Electrodes for applying an electric field in-vivo over an extended period of time
AssigneeStanden Ltd.
InventorYoram Palti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
As compared to conventional electrodes, the electrode configurations disclosed herein minimize irritation and damage to the skin when they are placed in contact with a patient's body over extended of time. The electrodes are formed from a conductive substrate coated with a thin dielectric material, and a plurality of open spaces pass through the electrodes. Those open spaces are distributed and sized to permit moisture on the surface of the patient's body to escape when the electrode is placed in contact with the patient's body. One intended use for the electrodes is for treating tumors by applying an AC electric field with specific frequency and field strength characteristics over an extended period of time.
Claims38
An electrode configured for placement in contact with a surface of a patient's body, the electrode comprising:
- a conductive substrate having a first side that faces the patient when the electrode is placed in contact with the patient's body, the conductive substrate having a plurality of open spaces passing therethrough that pass through the first side of the conductive substrate, wherein the open spaces are distributed and sized to permit moisture on the surface of the patient's body to escape via the open spaces when the electrode is placed in contact with the patient's body;
- and
- a thin dielectric material disposed on the first side of the conductive substrate so as to insulate the conductive substrate from the patient's body when the electrode is placed in contact with the patient's body, wherein the dielectric coating has a dielectric constant of at least 1000.
A method of treating a patient with an AC electric field, comprising the steps of:
- placing at least two electrodes against a patient's body, the electrodes having a conductive substrate and a thin dielectric layer located between the patient and the conductive substrate, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a plurality of open spaces passing therethrough, the open spaces being distributed and sized to permit moisture that is located beneath the electrode to escape via the open spaces;
- and
- applying an AC voltage across the electrodes to induce an electric field at a target region in the patient's body, the electric field having a frequency between about 50 kHz and about 500 kHz and a field strength between about 0.1 and about 10 V/cm at the target region.
A method of treating a patient with an AC electric field, comprising the steps of:
- placing at least two electrodes against a patient's body, the electrodes having a conductive substrate and a thin dielectric layer located between the patient and the conductive substrate, the dielectric layer having a dielectric constant of at least 1000, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a plurality of open spaces passing therethrough, the open spaces being distributed and sized to permit moisture that is located beneath the electrode to escape via the open spaces;
- and
- applying an AC voltage across the electrodes to induce an electric field at a target region in the patient's body, the electric field having a frequency between about 50 kHz and about 500 kHz and a field strength between about 0.1 and about 10 V/cm at the target region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.