Tuned RF Beads for Localized Tumor Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio frequency ablation technologies face challenges in minimizing damage to healthy surrounding tissue during tumor treatment and other applications, as existing methods often result in unpredictable localization of thermal energy, leading to overheating of healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using tuned radio frequency beads placed at anatomical locations, each tuned to a unique frequency, with a radio frequency transmitter that selectively concentrates energy on specific areas, allowing for precise heating while minimizing impact on surrounding tissue, and utilizing magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring and adjusting the treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional RF ablation is used to heat tumors, then tumor destruction is achieved, but surrounding healthy tissue is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multiple RF sources with different spatial distributions, each optimized for specific regions. The system creates locally optimized heating patterns that concentrate energy precisely at the tumor location while maintaining lower energy levels in surrounding healthy tissues, thereby achieving effective tumor destruction without damaging adjacent healthy structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the RF ablation process by dividing the treatment into multiple independent RF sources, each targeting specific portions of the tumor from different directions. This segmentation allows independent control of energy delivery to different tumor regions, enabling precise thermal dosing that destroys the entire tumor while protecting surrounding healthy tissue through controlled spatial energy distribution
2Reliability
If RF energy is increased to ensure complete tumor destruction, then treatment effectiveness improves, but overheating of healthy tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing real-time temperature monitoring and feedback control during RF ablation. The system dynamically adjusts the power output of individual RF sources based on measured temperature distributions, increasing energy to under-heated tumor regions while decreasing energy to prevent overheating of healthy tissues, thereby maintaining complete tumor destruction with minimal damage to surrounding structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature during RF ablation and using this information to adjust energy delivery. The system measures temperature at multiple locations and modifies the operation of individual RF sources in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures complete tumor destruction while preventing overheating of healthy surrounding tissues through adaptive energy management
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 targeted and controlled heating of tumors or other tissues, reducing damage to healthy tissue by precisely delivering radio frequency energy to specific areas, ensuring effective treatment while minimizing adverse effects on surrounding tissues.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting radio frequency energy to one or more tuned radio frequency beads located at one or more portions of anatomy of a subject, each radio frequency bead being tuned to an independent frequency
Implementation Method 2
The source is used to heat up the tumor, e.g., around 50 to 60 degrees centigrade, causing destruction of the tumor. This heating is accomplished more from resistive heating rather than absorption of the RF energy by the tissue
Implementation Method 3
eliciting magnetic resonance image signals from at least one of the portions of the anatomy at which the one or more beads are located
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to a method of applying spatially localized radio frequency (“RF”) beam to a target location by placing RF resonant circuits at the target location. In a preferred embodiment, the target location is a portion of the anatomy of a subject, e.g., a tumor in a human body, and the RF resonant circuits are placed at the target location using a catheter or needle injection. The localized RF beam is provided is provided by a RF transmitter whose frequency is tuned to those of the RF resonant circuits. The RF transmitter may thus selectively supply concentrated thermal radiation capable of treating the target location without significantly heating (e.g., damaging due to high temperatures, or exposure to prolonged increased temperatures, etc.) areas proximate the target location (e.g., healthy tissue in other portions of the body.