Treating autoimmune diseases using an alternating electric field to reduce the proliferation of t-cells
Damage from autoimmune diseases can be prevented or minimized by positioning a plurality of electrodes in or on a subject's body, and applying an AC voltage between the plurality of electrodes so as to impose an alternating electric field through the tissue that is being attacked by the autoimmune disease and/or draining lymph nodes associated with that tissue. The frequency and field strength of the alternating electric field are selected such that the alternating electric field inhibits proliferation of T cells in the tissue to an extent that reduces damage that is caused by the autoimmune disease.
1. A method of preventing or minimizing damage from an autoimmune disease in a target region of a subject's body, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of electrodes in or on the subject's body, positioned with respect to the target region so that application of an AC voltage between the plurality of electrodes will impose an alternating electric field through tissue that is being attacked by the autoimmune disease in the target region; and
applying an AC voltage between the plurality of electrodes for an interval of time, such that an alternating electric field is imposed through the tissue for the interval of time,
wherein the alternating electric field has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field is imposed in the tissue for the interval of time, the alternating electric field inhibits proliferation of T cells in the tissue to an extent that reduces damage that is caused by the autoimmune disease.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes is also positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in at least one draining lymph node associated with the tissue that is being attacked.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is type 1 diabetes, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in a pancreas.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in at least one lesion in the subject's central nervous system.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is polymyositis, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in at least one muscle of the subject.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in at least one joint of the subject.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is Rasmussen encephalitis, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in an affected hemisphere of the subject's brain.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the autoimmune disease is lupus nephritis, and wherein the plurality of electrodes is positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric field is imposed in at least one kidney of the subject.
9. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the positioning comprises
positioning a first set of electrodes in or on the subject's body, wherein the first set of electrodes is positioned with respect to the target region so that application of an AC voltage between the electrodes of the first set will impose an alternating electric field with a first orientation through the tissue that is being attacked by the autoimmune disease in the target region, and
positioning a second set of electrodes in or on the subject's body, wherein the second set of electrodes is positioned with respect to the target region so that application of an AC voltage between the electrodes of the second set will impose an alternating electric field with a second orientation through the tissue, wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are different,
wherein the applying comprises repeating, in an alternating sequence, (a) applying a first AC voltage between the electrodes of the first set, such that an alternating electric field with the first orientation is imposed through the tissue and (b) applying a second AC voltage between the electrodes of the second set, such that an alternating electric field with the second orientation is imposed through the tissue,
wherein the alternating electric field with the first orientation has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field with the first orientation is imposed in the tissue, the alternating electric field with the first orientation inhibits proliferation of T cells in the tissue,
wherein the alternating electric field with the second orientation has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field with the second orientation is imposed in the tissue, the alternating electric field with the second orientation inhibits proliferation of T cells in the tissue, and
wherein the inhibited proliferation of T cells in the tissue reduces damage that is caused by the autoimmune disease.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sets of electrodes are also positioned with respect to the subject's body so that the alternating electric fields with the first and second orientations are also imposed in at least one draining lymph node associated with the tissue that is being attacked.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first orientation is offset from the second orientation by at least 60°.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning and the applying are implemented after it has been determined that an acute phase of the autoimmune disease is starting.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the autoimmune disease with a therapeutically effective drug regimen.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternating electric field has a frequency between 50 and 500 kHz.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is tumor-free.
16. A method of preventing or minimizing damage from an autoimmune disease in tissue that is being attacked by the autoimmune disease, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of electrodes in or on a subject's body, positioned with respect to at least one draining lymph node associated with the tissue that is being attacked so that application of an AC voltage between the plurality of electrodes will impose an alternating electric field through the at least one draining lymph node; and
applying an AC voltage between the plurality of electrodes for an interval of time, such that an alternating electric field is imposed through the at least one draining lymph node for the interval of time,
wherein the alternating electric field has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field is imposed in the at least one draining lymph node for the interval of time, the alternating electric field inhibits proliferation of T cells in the at least one draining lymph node to an extent that reduces damage that is caused by the autoimmune disease.
17. The method of claim 16 ,
wherein the positioning comprises
positioning a first set of electrodes in or on the subject's body, wherein the first set of electrodes is positioned with respect to the at least one draining lymph node associated with the tissue that is being attacked so that application of an AC voltage between the electrodes of the first set will impose an alternating electric field with a first orientation through the at least one draining lymph node, and
positioning a second set of electrodes in or on the subject's body, wherein the second set of electrodes is positioned with respect to the at least one draining lymph node so that application of an AC voltage between the electrodes of the second set will impose an alternating electric field with a second orientation through the at least one draining lymph node, wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are different,
wherein the applying comprises repeating, in an alternating sequence, (a) applying a first AC voltage between the electrodes of the first set, such that an alternating electric field with the first orientation is imposed through the at least one draining lymph node and (b) applying a second AC voltage between the electrodes of the second set, such that an alternating electric field with the second orientation is imposed through the at least one draining lymph node,
wherein the alternating electric field with the first orientation has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field with the first orientation is imposed in the at least one draining lymph node, the alternating electric field with the first orientation inhibits proliferation of T cells in the at least one draining lymph node,
wherein the alternating electric field with the second orientation has a frequency and a field strength such that when the alternating electric field with the second orientation is imposed in the at least one draining lymph node, the alternating electric field with the second orientation inhibits proliferation of T cells in the at least one draining lymph node, and
wherein the inhibited proliferation of T cells in the at least one draining lymph node reduces damage that is caused by the autoimmune disease.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the positioning and the applying are implemented after it has been determined that an acute phase of the autoimmune disease is starting.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising treating the autoimmune disease with a therapeutically effective drug regimen.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the alternating electric field has a frequency between 50 and 500 kHz.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the tissue is tumor-free.