IMPLANTABLE ARRAYS FOR PROVIDING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS
An implantable device can be positioned within a patient proximate to a target site. Electric fields can be generated with the implantable device through the target site at a frequency from about 50 kHz to about 500 kHz. The target site can be a tumor or a peritumoral region. The implantable device can comprise a thin substrate and at least one electrode coupled to the thin substrate or an elongate body and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the elongate body.
1 . A system comprising:
an electrical field generator; and
an implantable device in electrical communication with the electric field generator and configured for positioning proximate to or within a target site of a patient,
wherein the electrical field generator is configured to use the implantable device to generate electric fields at a frequency from about 50 kHz to about 500 KHz.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable device comprises:
a thin substrate; and
at least one electrode coupled to the thin substrate.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the implantable device is configured for positioning in a tumor resection cavity.
4 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
at least one external electrode in electrical communication with the electrical field generator and configured to be positioned away from the target site,
wherein the electrical field generator is configured to generate electric fields between the implantable device and the at least one external electrode.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one external electrode is configured for positioning external to skin of the patient so that at least a portion of the target site is disposed between the implantable device and the at least one external electrode.
6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to periodically change a direction of the electric fields.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to change the direction of an electric field at a frequency of between 0.03 seconds and 0.5 seconds.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one electrode of the implantable device comprises a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrical field generator is configured to change the direction of the electric field by inducing a first polarity at the first electrode and then inducing the first polarity at the second electrode.
9 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to periodically change a direction of the electric fields by:
inducing a first polarity between at least one electrode of the implantable device and the at least one external electrode; and
inducing a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, between the at least one electrode of the implantable device and the at least one external electrode.
10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to periodically change a direction of the electric fields by:
inducing a first polarity between at least one electrode of the implantable device and the at least one external electrode; and
inducing a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, between the at least one electrode of the implantable device and the at least one external electrode.
11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode of the implantable device comprises a ceramic.
12 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the implantable device is configured for positioning within a brain of the patient.
13 . (canceled)
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable device comprises:
an elongate body; and
a plurality of electrodes coupled to the elongate body.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
at least one external electrode in electrical communication with the electrical field generator and configured to be positioned away from the target site,
wherein the electrical field generator is configured to generate electric fields between the implantable device and the at least one external electrode.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the elongate body is rigid.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of electrodes of the implantable device comprise a ceramic.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to periodically change a direction of the electric fields.
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable device is a first implantable device, and wherein the system comprises a second implantable device, wherein the second implantable device comprises at least one electrode, and wherein the electrical field generator is configured to generate electric fields between the at least one electrode of the first implantable device and the at least one electrode of the second implantable device.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the electrical field generator is configured to periodically change a direction of the electric fields, and wherein the electrical field generator is configured to change the direction of the electric fields at a frequency of between 0.03 seconds and 0.5 seconds.
21 . (canceled)
22 . A method comprising:
positioning an implantable device within a patient proximate to a target site; and
generating, with the implantable device, electric fields through the target site at a frequency from about 50 kHz to about 500 kHz,
wherein the target site is a tumor or a peritumoral region.
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