Reducing electrosensation while treating a subject using alternating electric fields by controlling ramp-up characteristics

Inventors: Yoram Wasserman (Haifa, IL); Michael Shtotland (Haifa, IL)

Assignee: Novocure GmbH

A61N1/323 A61N1/36002

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12678620
App. No.: 18/374,081
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

When transducer arrays (i.e., arrays of electrode elements) are used to apply alternating electric fields to a subject's body, the subject may experience electrosensation. This electrosensation can be ameliorated by changing the way the voltage ramps up from zero to its peak when the AC voltage is first applied to any given transducer array, and also when the alternating electric field switches direction.

Claims (34)

1 . A method of imposing alternating electric fields in a target region of a subject's body, the method comprising:

(a) imposing a first alternating electric field with a first orientation in the target region during a first interval of time, the first alternating electric field having an amplitude that increases during a plurality of first subsections of the first interval of time and either remains constant or decreases during a plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time, wherein each of the plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time is at least 10 ms long and comes immediately after a respective one of the first subsections of the first interval of time, wherein the first alternating electric field has an amplitude that remains constant during a third subsection of the first interval of time, and wherein the third subsection of the first interval of time comes after a final one of the first subsections of the first interval of time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein when the first interval of time begins, the first alternating electric field has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the first interval of time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(b) imposing a second alternating electric field with a second orientation in the target region during a second interval of time, the second alternating electric field having an amplitude that increases during a plurality of first subsections of the second interval of time and either remains constant or decreases during a plurality of second subsections of the second interval of time, wherein each of the plurality of second subsections of the second interval of time is at least 10 ms long and comes immediately after a respective one of the first subsections of the second interval of time, wherein the second alternating electric field has an amplitude that remains constant during a third subsection of the second interval of time, and wherein the third subsection of the second interval of time comes after a final one of the first subsections of the second interval of time; and

repeating steps (a) and (b) in an alternating sequence at least 1000 times,

wherein the second orientation and the first orientation are different.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first alternating electric field is not imposed in the target region during an interval of time that comes immediately after the first interval of time, and

wherein the second alternating electric field is not imposed in the target region during an interval of time that comes immediately after the second interval of time.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first alternating electric field has an amplitude that decreases during a fourth subsection of the first interval of time, wherein the fourth subsection of the first interval of time comes after the third subsection of the first interval of time,

wherein the first alternating electric field is not imposed in the target region during an interval of time that comes immediately after the first interval of time,

wherein the second alternating electric field has an amplitude that decreases during a fourth subsection of the second interval of time, wherein the fourth subsection of the second interval of time comes after the third subsection of the second interval of time, and

wherein the second alternating electric field is not imposed in the target region during an interval of time that comes immediately after the second interval of time.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein when the first interval of time begins, the first alternating electric field has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the first interval of time, and

wherein when the second interval of time begins, the second alternating electric field has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the second interval of time.

7 . An apparatus for applying electrical signals to first, second, third, and fourth sets of at least one electrode element, the apparatus comprising:

an AC signal generator having a first output, a second output, and at least one control input; and

a controller configured to apply a sequence of control signals to the at least one control input of the AC signal generator,

wherein the sequence of control signals commands the AC signal generator to

(a) apply a first AC output signal to the first output during a first interval of time, wherein the first AC output signal has an amplitude that increases during a plurality of first subsections of the first interval of time and either remains constant or decreases during a plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time, wherein each of the plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time is at least 10 ms long and comes immediately after a respective one of the first subsections of the first interval of time, wherein the first AC output signal has an amplitude that remains constant during a third subsection of the first interval of time, and wherein the third subsection of the first interval of time comes after a final one of the first subsections of the first interval of time.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first AC output signal has an amplitude that remains constant during each of the plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first AC output signal has an amplitude that decreases during each of the plurality of second subsections of the first interval of time.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein when the first interval of time begins, the first AC output signal has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the first interval of time.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sequence of control signals commands the AC signal generator to:

(b) apply a second AC output signal to the second output during a second interval of time, wherein the second AC output signal has an amplitude that increases during a plurality of first subsections of the second interval of time and either remains constant or decreases during a plurality of second subsections of the second interval of time, wherein each of the plurality of second subsections of the second interval of time is at least 10 ms long and comes immediately after a respective one of the first subsections of the second interval of time, wherein the second AC output signal has an amplitude that remains constant during a third subsection of the second interval of time, and wherein the third subsection of the second interval of time comes after a final one of the first subsections of the second interval of time, and

repeat (a) and (b) in an alternating sequence at least 1000 times.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first AC output signal is not applied to the first output during an interval of time that comes immediately after the first interval of time, and

wherein the second AC output signal is not applied to the second output during an interval of time that comes immediately after the second interval of time.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first AC output signal has an amplitude that decreases during a fourth subsection of the first interval of time, wherein the fourth subsection of the first interval of time comes after the third subsection of the first interval of time,

wherein the first AC output signal is not applied to the first output during an interval of time that comes immediately after the first interval of time,

wherein the second AC output signal has an amplitude that decreases during a fourth subsection of the second interval of time, wherein the fourth subsection of the second interval of time comes after the third subsection of the second interval of time, and

wherein the second AC output signal is not applied to the second output during an interval of time that comes immediately after the second interval of time.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein when the first interval of time begins, the first AC output signal has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the first interval of time, and

wherein when the second interval of time begins, the second AC output signal has an initial amplitude that is between 20% and 80% of the amplitude that remains constant during the third subsection of the second interval of time.