# US 2019/0314631 A1 · System and methods for cancer treatment using alternating electric fields > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314631 A1 - Document ID: US20190314631A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/335,920 - Filed: 2017-09-22 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23 - Assignees: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. - Applicants: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Wong; Edwin Lok - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314631A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/36: for stimulation - A61N 1/36002: {Cancer treatment, e.g. tumour} - A61N 1/0456: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]} - A61N 1/0476: {Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)} - A61N 1/08: Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating {(for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925)} - A61N 1/36025: {for treating a mental or cerebral condition} - A61N 1/40: Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling (microwave apparatus A61N5/00); {Applying radio-frequency signals} - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - 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) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract System and methods for determining placement of a transducer array relative to a subject's head, which may be used in treating cancer in the subject, are provided. These techniques may include constructing, based on one or more images, a representation of the subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including one or more tumors positioned within the subject's brain. The representation of the subject's head may be used to calculate electric field propagation for one or more arrangements of a transducer array on a surface of the subject's head. These techniques may further include determining one or more rate of energy absorption distributions and/or one or more electric field distributions using the calculated electric field propagation for multiple arrangements of the transducer array. A rate of energy absorption distribution may indicate a rate of energy absorbed at the one or more tumors. An electric field distribution may indicate an amount of electric field at individual regions of the subject's brain that include the one or more tumors and span across the entirety of the subject's brain. Using the one or more rate of energy absorption distributions and/or the one or more electric field distributions, an indication of how to place the transducer array on the subject's head such that at least a portion of the one or more tumors are exposed to electric fields emitted by the transducer array may be generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to: construct, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determine, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one rate of energy absorption distribution for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution indicates a rate of energy absorbed at the at least one tumor; and generate, based on the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution, an indication of how to place at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the at least one tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer, and a user interface configured to present, to a user, the indication of how to place the at least one transducer relative to the subject's head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes at least one structure proximate to the at least one tumor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one structure includes an intracranial structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one structure includes an artificial structure introduced into the subject's head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the artificial structure includes an implantable electrode configured to emit an electric field. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the artificial structure includes a modulator positioned between the at least one transducer and the at least one tumor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the modulator is a passive modulator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the modulator is an active modulator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes positional information for the plurality of structures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes at least one material property value for the plurality of structures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one material property includes electric conductivity, relative permittivity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, physical density, and/or Young's modulus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one material property includes at least one isotropic dielectric property and/or at least one anisotropic dielectric property. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive at least one image obtained by diffusion tensor imaging and determine the at least one anisotropic dielectric property based on the at least one image obtained by diffusion tensor imaging. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution further comprises determining a rate of energy absorption at a location corresponding to the at least one tumor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, where determining the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution includes determining a specific absorption rate distribution for each of the plurality of arrangements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein individual arrangements of the plurality of arrangements have different positions of the at least one transducer on the subject's head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structures includes a necrotic core within the at least one tumor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of structures includes a resection cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a thickness of cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a volume of at least one of the plurality of structures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a volume for at least one of white matter, grey matter, brain matter, and cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein constructing the representation of the subject's head includes identifying volumes for individual structures using the at least one image. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein identifying volumes for individual structures includes segregating the at least one image into regions that correspond to individual structures of the plurality of structures and determining volumes associated with the regions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution includes determining a rate of energy absorption distribution for individual structures of the plurality of structures. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein generating the indication further comprises determining, for at least one of the plurality of arrangements, an amount of energy absorption for individual structures of the plurality of structures based on the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein generating the indication further comprises identifying at least one arrangement from among the plurality of arrangements as having the highest amount of energy absorption at the at least one tumor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein generating the indication further comprises: determining, for a first arrangement of the plurality of arrangements, a first amount of energy absorption at the at least one tumor; determining, for a second arrangement of the plurality of arrangements, a second amount of energy absorption at the at least one tumor; and identifying the first arrangement or the second arrangement as the indication of how to place at least one transducer based on comparing the first amount of energy absorption to the second amount of energy absorption. ### Claim 28 A system comprising: at least one transducer configured to emit an alternating electric field; circuitry configured to: construct, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determine, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one rate of energy absorption distribution for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution indicates a rate of energy absorbed at the at least one tumor; and generate, based on the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution, an indication of how to place the at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the at least one tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer, and a user interface configured to present, to a user, the indication of how to place the at least one transducer. ### Claim 29 A method comprising: constructing, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determining, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one rate of energy absorption distribution for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution indicates a rate of energy absorbed at the at least one tumor; and generating, based on the at least one rate of energy absorption distribution, an indication of how to place at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer. ### Claim 30 An apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to: construct, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determine, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one electric field distribution within the subject's brain for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one electric field distribution indicates an amount of electric field at individual regions of the subject's brain that include the at least one tumor and span across the entirety of the subject's brain; and generate, based on the at least one electric field distribution, an indication of how to place at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the at least one tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer, and a user interface configured to present, to a user, the indication of how to place the at least one transducer relative to the subject's head. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein determining the at least one electric field distribution further comprises determining at least one electric field distribution for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one electric field distribution indicates an amount of electric field at the at least one tumor. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein determining the at least one electric field distribution further comprises determining a level of electric field intensity at a location corresponding to the at least one tumor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein determining the at least one electric field distribution further comprises determining an electric field at a location corresponding to the at least one tumor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one electric field distribution indicates an amount of electric field at individual regions of the subject's brain that include the at least one tumor and span across the entirety of the subject's brain. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes at least one structure proximate to the at least one tumor. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one structure includes an intracranial structure. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one structure includes an artificial structure introduced into the subject's head. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein artificial structure includes an implantable electrode configured to emit an electric field. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes positional information for the plurality of structures. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the representation of the subject's head includes at least one material property value for the plurality of structures. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one material property includes electric conductivity, relative permittivity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, physical density, and/or Young's modulus. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one material property includes at least one isotropic dielectric property and/or at least one anisotropic dielectric property. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive at least one image obtained by diffusion tensor imaging and determine the at least one anisotropic dielectric property based on the at least one image obtained by diffusion tensor imaging. ### Claim 44 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, where determining the at least one electric field distribution includes determining an electric field distribution for each of the plurality of arrangements. ### Claim 45 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein individual arrangements of the plurality of arrangements have different positions of the at least one transducer on the subject's head. ### Claim 46 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of structures includes a necrotic core within the at least one tumor. ### Claim 47 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of structures includes a resection cavity. ### Claim 48 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a thickness of cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 49 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a volume of at least one of the plurality of structures. ### Claim 50 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the information for the plurality of structures includes a volume for at least one of white matter, grey matter, brain matter, and cerebrospinal fluid. ### Claim 51 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein constructing the representation of the subject's head includes identifying volumes for individual structures using the at least one image. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The apparatus of claim 51, wherein identifying volumes for individual structures includes segregating the at least one image into regions that correspond to individual structures of the plurality of structures and determining volumes associated with the regions. ### Claim 53 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein determining the at least one electric field distribution includes determining an electric field distribution for individual structures of the plurality of structures. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The apparatus of claim 53, wherein generating the indication further comprises determining, for at least one of the plurality of arrangements, an amount of electric field for individual structures of the plurality of structures based on the at least one electric field distribution. ### Claim 55 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein generating the indication further comprises identifying at least one arrangement from among the plurality of arrangements as having the highest amount of electric field intensity at the at least one tumor. ### Claim 56 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein generating the indication further comprises: determining, for a first arrangement of the plurality of arrangements, a first amount of electric field intensity at the at least one tumor; determining, for a second arrangement of the plurality of arrangements, a second amount of electric field intensity at the at least one tumor; and identifying the first arrangement or the second arrangement as the indication of how to place at least one transducer based on comparing the first amount of electric field intensity to the second amount of electric field intensity. ### Claim 57 A system comprising: at least one transducer configured to emit an alternating electric field; circuitry configured to: construct, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determine, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one electric field distribution within the subject's brain for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one electric field distribution indicates an amount of electric field at individual regions of the subject's brain that include the at least one tumor and span across the entirety of the subject's brain; and generate, based on the at least one electric field distribution, an indication of how to place at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the at least one tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer, and a user interface configured to present, to a user, the indication of how to place the at least one transducer relative to the subject's head. ### Claim 58 A method comprising: constructing, based on at least one image, a representation of a subject's head that includes information for a plurality of structures including at least one tumor positioned within the subject's brain; determining, by using the representation of the subject's head to calculate electric field propagation for a plurality of arrangements of at least one transducer on a surface of the subject's head, at least one electric field distribution within the subject's brain for the plurality of arrangements, wherein the at least one electric field distribution indicates an amount of electric field at individual regions of the subject's brain that include the at least one tumor and span across the entirety of the subject's brain; and generating, based on the at least one electric field distribution, an indication of how to place at least one transducer to expose at least a portion of the at least one tumor to electric fields emitted by the at least one transducer.