Transducer apparatuses with electrode element spacing to reduce edge effect in delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body
A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: a plurality of electrode elements; wherein the plurality of electrode elements comprises a first electrode element and a second electrode element, wherein the first electrode element and the second electrode element are substantially located in a plane of the transducer apparatus; and when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane, the first electrode element and the second electrode element have edges located adjacent each other without any other electrodes between them, wherein the edges of the first electrode element and the second electrode element extend parallel to each other along their length.
1 . A transducer apparatus configured to deliver tumor treating fields having a frequency from 50 kHz to 1 MHz to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising:
an array of a plurality of electrode elements, wherein the plurality of electrode elements is capable of delivering tumor treating fields to the subject's body;
wherein the plurality of electrode elements comprises a first electrode element and a second electrode element, wherein the first electrode element and the second electrode element are substantially located in a plane of the transducer apparatus; and
when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane,
the first electrode element and the second electrode element have edges located adjacent each other without any other electrodes between them, wherein the edges of the first electrode element and the second electrode element extend parallel to each other along their length, and each of the edges is a substantially straight edge portion located between two rounded corners of the corresponding electrode element.
2 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the edges has a curved, corner, or zig-zag portion, wherein the curved, corner, or zig-zag portions of the edges are non-linear, and wherein the edges are equidistant from each other along the length of the curved, corner, or zig-zag portions.
3 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the first electrode element has a length greater than 5% of the perimeter of the first electrode element, and the edge of the second electrode element has a length greater than 5% of the perimeter of the second electrode element.
4 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrode elements in the array has a square, rectangular, or hexagonal shape or a substantially square, rectangular, or hexagonal shape with one or more rounded corners; or at least one of the electrode elements in the array has a triangular shape, a substantially triangular shape with rounded corners, a truncated triangular shape, a substantially truncated triangular shape with rounded corners, a wedge shape, a substantially wedge shape with rounded corners, a truncated wedge shape, or a substantially truncated wedge shape with rounded corners.
5 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode element has:
a second edge; and
at least one rounded edge connecting the edge of the first electrode element to the second edge at an end of the first electrode element.
6 . The transducer apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the edge and the second edge of the first electrode element are substantially parallel.
7 . The transducer apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the edge and the second edge of the first electrode element are not substantially parallel.
8 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrode elements in the array is extending from a central portion of the array toward an outer periphery of the array.
9 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrode elements are (i) capacitively coupled or (ii) not capacitively coupled.
10 . The transducer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrode elements are electrically coupled together.
11 . A transducer apparatus configured to deliver tumor treating fields having a frequency from 50 kHz to 1 MHz to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising:
an array of multiple electrode elements, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a face of the array facing the subject's body, the array capable of delivering tumor treating fields to the subject's body;
wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the face of the array,
at least one electrode element is located proximate a center portion of the array, the at least one electrode element comprising:
a first edge extending in a radially outward direction relative to the center portion of the array;
a second edge extending in a radially outward direction relative to the center portion of the array; and
a rounded edge connecting the first edge to the second edge at an end of the respective electrode element located radially away from the center portion of the array.
12 . The transducer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a distance from the first edge to the second edge decreases toward the outer periphery of the array.
13 . The transducer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a distance from the first edge to the second edge increases toward the outer periphery of the array.
14 . The transducer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electrode elements are electrically coupled together.
15 . The transducer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electrode elements are (i) capacitively coupled or (ii) not capacitively coupled.
16 . The transducer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rounded edge is a single rounded edge.
17 . A transducer apparatus configured to deliver tumor treating fields having a frequency from 50 kHz to 1 MHz to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising:
an array of multiple electrode elements, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a face of the array facing the subject's body, the array capable of delivering tumor treating fields to the subject's body;
wherein the multiple electrode elements are arranged peripherally about a center portion of the array, and, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the face of the array,
one end of each of the electrode elements is located proximate the center portion of the array, the electrode elements each comprising:
a first edge extending in a radially outward direction relative to the center portion of the array;
a second edge extending in a radially outward direction relative to the center portion of the array; and
a rounded edge connecting the first edge to the second edge at an end of the respective electrode element located radially away from the center portion of the array.
18 . The transducer apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electrode elements are electrically coupled together.
19 . The transducer apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electrode elements are (i) capacitively coupled or (ii) not capacitively coupled.
20 . The transducer apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the rounded edge is a single rounded edge.