The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) seeks interested parties for the commercialapplication of a microwave treatment system forprostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia thatwas developed by engineers at the Johnson SpaceCenter In theory, this technology provides precisecontrol within the treatment area, thus allowing fornecrosis of only the targeted treatment zone. Currentprostate treatment methods, including chemotherapy,cryotherapy, radiation therapy and prostatectomy,often damage the healthy cells surrounding thetargeted treatment zone causing undesirable risks andside effects.

Microwave Treatment of Prostate Cancer and Hyperplasia

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

technology opportunity

www.nasa.gov

Benefits

Small size:• Less than 2.2 mm diameter• Fits in a catheter or syringe application

Heat profile:• Controllable for a wide-variety of needs• Using multiple energy sources reduces the

heat generated in proximity of an antenna• Reduces and/or eliminates damage to

adjacent tissue• Can be designed for localized cooling to

protect the urethra while heating beyond the urethra and into the prostate

Operation:• Antenna can be focused or rotated up to

360 degrees for a larger area

Applications

Bio-Medical

• Prostatic Cancer

• Hyperplasia

MSC-23049-1

Technology DetailsThis microwave catheter design, which wasdeveloped for commercial use in treatingventricular tachycardia, can be modified totreat prostate cancer and benign prostatichyperplasia (BPH).

Why it was DevelopedConsidering that the occurrence of BPH isincreasing — currently 350,000 operationsper year are performed in the United Statesalone to treat this condition — thismicrowave catheter has significantcommercial potential.

How it WorksThe microwave operating frequency affectsthe heating depth. An electrophysiologistwill be able to take advantage of the physicsof depth of penetration (in particular, thevariations of conductivity and permittivityof tissue with frequency) to focus themicrowave beam. The power level anddelivery time also affect the balancebetween the increase in heat (due to theabsorption of microwave energy) and theloss of heat (due to conduction away fromtargeted cells). A computer program thatsimulates the heating profile has beenwritten to assist in determining the balanceneeded to necrose targeted cells whilesaving non-targeted cells. There are severalvariations of microwave radiators suitablefor treating specific regions of the prostateor the prostate as a whole.

Single Antenna Within the UrethraA single antenna radiates within theurethra. A urethra catheter can be made toinclude a phase-change materialsurrounding the radiation tip to prevent asignificant temperature rise without needfor a water cooling system. The phase-change material must, of course, be nearlytransparent to the microwave radiation.This material provides localized cooling toprotect the urethra from damage, butpermits microwave heating to occur beyondthe urethra, into the prostate. For treatmentover the entire prostate, or over largeregions of the prostate, it may be necessaryto use several throwaway catheters becauseone may not contain sufficient phase -change material. Calculations have shownthe feasibility of this approach, providedthat a phase-change material that has thedesired characteristics can be found.

Multiple Colon AntennasMultiple colon catheter antennas can bephased and directed toward the prostateto provide localized temperature gradientsin the regions of the prostate located nearthe colon. Cooling must be provided toprotect the colon and the interveningtissue. Prostate cancer often begins in theprostate near the colon and should betreatable with this technique. Computersimulations show that by adjusting thelocations of the microwave radiators andthe phases of their microwave signals, theheating centers in the prostate can beadjusted to necrose critical regions only.

Single Urethra Antenna and Two Colon AntennasCombinations of urethra and colonmicrowave radiators can be used toprovide treatment appropriate to specificproblems. Generally, one microwavecatheter in the urethra, when workingtogether with one or more catheters in thecolon, can provide localized heating tosatisfy most requirements. By adjustmentof frequency, phase, directionality, andduration of the microwave radiation, onecan select from among a wide array ofheating profiles in the prostate.

PatentsNASA has patented this and associatedtechnologies. (U.S. 6289249, 6512956,6592579 and 6675050)

Licensing and Partnering OpportunitiesThis technology is part of NASA’sInnovative Partnerships Program (IPP),which seeks to transfer technology fromand to NASA for benefit of the spaceprogram and U.S. industry.

NASA invites companies to considerlicensing the Microwave Treatment Systemfor Prostate Cancer and Hyperplasia(MSC-23049) for commercial applicationsalong with other related microwavetechnologies within this portfolio.

For More InformationIf you would like more information or want to pursue transfer of this technology please contact us at:

Innovation Partnerships OfficeNASA Johnson Space CenterPhone: 281-483-3809Email: jsc-techtran@mail.nasa.govWeb: http://technology.jsc.nasa.gov

Technology Status

□Patent Pending

□U.S. Patent(s)

□Copyrighted

□Available to License

□Available for No-Cost Transfer

□Seeking Industry Partner for Co-Development

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