Tumor Treating Field Pulses With Interleaved Electrode Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumor treating field (TTFields) systems face limitations in increasing the intensity of alternating electric fields due to electrode array overheating, which restricts the efficacy of cancer treatment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where high-intensity alternating current pulses are applied for short durations followed by cooling periods to prevent electrode elements from exceeding temperature thresholds, allowing for higher peak currents without overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If continuous high-intensity alternating current is applied to increase TTFields intensity, then treatment efficacy is improved, but electrode temperature exceeds safety thresholds causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed alternating current instead of continuous current, with treatment intervals (e.g., 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off) to deliver high peak power while allowing cooling periods between pulses, thereby achieving high treatment efficacy without sustained overheating
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-cools electrodes during off-intervals before the next high-power pulse, ensuring electrodes are ready to handle peak current without immediately exceeding temperature thresholds, maintaining safety margins before each treatment burst
2Duration of action of moving object
If pulse duration is extended to deliver more treatment energy, then treatment efficacy increases, but electrode temperature rises above safe levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses repeated short pulses (e.g., 10-second treatment intervals followed by 10-second cooling intervals) over extended periods, accumulating total treatment duration while interspersing cooling periods to prevent temperature buildup, achieving both long treatment effect and thermal safety
3Power
If peak current is increased to enhance treatment effectiveness, then treatment efficacy is improved, but electrode overheating occurs more rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The system delivers high peak currents in periodic bursts followed by cooling intervals, allowing peak power to be maximized for treatment effectiveness while the periodic nature ensures electrodes cool down between pulses, maintaining reliability and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures electrodes are in a cooled state before applying high peak current pulses, and maintains cooling periods afterward, pre-establishing safe thermal conditions before high-power delivery and preventing overheating-related failures
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 approach enables higher peak currents with increased treatment efficacy by maintaining electrode safety, enhancing the effectiveness of TTFields in cancer treatment.
Implementation Method 1
The pulses of alternating current within any given first time interval have amplitudes at a level that would cause at least one of the first electrode elements to exceed a temperature threshold between 37° C. and 43° C. if the series of pulses was allowed to continue for one hour
Implementation Method 2
allowing the at least one first electrode element and the at least one second electrode element to cool during each of a plurality of second time intervals
Data Source
AI summary
Alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) may be induced in a target region in a subject's body by applying, during each of a plurality of first time intervals, a series of pulses of alternating current between electrode elements positioned on or in the subject's body. Immediately following each first interval of time, the electrode elements are allowed to cool. Although the pulses of alternating current within any given first time interval have amplitudes at a level that would cause overheating if the series of pulses was allowed to continue for one hour, each series of pulses does not, in fact, continue for one hour. To the contrary, each series of pulses is short enough to avoid overheating. Interleaving the cooling periods between the pulsing periods enables higher-current pulses to be used, and the use of those higher-current pulses can advantageously improve the efficacy of treatment.