Apparatus and method for optimizing tumor treatment efficiency by electric fields
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing the selective destruction of dividing cells in a malcontrolled cell growth using a device that subjects the cell growth to an 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 the dividing cells to induce a structural change in the dividing cell resulting in destruction thereof, the optimization method comprising the steps of:
- computing an optimal field map of the positions of electrodes relative to the malcontrolled cell growth in a target area;
arranging the electrodes according to a select pattern relative to the malcontrolled cell growth and computing a vector sum of electric fields to generate an electric field map;
comparing the electric field map to the optimal field map;
changing one of a delivered voltage to the electrodes and a location of the electrodes and computing a vector sum of electric fields to generate an electric field map for the electrodes; and
optimizing a correlation between the generated electric field map and the optimal field map,wherein the step of optimizing a correlation takes into account an electrode voltage, a wave shape and a position of each electrode, andwherein the electric field is computed in accordance with the expression;
where R1 is the radius of a conductive part of the electrode;
R2 is the electrode radius including a coating disposed on the electrode; and
ε
coat and ε
tissue are the dielectric constants of the electrode coating and tissue, respectively and r is the distance between the electrodes to the point where one wants to calculate the electric field.
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Abstract
The apparatus and method are designed to compute the optimal spatial and temporal characteristics for combating tumor growth within a body on the basis of cytological (as provided by biopsies, etc.) and anatomical data (as provided by CT, MRI, PET, etc.), as well as the electric properties of the different elements. On the basis of this computation, the apparatus applies the fields that have maximal effect on the tumor and minimal effect on all other tissues by adjusting both the field generator output characteristics and by optimal positioning of the insulated electrodes or isolects on the patient'"'"'s body.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing the selective destruction of dividing cells in a malcontrolled cell growth using a device that subjects the cell growth to an 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 the dividing cells to induce a structural change in the dividing cell resulting in destruction thereof, the optimization method comprising the steps of:
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computing an optimal field map of the positions of electrodes relative to the malcontrolled cell growth in a target area; arranging the electrodes according to a select pattern relative to the malcontrolled cell growth and computing a vector sum of electric fields to generate an electric field map; comparing the electric field map to the optimal field map; changing one of a delivered voltage to the electrodes and a location of the electrodes and computing a vector sum of electric fields to generate an electric field map for the electrodes; and optimizing a correlation between the generated electric field map and the optimal field map, wherein the step of optimizing a correlation takes into account an electrode voltage, a wave shape and a position of each electrode, and wherein the electric field is computed in accordance with the expression; where R1 is the radius of a conductive part of the electrode;
R2 is the electrode radius including a coating disposed on the electrode; and
ε
coat and ε
tissue are the dielectric constants of the electrode coating and tissue, respectively and r is the distance between the electrodes to the point where one wants to calculate the electric field.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to prevent restenosis of arteries after angioplasty, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus having; a first insulated electrode; a second insulated electrode; and an electric field source for applying an alternating electric field across the first and second conductors; positioning the first and second insulated electrodes in relation to at least one mass of proliferating cells within at least one artery; and subjecting the one or more masses of proliferating cells to an alternating electric field, wherein passage of the electric field through the proliferating 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 the cells and induces a structural change in the cells resulting in destruction thereof, 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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification