Optimizing microwave ablation techniques for targeted cancer therapy

描述(由申请人提供)： 该项目的长期目标是通过优化系统设计和几种组织类型的能量传输，改进微波肿瘤消融的设备和技术，并将其应用于新的患者群体。微波消融在许多方面优于目前可用的技术：微波提供快速的体积加热，导致更精确和完整的治疗；微波加热对组织特性的依赖较少，使其更适合新兴目标(如肺和骨)；使用多天线提高了治疗控制、精度和疗效。不幸的是，目前的系统未能兑现这些承诺，本可以从改进的治疗中受益的患者受到了影响。这项建议是基于这样一种想法，即对微波组织加热的更多了解将促进优化系统和技术的开发，从而提高患者的利益并扩大微波消融在癌症护理中的作用。随着微波消融系统开始进入市场，将需要优化的治疗方案，以提高患者的利益，扩大微波消融在临床癌症护理中的作用。为此，我们建议：1)创建改进的组织数值模型，以更准确地预测设备性能。假设：精确的组织模型改进了数值模拟，简化了设计和治疗优化。2)针对特定组织的治疗假设优化天线设计和功率传输：天线设计和频率可以针对特定的组织或治疗目标进行优化。应用高功率脉冲将更快地凝结组织微血管以提高疗效。当这些优化组合在一起时，产生的烧蚀速度将比当前系统快50%和25%。3)开发多天线应用技术，优化治疗速度和特异性。假设：多天线技术提高了疗效和精确度，允许在不增加侵入性的情况下进行更多量身定制的治疗。烧蚀的速度比目前的系统快50%，比现有系统大40%。4)利用综合治疗监测假说实现实时自适应功率控制：治疗监测无需成像，仅使用间质敷贴器即可完成。如果成功，该项目将促进对微波组织加热的了解，并创造利用微波提供的所有优势的创新和独特的电力输送方法。这些目标将大幅改变临床实践，增加可用微波治疗的肿瘤大小，进一步扩大微波消融的范围至肝脏以外的区域，并增加受益于微创治疗的患者数量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this project is to improve devices and techniques for microwave tumor ablation and extend its application into new patient populations by optimizing system design and energy delivery in several tissue types. Microwave ablation is superior to currently available technologies in many respects: microwaves provide rapid volumetric heating, leading to more precise and complete treatments; microwave heating is less dependent on tissue properties, making it more suitable for emerging targets (e.g., lung and bone); and using multiple antennas improves treatment control, precision and efficacy. Unfortunately, current systems have failed to deliver on these promises and patients who could benefit from improved therapies have suffered. This proposal is based on the idea that understanding more about microwave tissue heating will facilitate development of optimized systems and techniques that will enhance patient benefit and expand the role of microwave ablation in cancer care. As microwave ablation systems begin to enter the marketplace, optimized treatment protocols will be required to enhance patient benefit and expand the role of microwave ablation in clinical cancer care. To this end, we propose to: 1) Create improved numerical models of tissue to more accurately predict device performance. Hypothesis: Accurate tissue models improve numerical simulations, easing design and treatment optimization. 2) Optimize antenna designs and power delivery for tissue-specific treatments Hypotheses: Antenna design and frequencies can be optimized for specific tissues or treatment targets. Applying high-power pulses will more rapidly coagulate tissue microvasculature to improve efficacy. When combined, these optimizations will create ablations 50% faster and 25% larger than current systems. 3) Develop multiple-antenna application techniques to optimize treatment speed and specificity. Hypotheses: Multiple-antenna techniques improve efficacy and precision, allowing more tailored treatments without increasing invasiveness. Ablations can be created by 50% faster and 40% larger than current systems. 4) Facilitate real-time adaptive power control by using integrated treatment monitoring Hypothesis: Treatment monitoring can be accomplished without imaging, using only the interstitial applicator. If successful, this project will advance knowledge of microwave tissue heating, and create innovative and unique approaches to power delivery that utilize all of the advantages that microwaves offer. These aims will substantially change clinical practice by increasing the size of tumors that can be treated with microwaves, further broadening the scope of microwave ablation to areas outside the liver and increasing the number of patients benefiting from minimally invasive treatments.