TTFields Power-Up Control for Faster Battery Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) delivery systems, such as the OPTUNE device, require shutdown and a lengthy initialization process during battery changes, which reduces treatment efficacy by supplying low power initially and taking around 30 minutes to reach full power, impacting patient treatment duration.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a controller and electric field generator that implements an accelerated power-up program to maintain operating power and quickly restore full-power TTFields during battery changes by detecting power-down events and actuating the electric field generator to provide an alternating current waveform within the 50 kHz to 1 MHz frequency range, reducing reinitialization time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device follows the traditional initialization procedure during battery changes, then patient safety is ensured through gradual power increase, but treatment duration is reduced due to 30-minute reinitialization time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting power-down events caused by battery removal and storing the pre-battery-removal electrical signal parameters in memory. When a new battery is installed, the system retrieves these stored parameters and restores the electrical signal without performing a full initialization sequence, thereby eliminating the 30-minute reinitialization delay while maintaining safety through parameter verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring battery status and detecting power-down events. When battery removal is detected, the system stores the current operating parameters. Upon battery reinstallation, the system reads back the stored parameters and uses them to restore full-power operation, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that prevents complete reinitialization.
2Reliability
If the device supplies low power during initialization, then transducer array proper application is ensured to avoid patient harm, but treatment efficacy is reduced due to lower power delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing the full-power electrical signal parameters before battery removal occurs. When the new battery is installed, the system immediately restores these pre-stored full-power parameters without gradually ramping up power, thereby maintaining treatment efficacy while still verifying array proper application through parameter validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by preserving the electrical signal parameters across battery changes. Instead of interrupting treatment with a low-power initialization sequence, the system continuously maintains the therapeutic electrical signal by storing and restoring full-power parameters, ensuring uninterrupted treatment efficacy.
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 solution enables continuous and effective TTFields delivery by shortening the reinitialization time and ensuring patients receive full-power treatment more quickly during battery changes, thereby improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an electric field generator configured to provide a first electrical signal having a first alternating current waveform at a frequency in a range from 50 kHz to 1 MHz
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus is herein disclosed. The electronic apparatus comprises: an electric field generator providing a first electrical signal having a first alternating current waveform at a frequency between 50 kHz and 1 MHz; and a controller communicating with the electric field generator, the controller having an input, a processor, and a memory storing an accelerated power-up program, a standard power-up program, and computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to: receive a generator power-down event by the input; detect the generator power-down event; deactuate the electric field generator; store an operating parameter; determine an operating status based at least in part on the operating parameter; and actuate the electric field generator to provide a second electrical signal using the accelerated power-up program responsive to the operating status being the accelerated status; the second electrical signal having a second alternating current waveform at a frequency between 50 kHz and 1 MHz.