Tumor treating field transducers with protective border, and apparatuses and methods for active detection of improper tranducer configuration

A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising:

• a substrate having a front face and a back face;
• at least one electrode element coupled to the substrate and located on a side of the front face of the substrate;
• a layer of anisotropic material electrically coupled to the at least one electrode element, wherein the at least one electrode element is located between the substrate and the layer of anisotropic material;
• and
• a visual indicator that is visible from a side of the back face of the substrate;
• wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the back face of the substrate:
• the visual indicator indicates a border surrounding an areal exclusion zone of the transducer apparatus, the areal exclusion zone containing at least an areal footprint of the layer of anisotropic material.

A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising:

• a substrate having a front face and a back face;
• at least one electrode element coupled to the substrate and located on a side of the front face of the substrate;
• a layer of anisotropic material electrically coupled to the at least one electrode element, wherein the at least one electrode element is located between the substrate and the layer of anisotropic material;
• and
• a cut-resistant material layer coupled to the substrate;
• wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front face of the substrate:
• the cut-resistant material layer defines a border surrounding an areal exclusion zone of the transducer apparatus, the areal exclusion zone containing at least an areal footprint of the layer of anisotropic material.