I-Corps: Directional microwave antenna for precise thermal tissue ablation

I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括生物医学干预，利用细针和/或导管式应用器的精确微波加热模式。使用实例可包括经皮、腔内和内窥镜入路的局部肿瘤的图像引导热消融；局部热介导给药；以及用于热破坏良性目标的电手术设备。本提案中描述的微波应用器首次提供了从薄导管/针基结构中沉积能量的定向控制。它们将能够精确加热靠近关键结构的目标，从而大大扩大可以使用低成本热消融程序治疗的患者范围。此外，所提出的微波施涂器可应用于微波辅助化学反应的材料加工。这个I-Corps项目将侧重于客户发现，以确定和了解客户在生物医学和其他应用的本地化微波加热领域的需求。具有能量沉积定向控制的微波应用器已经通过生物物理模拟和切除组织的台式实验以及初步的体内动物实验进行了广泛的评估。概念验证设备也与磁共振成像集成，以证明图像引导程序的可行性。这个I-Corps项目将培训团队识别潜在客户，了解他们的需求，并开发技术来满足这些需求。这种经验会指导团队吗？我们正在进行的和未来的技术发展努力，使它们以实际需要为基础。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project includes biomedical interventions which harness precise microwave heating patterns from thin needle- and/or catheter-based applicators. Use examples may include image-guided thermal ablation of localized tumors via percutaneous, endoluminal, and endoscopic approaches; localized thermally-mediated drug delivery; and electrosurgical devices for thermal destruction of benign targets. The microwave applicators described in this proposal afford, for the first time, directional control of energy deposition from within thin catheter/needle-based structures. They will enable precise heating of targets in proximity to critical structures, thereby considerably expanding the range of patients that can be treated with low-cost thermal ablation procedures. Furthermore, the proposed microwave applicators may have application to microwave-assisted chemical reactions for materials processing.This I-Corps project will be focused on customer discovery to identify and understand customer needs in the field of localized microwave heating for biomedical and other applications. The microwave applicators with directional control of energy deposition have been extensively evaluated with biophysical simulations and benchtop experiments in excised tissue, as well as with preliminary in vivo animal experiments. Proof-of-concept devices have also been integrated with magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate feasibility for image-guided procedures. This I-Corps project will train the team on identifying potential customers, understanding their needs, and developing technologies to address these needs. This experience will guide the team?s ongoing and future technology developments efforts so they are grounded in practical needs.