3D-Printed Support Shell for Reproducible Hyperthermia Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer treatment methods, such as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after radical prostatectomy, face limitations in long-term disease control and increased toxicities, especially when high doses are used, and there is a need for more effective and less invasive treatments that can combine hyperthermia with radiation therapy to improve therapeutic ratios.
Innovation Solution
A system for radiation with hyperthermia treatment that includes a personalized, 3D-printed support shell with integrated treatment device locators and a computing system to ensure accurate and reproducible targeting of the treatment zone over multiple sessions, reducing patient discomfort and treatment time, and simplifying setup complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external beam radiotherapy uses high doses to improve disease control, then long-term disease control improves, but toxicities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines external beam radiotherapy with ultrasound hyperthermia treatment in a unified system. The support shell integrates both radiation delivery and ultrasound applicator positioning, allowing simultaneous or sequential application of thermal and radiation effects to enhance tumor cell killing while potentially reducing the need for high radiation doses alone.
Solution Approach 2:
Ultrasound hyperthermia acts as an intermediary that sensitizes tumor cells to radiation. By heating the tissue to 41-43°C, the ultrasound energy enhances the biological effect of subsequent radiation, allowing for improved disease control at lower radiation doses, thereby reducing toxicities.
2Measurement precision
If radiotherapy tattoos are used to mark skin for alignment, then positioning accuracy improves, but patient discomfort and removal cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for permanent skin tattoos by using a removable support shell with integrated positioning features. The shell can be taken off between treatment sessions and does not require invasive marking of the patient's skin, thereby eliminating patient discomfort and removal costs while maintaining positioning accuracy through the shell's built-in alignment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If adjuvant hyperthermia with MRgFUS is delivered, then treatment effectiveness improves, but patient immobilization time and positioning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support shell merges radiation therapy positioning and ultrasound applicator positioning into a single integrated device. The shell contains built-in locators that guide both the radiation beam and the ultrasound transducer to the same anatomical target, simplifying the positioning process while maintaining the effectiveness of both treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The support shell serves multiple functions: it immobilizes the patient, positions the radiation field, and guides the ultrasound applicator. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate positioning systems for each modality, reducing overall complexity while preserving treatment effectiveness.
4Reliability
If multiple radiation treatment cycles are administered, then disease control improves, but treatment time and patient immobilization time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support shell is custom-fabricated before treatment begins based on patient-specific anatomy and treatment planning. This preliminary customization allows for rapid positioning and setup during each treatment session, reducing the time required for immobilization and alignment while enabling multiple treatment cycles to be administered efficiently.
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 system allows for precise and efficient hyperthermia treatment with reduced side effects by ensuring accurate positioning and reproducibility, minimizing patient immobilization time, and simplifying the treatment process for healthcare practitioners.
Implementation Method 1
a rigid support shell, the support shell comprising a body conforming wall and at least one treatment device locator, the treatment device locator comprising an orifice and a guide tube upstanding outwardly from the body conforming wall and configured to receive and locate a treatment device including a hyperthermia applicator
Data Source
Figure 1Aa~1Af
Figure 1Ba~1Bf
Figure 2a~2f
AI summary
System for radiation with hyperthermia cancer treatment (1) comprising a support shell (2), the support shell comprising a body conforming wall (4) and at least on treatment device locator (6), the treatment device locator comprising an orifice (12) and a guide tube (14) upstanding outwardly from the body conforming wall and configured to receive and locate a treatment device (8) including a hyperthermia applicator (8a).