# US 12,766,319 B2 · Delivering tumor treating fields (TTFields) using implanted sheets of graphite > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,766,319 B2 - Document ID: US12766319B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/129,510 - Filed: 2023-03-31 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-31 - Assignees: Novocure GmbH - Applicants: Novocure GmbH - Inventors: Yoram Wasserman; Stas Obuchovsky; Nataliya Kuplennik; David Shapiro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12766319B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36002: {Cancer treatment, e.g. tumour} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Alternating electric fields (e.g., tumor treating fields, a.k.a. TTFields) may be applied to a target region in a subject's body via sheets of graphite that are implanted in the subject's body. One or more ports configured for affixation to the subject's body include or connect to one or more mating electrical connectors. Electrical conductors are positioned to route electrical signals between the electrical connector(s) and the sheets of graphite. The alternating electric fields are applied to the target region by applying (via the ports) an alternating voltage between two sheets of graphite that are positioned on opposite sides of the target region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of applying an alternating electric field to a target region in a subject's body, the method comprising: applying an alternating voltage between a first sheet of graphite that has been previously implanted in the subject's body and a second sheet of graphite that has been previously implanted in the subject's body, wherein the first sheet of graphite and the second sheet of graphite are positioned on opposite sides of the target region, and wherein the first sheet of graphite has a first resistance in a direction that is perpendicular to its front face and the resistance of the sheet in directions parallel to the front face is less than half of the first resistance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: implanting the first sheet of graphite in the subject's body prior to the applying; and implanting the second sheet of graphite in the subject's body prior to the applying. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a layer of a biocompatible insulating polymer material having a dielectric constant of at least 10 is disposed on at least one face of the first sheet of graphite, and wherein a layer of a biocompatible insulating polymer material having a dielectric constant of at least 10 is disposed on at least one face of the second sheet of graphite. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite is supported by a first sheet of biocompatible material, and wherein the second sheet of graphite is supported by a second sheet of biocompatible material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite is a mesh sheet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite comprises pyrolytic graphite, graphitized polymer film, or graphite foil made from compressed high purity exfoliated mineral graphite, or at least partially oxidized forms thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite comprises pyrolytic graphite. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite has an area of at least 1 cm2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite has an area of 1-40 cm2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of graphite has a first thermal conductivity in a direction that is perpendicular to its front face and the thermal conductivity of the sheet in directions parallel to the front face is more than two times higher than the first thermal conductivity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein internal wiring/circuitry in the subject's body is connected to external wiring/circuitry outside of the subject's body via one or more ports positioned on or across the subject's skin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein internal wiring/circuitry in the subject's body is connected to external wiring/circuitry outside of the subject's body via one or more separate connector positioned outside the subject's body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implanting an additional two sheets of graphite in the subject's body on opposite sides of the target region, and applying an AC voltage between the original two sheets of graphite to impose an alternating electric field with a first orientation in the target region, and applying an AC voltage between the additional two sheets of graphite to impose an alternating electric field with a second orientation in the target region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating voltage is supplied by an electric field generator and/or AC signal generator that is located outside of the subject's body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating voltage has a frequency between 50 kHz and 1 MHz. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating voltage has a frequency between 100 kHz and 500 kHz. ### Claim 17 A method of applying an alternating electric field to a target region in a subject's body, the method comprising: applying an alternating voltage between a first sheet of graphite that has been previously implanted in the subject's body and a second sheet of graphite that has been previously implanted in the subject's body, wherein the first sheet of graphite and the second sheet of graphite are positioned on opposite sides of the target region, and wherein the first sheet of graphite is supported by a first sheet of biocompatible material, wherein the second sheet of graphite is supported by a second sheet of biocompatible material, and wherein the first sheet of biocompatible material or the second sheet of biocompatible material comprises a sheet of graphite mesh.