Apparatus for treating a tumor or the like and articles incorporating the apparatus for treatment of the tumor

An apparatus for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the apparatus comprising:

• a first insulated electrode having a first conductor;
• a second insulated electrode having a second conductor;
• an electric field source connected to the first and second insulated electrodes for applying an alternating electric potential difference across the first and second conductors to create a condition in the dividing cells that encourages the destruction thereof;
• an intervening member disposed between one of the first and second insulated electrodes and a skin surface, the intervening member being formed of a filler material that has a high conductance and a high dielectric constant;
• and
• wherein the first insulated electrode is of a first size and the second insulated electrode is of a second size that is greater than the first size, the intervening member associated with the first insulated electrode being of a smaller size than the intervening member associated with the second insulated electrode, resulting in the electric field near the first insulated electrode being of a higher field density than the electric field in other locations between the first and second insulated electrodes.

An apparatus for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the apparatus comprising:

• a first insulated electrode having a first conductor;
• a second insulated electrode having a second conductor;
• an electric field source connected to the first and second insulated electrodes for applying an alternating electric potential difference across the first and second conductors to create a condition in the dividing cells that encourages the destruction thereof;
• an intervening member disposed each of the first and second insulated electrodes and a skin surface, each intervening member being formed of a filler material having a high conductance and a high dielectric constant;
• and
• a third conductor disposed within the living tissue in close proximity to the target area and between the first and second insulated electrodes, the third conductor causing increased electric field density in the target area.