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

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括利用细针和/或基于导管的敷贴器的精确微波加热模式的生物医学干预。使用的例子可以包括通过经皮、腔内和内窥镜途径对局部肿瘤进行图像引导的热消融；局部热介导的药物输送；以及用于热破坏良性靶点的电外科设备。本方案中描述的微波辐射器首次提供了从细导管/针基结构内对能量沉积的定向控制。它们将能够对关键结构附近的目标进行精确加热，从而大大扩大了可以用低成本热消融程序治疗的患者范围。此外，拟议的微波辐射器可能应用于材料加工的微波辅助化学反应。这个I-Corps项目将专注于客户发现，以识别和了解客户在生物医学和其他应用的局部微波加热领域的需求。具有定向控制能量沉积的微波辐射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活体动物实验进行了广泛的评估。概念验证设备也已与磁共振成像相结合，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。这一经验将指导团队？S持续和未来的技术发展努力，使他们植根于实际需求。

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.