Implantable Stent Electrodes for Tumor-Treating Electric Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer treatments for tumors, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, have undesirable side effects and not all patients respond effectively, necessitating the development of alternative therapies that can target cancerous cells without substantial tissue intervention.
Innovation Solution
Implantable medical devices with electrodes configured to generate electric fields at frequencies between 10 kHz to 1 MHz, utilizing conductive coil filars or pillars, which can be expanded or stent-like to increase surface area and deliver electric fields directly to tumors, disrupting cellular division and inducing apoptosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cancer treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) are used, then cancerous tumors can be treated, but undesirable side effects occur and not all patients respond effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgery and chemical chemotherapy with an electrical field-based treatment system. The implantable device delivers alternating current through electrodes that generate electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division, substituting traditional mechanical and chemical approaches with an electrical mechanism that targets cancer cells more selectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electric fields as an intermediary mechanism to treat cancer cells. The electric fields act as a mediator that disrupts cellular division processes without requiring direct physical contact (surgery) or chemical exposure (chemotherapy), thereby reducing harmful side effects while maintaining treatment effectiveness
2Area of stationary object
If electrodes are designed with larger surface area to deliver electric fields effectively, then treatment coverage is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where multiple electrodes are arranged concentrically around a central lead body. The electrodes are positioned at different radial distances, creating a compact multi-layered configuration that maximizes surface area coverage while maintaining a small overall device footprint and simplifying the implantation structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional electrode surface to a three-dimensional volumetric arrangement. Multiple electrodes are positioned at different radial distances and angular positions around the lead body, creating a volumetric electric field distribution that increases effective treatment coverage without proportionally increasing device complexity
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 electric fields effectively halt cellular division and induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, providing a targeted treatment with reduced side effects and improved patient response.
Implementation Method 1
an electric field generating circuit configured to generate one or more electric fields at or near a site of the cancerous tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a medical device system for treating a cancerous tissue, comprising: an electric field generating circuit configured to generate one or more electric fields at or near a site of the cancerous tissue; control circuitry in communication with the electric field generating circuit, the control circuitry configured to control delivery of the one or more electric fields from the electric field generating circuit to the site of the cancerous tissue; wherein the control circuitry causes the electric field generating circuit to generate one or more electric fields at frequencies selected from a range of between 10 kHz to 1 MHz; and an implantable lead comprising: a lead body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the lead body comprising a first electrical conductor disposed within the lead body; and a first electrode coupled to the lead body, the first electrode in electrical communication with the first electrical conductor, wherein the first electrical conductor forms part of an electrical circuit by which the electric fields from the electric field generating circuit are delivered to the site of the cancerous tissue; and a stent coupled to the lead body at a distal portion thereof.