A method for determining a location of a transducer on a subject's body for applying tumor treating fields. The method comprises determining a near-surface portion of a tumor in the subject's body, the near-surface portion of the tumor closer to a surface of the subject's body than other portions of the tumor; determining a near-tumor position on the subject's body, the near-tumor position on the subject's body closer to the near-surface portion of the tumor than other positions of the subject's body; determining an outer perimeter of the transducer, the transducer comprising a plurality of electrode elements electrically coupled to each other, the plurality of electrode elements of the transducer being located within the outer perimeter; and identifying a portion of the outer perimeter of the transducer to be located substantially at the near-tumor position on the subject's body.

An apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of electrically coupled electrode elements to be located on a subject's body and able to deliver tumor treating fields to the subject's body, wherein at least one electrode element of the plurality of electrically coupled electrode elements comprises a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer has a first surface to face the subject's body and a second surface opposite the first surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the dielectric layer is a non-planar surface.

The invention features methods and devices useful for stimulating brain tissue in a subject via electrodes within cranial bone. These methods and devices may be utilized for the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of neurological disorders via electric stimulation. Additionally, the methods and devices disclosed herein may be useful for the treatment, inhibition, and/or arrestment of the growth of tumors.

A data transfer apparatus (“DTA”) connects to the field generator in a TTFields therapy system using the same connector on the field generator that is used to connect a transducer interface to the field generator. The field generator automatically determines whether the transducer interface or the DTA is connected to it. When the transducer interface is connected to the field generator, the field generator operates to deliver TTFields therapy to a patient. On the other hand, when the DTA is connected to the field generator, the field generator transfers patient-treatment data to the DTA, and the DTA accepts the data from the field generator. After the field generator and the DTA have been disconnected, the DTA transmits the data to a remote server, e.g., via the Internet or via cellular data transmission.

Electrodes that are configured to apply energy within the tissue while moving relative to the tissue. The apparatuses (devices, assemblies, systems) described herein may be configured with one or more electrodes that may move slightly in oscillatory movement and/or rotation relative to the tissue. The apparatuses described herein may be used to apply energy to a patient while minimizing or preventing the unintended modification of the tissue adjacent to the electrode, such as by arcing.

Alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) may be applied to a subject's body using one or more electrode assemblies that includes a sheet of graphite, at least one layer of conductive material disposed on the front face of the sheet of graphite, and an electrode element positioned behind the sheet of graphite. The electrode element has a front face disposed in electrical contact with the rear face of the sheet of graphite. The sheet of graphite spreads both heat and current out in directions that are parallel to the front face of the sheet, which eliminates or at least minimizes hot spots on the electrode assembly. This in turn makes it possible to increase the current without exceeding a temperature safety threshold (e.g., 41° C.).

Cancer treatment using TTFields (Tumor Treating Fields) can be customized to each individual subject by obtaining cancer cells from the subject, determining an electrical characteristic (e.g., dielectrophoretic forces, cell membrane capacitance, etc.) of the cancer cells, determining a frequency for the TTFields based on the determined electrical characteristic, and treating the cancer by applying TTFields to the subject at the determined frequency. In addition, cancer treatment can be planned for each individual subject by obtaining cancer cells from the subject, determining an electrical characteristic of the cancer cells, predicting whether TTFields would be effective to treat the cancer based on the determined electrical characteristic, and treating the subject by applying TTFields if the prediction indicates that TTFields would be effective.

Methods, implantable devices, and systems for treating a cancer or inhibiting cancer growth or recurrence in a subject are described herein. Such methods can include electrically stimulating a thoracic splanchnic nerve (such as a greater splanchnic nerve) of the subject with a plurality of electrical pulses emitted from one or more electrodes m electrical communication with the splanchnic nerve, wherein the plurality of electrical pulses triggers one or more action potentials in the splanchnic nerve to increase circulating natural killer (NK) cells in the subject. An implantable device may include one or more electrodes configured to be in electrical communication with a thoracic splanchnic nerve of a subject with cancer, and be configured to operate the one or more electrodes to electrically stimulate the splanchnic nerve with a plurality of electrical pulses that triggers one or more action potentials in the splanchnic nerve that increase circulating NK cells.

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered by implanting a plurality of sets of implantable electrode elements within a person's body. Temperature sensors positioned to measure the temperature at the electrode elements are also implanted, along with a circuit that collects temperature measurements from the temperature sensors. In some embodiments, an AC voltage generator configured to apply an AC voltage across the plurality of sets of electrode elements is also implanted within the person's body.

A treatment assembly can have an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface and defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The treatment assembly can further comprise a plurality of plates, each plate being at least partially received within a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the inner layer. The treatment assembly can further comprise treatment circuitry comprising a cable having a plurality of electrical leads and a plurality of lead ends, each electrical lead being electrically connected to a respective lead end of the plurality of lead ends. A cover layer can be attached to the outer surface of the inner layer and overlie the plurality of lead ends of the cable. The plurality of lead ends can be in contact with respective plates of the plurality of plates to define a plurality of electrodes.