Single Cable Hyperthermia Apparatus with Bidirectional Coupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hyperthermia technologies face challenges with significant side effects and unpredictability in heating patterns, limited depth of heating, and the risk of inadvertently administering heat or electromagnetic radiation to medical providers, making them difficult to control and monitor effectively.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus utilizing a single cable system with a signal generator, bidirectional coupler, and controller to induce localized hyperthermia by emitting an electromagnetic field, featuring a flexible applicator with temperature sensors to optimize radiofrequency signal delivery and minimize energy usage, ensuring precise and controlled heat application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional hyperthermia treatment methods are used, then heating can be applied to treat cancer, but the heating pattern is unpredictable and depth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is divided into multiple independent RF cables that can be positioned at different locations and angles relative to the tumor. Each cable delivers electromagnetic energy independently, allowing the heating pattern to be segmented and controlled across multiple zones. This segmentation enables deeper and more predictable heating by distributing energy delivery across multiple entry points rather than relying on a single source with limited penetration depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements independent temperature monitoring and power regulation for each RF cable and treatment zone. Temperature sensors are placed at specific locations within the tumor, and each cable's power delivery is independently controlled based on local temperature feedback. This local quality control ensures predictable heating patterns by preventing hot spots and ensuring uniform temperature distribution throughout the treatment volume, while achieving deeper penetration through multiple localized entry points.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling systems are added to reduce surface temperature, then skin burns are reduced, but coordination of frequency and heating depth becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the treatment system by using passive cooling through the RF cables themselves. The cables are designed to conduct heat away from the skin surface through their structure and contact with cooler underlying tissues, eliminating the need for separate active cooling systems. This extraction maintains skin temperature safety while preserving full control over the heating frequency and depth parameters, as the RF generation and cooling functions operate independently without requiring complex coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF cables serve as intermediaries that simultaneously deliver electromagnetic energy for heating and provide a thermal conduction path for passive cooling. The cable structure acts as a mediator between the RF generator and the tissue, allowing controlled energy transfer while conducting excess heat away from the skin surface. This intermediary function enables independent optimization of heating frequency and cooling efficiency without adding system complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple cables are used for treatment, then heating coverage is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of control increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each RF cable in the system is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions: delivering electromagnetic energy for heating, serving as a thermal conduction path for cooling, and providing mechanical support for positioning. The cables share common characteristics and connection interfaces, allowing them to be used interchangeably in different configurations. This universality enables expanded heating coverage through multiple cables while minimizing system complexity, as no additional specialized components are needed for each cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the heating coverage and pattern by changing parameters of the existing cable system rather than adding complex new components. Each cable's power delivery, frequency, and positioning can be independently adjusted to optimize heating coverage. By varying these parameters across multiple identical cables, the system achieves comprehensive heating coverage while maintaining simple, uniform cable architecture that is easy to control and manage.
4Reliability
If temperature monitoring is enhanced for safety, then patient safety is improved, but energy usage and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service temperature monitoring where temperature sensors are integrated directly into the RF cable structure and treatment applicator. These sensors automatically monitor temperature at the treatment site and provide real-time feedback to the control system without requiring external monitoring equipment. The system uses this feedback to automatically adjust power delivery, ensuring patient safety while minimizing energy consumption through efficient, localized monitoring rather than extensive external sensor arrays.
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 provides predictable, controllable, and efficient hyperthermic treatments with reduced side effects by optimizing electromagnetic radiation delivery and temperature monitoring, ensuring effective heat penetration while safeguarding both patients and medical personnel.
Implementation Method 1
A medical apparatus utilizing a single cable system with a signal generator, bidirectional coupler, and controller to induce localized hyperthermia by emitting an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
The applicator is placed against a patient and a signal generator of the medical apparatus emits radiofrequency signals
Implementation Method 3
The bidirectional coupler is operable to provide the radiofrequency signal generated by the signal generator to the output and to receive a reflected signal from the output
Implementation Method 4
temperature sensors to optimize radiofrequency signal delivery and minimize energy usage, ensuring precise and controlled heat application
Data Source
AI summary
A medical apparatus operable to induce localized hyperthermia in a patient via an electromagnetic field emitted by an antenna of an applicator connected to an output of the medical apparatus includes a signal generator, a bidirectional coupler, and a controller. The signal generator generates a radio frequency signal as a function of an operating parameter to a single cable to an applicator. The bidirectional coupler provides the radio frequency signal generated by the signal generator to the output and receives a reflected signal from the output at the applicator. First and second low pass filters isolate the radio frequency signal and reflected signal from a temperature sensing signal transmitted via the single cable to at least one temperature sensor of the applicator.