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Apparatus and method for heating a treatment region with an alternating electric field

  • US 9,901,742 B2
  • Filed: 05/09/2011
  • Issued: 02/27/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for heating a treatment region of a subject via the application of an alternating electric field, comprising:

  • positioning a treatment region of a subject between a first high voltage electrode and a second ground electrode, wherein said first electrode is parallel to said second electrode, wherein said treatment region comprises all or a portion of a human body that includes a plurality of cells having at least one specified cell type, and wherein said treatment region has a plurality of thicknesses extending between said first and second electrodes, wherein the plurality of thicknesses comprises a first thickness and a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness;

    displacing any air located between said treatment region and said first and second electrodes with one or more flowable materials contained within one or more bladders that conform to said treatment region, wherein the first thickness is positioned such that it directly abuts the first and second electrodes, while one or more flowable materials are positioned between the second thickness and the first and second electrodes; and

    activating a generator connected to said first and second electrodes, wherein said generator is operable to generate a sinusoidal signal so as to apply an alternating electric field between said first and second electrodes and across said treatment region to thereby heat said treatment region, wherein each flowable material is a mixture of at least two substances having relative concentrations calculated to optimize a dielectric constant and dissipation factor of the mixture and which cause said cells having said specified cell type to heat at a substantially same rate in either the first and second thicknesses and throughout said treatment region between said first and second electrodes.

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