2019-99A Tunable Antenna for Microwave Ablation of Biological Tissue

SUMMARY

UCLA researchers in the Departments of Radiology and Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed a microwave ablation antenna that enhances the destruction of early stage solid tumor tissue by optimizing the microwave energy delivery into biological tissue via dielectric matching.

BACKGROUND

Microwave ablation is a minimally invasive therapeutic technique used to treat early stage solid tumors by generating localized heat from microwave energy sources. After insertion under image guidance, the microwave antenna emits sufficient electromagnetic radiation to match the size and shape of the targeted tissue. Unfortunately, commercially available antennas intended for this purpose lack any tuning capabilities to engender versatility across heterogeneous tissue such as the lung tissue, which is largely comprised of a combination of lung parenchyma interspersed with air, blood vessels, and lymphatics. Therefore, there is a need for a modular antenna that can enable dielectric matching of the microwave radiation to the target tumor.

INNOVATION

UCLA researchers in the Department of Radiology and Electric Engineering have developed an antenna that allows for microwave energy to be tuned to the dielectric impedance of the target tissue in order to deliver optimal energy for tumor destruction. This method enhances the precision of localized heating across target tissue types, allowing for more rapid and complete tumor destruction, minimizing the risk for tumor recurrence. More accurate treatment technology will also minimize the risk for inadvertent tissue damage to non-tumor anatomy. Importantly, the disclosure encompasses both digital and analog systems and can be integrated with existing microwave generators.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS