Treatment assembly for providing tumor treating fields to animal test subjects

A system comprising:

• at least one treatment assembly comprising:
• an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner layer defines a plurality of openings extending therethrough;
• a plurality of plates, each plate being at least partially received within a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the inner layer;
• treatment circuitry comprising:
• a cable having a plurality of electrical leads;
• and
• a plurality of lead ends, each electrical lead being electrically connected to a respective lead end of the plurality of lead ends;
• and
• a cover layer attached to the outer surface of the inner layer and overlying the plurality of lead ends of the cable, wherein the inner layer and the cover layer cooperate to define a hole through the treatment assembly, wherein the hole is configured to receive a subcutaneous tumor therethrough;
• and
• a cap that extends across the hole and defines a receptacle therein that is configured to receive the subcutaneous tumor, wherein the cap is attached to the cover layer,
• wherein the plurality of lead ends are in contact with respective plates of the plurality of plates to define plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprising a respective lead end and a respective plate;
• and
• an electrical signal generator in communication with the treatment assembly, wherein the electrical signal generator is configured to generate an electric field via the at least one treatment assembly.

A method comprising:

• electrically coupling at least a portion of a plurality electrodes of a treatment assembly to an electrical signal generator, wherein the treatment assembly comprises:
• an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner layer defines a plurality of openings extending therethrough;
• a plurality of plates, each plate being at least partially received within a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the inner layer;
• treatment circuitry comprising:
• a cable having a plurality of electrical leads;
• and
• a plurality of lead ends, each electrical lead being electrically connected to a respective lead end of the plurality of lead ends;
• and
• a cover layer attached to the outer surface of the inner layer and overlying the plurality of lead ends of the cable, wherein the inner layer and the cover layer cooperate to define a hole through the treatment assembly, wherein the hole is configured to receive a subcutaneous tumor therethrough;
• and
• a cap that extends across the hole and defines a receptacle therein that is configured to receive the subcutaneous tumor, wherein the cap is attached to the cover layer,
• wherein the plurality of lead ends are in contact with respective plates of the plurality of plates to define the plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprising a respective lead end and a respective plate;
• and
• attaching the treatment assembly to an animal subject having a subcutaneous tumor, wherein the plates of the treatment assembly surround at least a portion of the subcutaneous tumor, and wherein the subcutaneous tumor is received in the receptacle of the cap;
• and
• using the electrical signal generator to generate an electrical signal;
• and
• using said at least a portion of the electrodes of the treatment assembly to generate, from the electrical signal, the electric field through corresponding plates of the plurality of plates.