Apparatus and method for treating a tumor or the like

• US 20040068296A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novocure GmbH (NovoCure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Standen'S Limited (Standen's Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Palti, Yoram
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/18 Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

An article of clothing is provided for selectively destroying dividing cells in living tissue formed of dividing cells and non-dividing cells. The dividing cells contain polarizable intracellular members and during late anaphase or telophase, the dividing cells are connected to one another by a cleavage furrow. The article of clothing includes insulated electrodes to be coupled to a generator for subjecting the living tissue to electric field conditions sufficient to cause movement of the polarizable intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow in response to a non-homogeneous electric field being induced in the dividing cells. The non-homogeneous electric field produces an increased density electric field in the region of the cleavage furrow. The movement of the polarizable intracellular intracellular members towards the cleavage furrow causes the breakdown thereof which adversely impacts the multiplication of the dividing cells.

Claims

1. An article of clothing having a feature for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the article of clothing being constructed to be worn over the target area and comprising:

a first insulated electrode having a first conductor;

a second insulated electrode having a second conductor; and

an electric field source connected to the first and second insulated electrodes for applying an alternating electric potential difference across the first and second conductors, wherein passage of the electric field through the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase transforms the electric field into a non-homogenous electric field that produces an increased density electric field in a region of a cleavage furrow of the dividing cells, the non-homogeneous electric field produced within the dividing cells being of sufficient intensity to move the polarizable or charged intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a hat to be worn over a head for treatment of one of an intra-cranial tumor and a scalp tumor.

3. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein the first and second insulated electrodes have an arcuate shape for placement against the head.

4. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the electric field is of sufficient frequency so that the non-homogeneous electric field produced in the dividing cells defines electric field lines which generally converge at a region of the cleavage furrow, thereby defining the increased density electric field, resulting in destruction of the dividing cells as a result of the polarizable intracellular members movement toward the cleavage furrow.

5. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including:

a first conductive lead operatively connecting the first electrode to the electric field source; and

a second conductive lead operatively connecting the second electrode to the electric field source.

6. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first electrode includes a first dielectric member that is in contact with the first conductor, the first dielectric member for placement against the living tissue to form a capacitor and wherein the second electrode includes a second dielectric member that is in contact with the second conductor, the second dielectric member for placement against the living tissue to form a capacitor.

7. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the alternating electric potential has a frequency of between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz.

8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the alternating electric potential has a frequency of between about 100 KHz to about 300 KHz.

9. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the electric field is a substantially uniform electric field prior to passing through the dividing cells.

10. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the electric field source comprises a generator that generates an alternating voltage waveform at frequencies between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz.

11. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second electrodes are activated by the alternating voltage waveform.

12. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the generator is disposed within the article of clothing.

13. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the generator is disposed outside of the article of clothing.

14. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including:

a biasing mechanism for biasing each of the first and second electrodes in a direction toward the living tissue when the article of clothing is worn to ensure that the first and second electrodes seat against the living tissue.

15. The article of clothing of claim 14, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a spring that applies a biasing force against one of the first and second electrodes in the direction toward the living tissue.

16. The article of clothing of claim 14, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a body formed of an elastic material that is disposed within the article of clothing in close proximity to or in contact with one of the insulated electrodes.

17. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the body is formed of a material that has undergone a foaming process.

18. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein each insulated electrode includes a conductor and a dielectric member in contact therewith and for placement against the living tissue to form a capacitor.

19. The article of clothing of claim 18, wherein the insulated electrode includes an intervening filler disposed on the respective dielectric member thereof, the intervening filler being formed of a material that has high conductance and a high dielectric constant.

20. The article of clothing of claim 19, wherein the intervening filler comprises a gel formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, gelatins and agar.

21. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the clothing is in the form of a bra.

22. A hat for treatment of an intra-cranial tumor or lesion by selectively destroying dividing cells of the tumor, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the hat comprising:

a hat body to be worn over a head and including a predetermined number of openings formed therein;

at least one insulated electrode unit for placement in one of the openings of the hat, each unit being a member having an insulated electrode disposed at one face thereof and a biasing mechanism for applying a biasing force against the insulated electrode in a direction away from the hat body, the insulated electrode being disposed at one face of the hat body when the unit is inserted and securely held within the opening; and

an electric field source for applying an alternating electric potential across at least two insulated electrodes to create a condition in the dividing cells that results in the destruction thereof.

23. The hat of claim 22, wherein passage of the electric field through the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase transforms the electric field into a non-homogenous electric field that produces an increased density electric field in a region of a cleavage furrow of the dividing cells, the non-homogeneous electric field produced within the dividing cells being of sufficient intensity to move the polarizable, polar or charged intracellular members toward the cleavage.

24. The hat of claim 22, wherein the unit includes a first electric connector for attachment to a conductor which is coupled at its opposite end to the electric field source.

25. The hat of claim 22, wherein the unit is securely retained within the opening by an adhesive member that has an adhesive layer formed on at least one side thereof, the adhesive member being disposed around a peripheral edge of the insulated electrode and over a peripheral edge of the hat body around the opening for securely positioning and retaining the unit within the opening with the insulated electrode being positioned at one face of the hat body.

26. The hat of claim 22, wherein the alternating electric potential has a frequency of between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz.

27. The hat of claim 22, wherein the electric field source comprises a generator that generates an alternating voltage waveform at frequencies between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz that activate each insulated electrode.

28. The hat of claim 27, wherein the generator is disposed within the hat body.

29. The hat of claim 22, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a spring that applies a biasing force against one of the first and second electrodes in the direction toward the living tissue.

30. The hat of claim 29, wherein the biasing mechanism is contained within a unit that is detachably coupled to the hat to permit removal and replacement thereof.

31. The hat of claim 22, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a body formed of an elastic material that is disposed within the article of clothing in close proximity to or in contact with one of the insulated electrodes.

32. The hat of claim 22, wherein each insulated electrode includes a conductor and a dielectric member in contact therewith and for placement against the head to form a capacitor.

33. The hat of claim 32, wherein the insulated electrode includes an intervening filler disposed on the respective dielectric member thereof, the intervening filler being formed of a material that has high conductance and a high dielectric constant.

34. The hat of claim 33, wherein the intervening filler comprises a gel formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of gelatins and agar.

35. The hat of claim 22, wherein the at least one insulated electrode unit is removably disposed within one of the openings of the hat.

36. The hat of claim 22, wherein the insulated electrode is free from a planar shape and is shaped to have a contour complementary to a skin surface of the head.

37. A method for selectively destroying dividing cells in living tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an article of clothing having;

a first insulated electrode;

a second insulated electrode; and

an electric field source for applying an alternating electric potential across the first and second conductors;

positioning the first and second insulated electrodes in relation to the living tissue as the article of clothing is worn on a body; and

subjecting the living tissue to the alternating electric field, wherein passage of the electric field through the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase transforms the electric field into a non-homogeneous electric field that produces an increased density electric field in a region of a cleavage furrow of the dividing cells, the non-homogeneous electric field being of sufficient intensity to move the intracellular members toward the cleavage furrow until the intracellular members disrupt the cleavage furrow.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the electric field is of sufficient frequency so that the non-homogeneous electric field produced in the dividing cells defines electric field lines which generally converge at a region of the cleavage furrow, thereby defining the increased intensity electric field, resulting in destruction of the dividing cells as a result of the polarizable intracellular members movement toward the furrow.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein subjecting the living tissue to the alternating electric field comprises applying an alternating electric potential having a frequency of between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the dividing cells comprise a first sub-cell and a second sub-cell with the cleavage furrow connecting the two in late anaphase or telophase.

41. A probe for treatment of a section of living tissue by selectively destroying dividing cells of a target section of tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar intracellular members, the probe comprising:

a probe body for insertion into a body;

at least two insulated electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the probe body; and

an electric field source for applying an alternating electric potential across the at least two insulated electrodes to create a condition in the dividing cells that encourages the destruction thereof.

42. The probe of claim 41, wherein the probe body is configured to be inserted into and pass through a natural pathway of the body to position the insulated electrodes relative to the target section.

43. The probe of claim 41, wherein the probe body is configured to penetrate the living tissue and be positioned so that the electrodes are disposed proximate the target section.

44. The probe of claim 43, wherein the probe body is configured for reception in a hypodermic needle.

45. The probe of claim 41, wherein passage of the electric field through the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase transforms the electric field into a non-homogenous electric field that produces an increased density electric field in a region of a cleavage furrow of the dividing cells, the non-homogeneous electric field produced within the dividing cells being of sufficient intensity to move the polarizable, charged or polar intracellular members toward the cleavage.

46. The probe of claim 41, wherein the first and second insulated electrodes have an arcuate shape.

47. The probe of claim 41, wherein the electric field is a substantially uniform electric field prior to passing through the dividing cells.

48. The probe of claim 41, wherein the electric field source comprises a generator that generates an alternating voltage waveform at frequencies between about 50 KHz to about 500 KHz that activate each insulated electrode.

49. The probe of claim 48, wherein the generator is disposed within the probe body.

50. An article of clothing having a feature for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having members with strong dipole moments, the article of clothing being constructed to be worn over the target area and comprising:

a first insulated electrode having a first conductor;

a second insulated electrode having a second conductor; and

an electric field source connected to the first and second insulated electrodes for applying a varying field biased so as not to alternate direction across the first and second conductors, wherein presence of the varying field within the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase transforms the varying field into a non-homogenous electric field that is of sufficient intensity to cause the strong dipole members to move within the dividing cells in a manner that increases the likelihood that the dividing cells structurally break apart.

51. The article of clothing of claim 50, wherein the varying field causes members with strong dipole moments to move towards a region of a cleavage furrow of the dividing cells.

52. The article of clothing of claim 50, wherein each insulated electrode includes a dielectric layer adjacent the conductor and for placement against the living tissue.

53. The article of clothing of claim 52, wherein the dielectric layer is formed of a material having a high dielectric constant and is selected from the group consisting of lithium nibate (LiNbO₃);

yittrium iron garnet (YIG);

barium titanate (BaTiO₃);

potassium tantalate (kTaO₃); and

lithium tantalate (LiTaO₃).

54. The article of clothing of claim 52, wherein the article of clothing is a member selected from the group consisting of:

a hat, a bra, a neck collar, and an undergarment.