Apparatus and method for array positioning
A method includes generating, from an electronic 3-dimensional map indicating placement locations of a plurality of electrode arrays, an electronic 2-dimensional map indicating placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays relative to each other in 2-dimensional space. The electronic 3-dimensional map is associated with a surface area of at least a portion of a body of a patient. The electronic 3-dimensional map indicating the placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays can be generated based on at least one medical image.
1 . A method comprising:
generating, from an electronic 3-dimensional map indicating placement locations of a plurality of electrode arrays, an electronic 2-dimensional map indicating placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays relative to each other in 2-dimensional space, wherein the electronic 3-dimensional map is associated with a surface area of at least a portion of a body of a patient; and
providing a first linkage that is separate from each electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays, wherein the first linkage is configured to couple to an outer surface of each of a first electrode array and a second electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays in an arrangement determined by the electronic 2-dimensional map, following arrangement of the plurality of electrode arrays according to the electronic 2-dimensional map.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of a body of a patient comprises at least a portion of a head of the patient.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic 2-dimensional map comprises indications of at least a portion of a perimeter of each electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic 3-dimensional map further comprises at least one fiducial that provides a reference location from which the plurality of electrode arrays can be positioned, wherein the at least one fiducial on the electronic 3-dimensional map is marked on the electronic 2-dimensional map.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one fiducial comprises an ear, a nose, an eye, an eyebrow, a mouth, or a visible feature on skin of the patient.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, based on at least one medical image, the electronic 3-dimensional map indicating the placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays, wherein the placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays are optimized for positioning relative to a target region for delivering tumor-treating fields, wherein the at least one medical image is an MRI image, or a CT scan, or combination thereof.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic 2-dimensional map comprises a plurality of points on a 3-dimensional surface translated to a 2-dimensional surface with the points on the 2-dimensional surface retaining relative spacing therebetween as measured moving along the 3-dimensional surface.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing visible markings associated with the electronic 2-dimensional map onto a 2-dimensional substrate to form a 2-dimensional electrode placement map.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
arranging a plurality of electrode arrays onto the 2-dimensional electrode placement map, the plurality of electrode arrays comprising at least a first electrode array and a second electrode array; and
coupling the first and second electrode arrays together with the first linkage.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of electrode arrays comprise at least a third electrode array and a fourth electrode array, the method further comprising:
coupling the third and fourth electrode arrays together with a second linkage; and
coupling the first and second linkages.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein either or both of the first linkage and the second linkage comprises a strap or strip comprising hook or loop material.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising positioning the plurality of electrode arrays on a portion of a body of a patient.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the plurality of electrode arrays on the portion of the body of the patient comprises orienting the plurality of electrode arrays relative to a fiducial.
14 . A kit comprising:
a plurality of electrode arrays, the plurality of electrode arrays comprising a first electrode array and a second electrode array;
an electrode placement map comprising:
a 2-dimensional substrate;
visible markings associated with the 2-dimensional substrate, the visible markings being indicative of placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays relative to each other in 2-dimensional space, wherein the placement locations of the plurality of electrode arrays relative to each other in 2-dimensional space translates to optimized positions of the plurality of electrode arrays for delivering tumor-treating fields when the plurality of electrode arrays are placed on a patient in 3-dimensional space; and
at least one linkage that is separate from each electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays, wherein a first linkage of the at least one linkage is configured to couple to an outer surface of each of the first electrode array and the second electrode array in an arrangement determined by the electronic 2-dimensional map, following arrangement of the plurality of electrode arrays according to the electronic 2-dimensional map.
15 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the visible markings of the electrode placement map comprise ink or toner printed on the 2-dimensional substrate.
16 . The kit of claim 15 , wherein the 2-dimensional substrate of the electrode placement map comprises paper.
17 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the visible markings of the electrode placement map comprise indications of at least a portion of a perimeter of each electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays.
18 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the visible markings of the electrode placement map comprise indications of at least one fiducial that provides a reference location from which the plurality of electrode arrays can be positioned.
19 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of electrode arrays further comprise a third electrode array and a fourth electrode array, wherein the at least one linkage further comprises a second linkage, wherein the second linkage is configured to couple to:
an outer surface of each of the third electrode array and the fourth electrode array of the plurality of electrode arrays in an arrangement determined by the electronic 2-dimensional map, following arrangement of the plurality of electrode arrays according to the electronic 2-dimensional map, and
an outer surface of the first linkage.
20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the first linkage has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein either:
(a) the inner surface of the first linkage comprises hook material that is configured to couple to the outer surface of each of the first and second electrode arrays, wherein the outer surface of the first linkage comprises loop material, and wherein the second linkage comprises hook material that is configured to couple to the outer surface of each of the third and fourth electrode arrays and the loop material of the outer surface of the first linkage; or
(b) the inner surface of the first linkage comprises loop material that is configured to couple to the outer surface of each of the first and second electrode arrays, wherein the outer surface of the first linkage comprises hook material, and wherein the second linkage comprises loop material that is configured to couple to the outer surface of each of the third and fourth electrode arrays and the hook material of the outer surface of the first linkage.