Ultrasound Array Ensonification for Selective Sonosensitizer Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound devices for sonodynamic therapy are not designed to specifically activate sonosensitizers, leading to indiscriminate tissue damage and inefficiencies in cancer treatment, particularly for tumors with unclear margins.
Innovation Solution
The use of ultrasound transducer arrays that generate incoherent acoustic waves at low energy intensity and frequency, combined with a flexible patient interface, to activate sonosensitizers and target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If focused ultrasound is used to concentrate energy in a particular region, then energy concentration and precision are improved, but tissue damage becomes indiscriminate and thermal ablation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a sonosensitizer that selectively accumulates in cancer cells, creating a localized chemical effect that enhances the impact of ultrasound energy specifically at the tumor site rather than causing widespread thermal damage. The sonosensitizer concentration is highest in cancer cells, so the cytotoxic effect is localized where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sonosensitizer acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the ultrasound energy and the cancer cells. It absorbs the ultrasound energy and converts it into cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, providing a controlled chemical mechanism that reduces the harmful thermal effects of direct focused ultrasound while maintaining precision in targeting cancer cells.
2Productivity
If high intensity focused ultrasound is used to activate sonosensitizer, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but damage to surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of ultrasound delivery by using lower intensities and longer durations rather than high intensity focused ultrasound. The lower intensity prevents excessive heating of healthy tissue while the extended duration allows sufficient energy delivery to activate the sonosensitizer effectively, given that the sonosensitizer is already concentrated in the tumor cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed ultrasound delivery rather than continuous high intensity exposure. This periodic action allows the tissue to dissipate heat between pulses, reducing thermal damage to healthy surrounding tissue while maintaining cumulative activation effectiveness of the sonosensitizer over time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ultrasound devices are repurposed for sonodynamic therapy, then device availability is improved, but treatment precision and effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by demonstrating that conventional ultrasound devices can be adapted for sonodynamic therapy without requiring specialized equipment. The existing ultrasound hardware is used with modified parameters and in conjunction with sonosensitizer administration, allowing the same devices to serve both diagnostic and therapeutic functions while maintaining treatment precision through the chemical enhancement mechanism.
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 enhances cancer treatment by selectively damaging cancer cells with reduced side effects, allowing for non-invasive, office-based therapy that complements other treatments and reduces the need for additional therapies.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasound arrays for enhanced sonodynamic therapy for treating cancer
Implementation Method 2
the ultrasound activates the sonosensitizer with cavitational, thermal energy
Implementation Method 3
Sonodynamic therapy is a proposed form of cancer treatment that uses ultrasound energy to activate a drug, prodrug, and/or sonosensitizer
Implementation Method 4
Upon activation by the ultrasonic energy, sonodynamic therapy drugs or 'sonosensitizers' produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that generate the cytotoxic effect
Implementation Method 5
Where each of the individual beams passes through the tissue, there is no effect. But, at the focal point, the convergence of the multiple beams of focused ultrasound energy results in indiscriminate tissue death in the region of interest through thermal ablation
Data Source
AI summary
Ultrasound transducer element arrays using acoustic ensonification drive patterns via a patient interface for sonosensitizer activation in sonodynamic therapy. Acoustic field generation varying phase, frequencies, and/or amplitude via controlled delivery of low intensity planar acoustic waves. Method includes generating a first and a second signal to generate respective acoustic ensonification drive patterns with phase, frequency, and amplitude and generating at least one relative phase, frequency or amplitude difference to generate a third incoherent acoustic ensonification pattern to activate a sonosensitizer.