field coverage may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin irritationVSAvoidfootprint coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The transducer array is designed to be shiftable within a defined range that redistributes current to reduce skin irritation while maintaining sufficient overlap (at least 80% footprint coverage) to preserve therapeutic field effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design minimizes skin irritation, allows continuous TTFields application at optimal power levels, and improves patient outcomes by reducing hot spots and enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

The transducers are designed with an anisotropic material layer and a shiftable configuration, allowing rotation or translation to redistribute heat and current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The transducers are designed with an anisotropic material layer and a shiftable configuration, allowing rotation or translation to redistribute heat and current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

Electrical signals are applied to this conductive backing, and these signals are capacitively coupled into the patient's body through the ceramic discs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 4

TTFields are induced non-invasively into a region of interest by transducers placed on the patient's body and applying alternating current (AC) voltages between the transducers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20240390694A1Shiftable transducer array with anisotropic material layer

Publication Date: 2024.11.28 NOVOCURE GMBH

AI summary

A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: an array of electrodes, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face of the array facing the subject's body, the array including electrode elements; and an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrodes and located on a front side of the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer including a front face and a back face, the back face facing the array of electrodes. The anisotropic material layer further includes a hole passing through the front face and the back face of the anisotropic material layer, wherein the electrode elements are positioned around the hole of the anisotropic material layer.