Abstract: Certain substances (e.g., large molecules) that ordinarily cannot traverse the blood brain barrier can be introduced into the brain by applying an alternating electric field to the brain for a period of time, wherein the frequency of the alternating electric field is selected so that application of the alternating electric field increases permeability of the blood brain barrier. In some embodiments, the frequency of the alternating electric field is less than 190 kHz (e.g., 100 kHz). Once the permeability of the blood brain barrier has been increased, the substance is able to cross the blood brain barrier.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 11, 2022
Date of Patent:
May 6, 2025
Assignee:
Novocure Gmbh
Inventors:
Carsten Hagemann, Mario Lohr, Almuth F. Kessler, Malgorzata Burek, Carola Forster, Catherine Brami, Hadas Sara Hershkovich, Tali Voloshin-Sela
Abstract: Tumor-Treating Fields elicit a conditional vulnerability to PARP inhibitors (e.g., Olaparib) in certain cancer cells such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. This conditional vulnerability is exploited in a method of killing cancer cells that comprises delivering a PARP inhibitor to the cancer cells and applying an alternating 80-300 kHz electric field to the cancer cells. At least a portion of the applying step is performed simultaneously with at least a portion of the delivering step. In some embodiments, an additional step of treating the cancer cells with a radiation therapy is added to the method. In some embodiments, the frequency of the alternating electric field is between 100 and 200 kHz.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2021
Date of Patent:
May 6, 2025
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Michael Story, Debabrata Saha, Narasimha Kumar Karanam
Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body comprising: an array of one or more electrode elements configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face and a back face; an anisotropic material layer located on the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising a front face and a back face, and a non-adhesive flexible layer coupled to the front face of the anisotropic material layer and configured to contact the subject's body optionally via a first adhesive layer; wherein: the anisotropic material layer has a perimeter having at least one concave edge forming at least a portion of a boundary of the array defining an opening between two opposing portions of the anisotropic material layer; the anisotropic material layer has a substantially C-shaped, U-shaped, rounded V-shaped, or annular shaped surface; and the transducer apparatus has a substantially similar shape.
Abstract: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) may be applied to a person's body using six different types of electrodes. More specifically, the electrodes may be shaped and dimensioned (a) for insertion into blood vessels so that they make contact with the person's blood; (b) for insertion into a central canal of a spinal cord, so that they make contact with the CSF; (c) for insertion into a body orifice at a position that contacts an interior surface of the person's body; (d) for affixation to skin of the person's body (e.g., on the person's head, torso, back, abdomen, etc.); (e) for insertion into a brain ventricle so that they make contact with the person's CSF; or (f) for insertion into lymph vessels so that they make contact with the person's lymph. Applying an AC voltage between any two of these electrodes will create TTFields in respective parts of the person's body.
Abstract: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered by implanting a plurality of sets of implantable electrode elements within a person's body. Temperature sensors positioned to measure the temperature at the electrode elements are also implanted, along with a circuit that collects temperature measurements from the temperature sensors. In some embodiments, an AC voltage generator configured to apply an AC voltage across the plurality of sets of electrode elements is also implanted within the person's body.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2025
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram Wasserman, Zeev Bomzon, Hadas Sara Hershkovich, Ariel Naveh, Moshe Giladi, Eilon Kirson, Golan Bar-Tal, Tali Voloshin-Sela
Abstract: A method for applying tumor treating fields, the method comprising: determining, based on two-dimensional (2D) image data associated with a portion of a subject's body, one or more landmarks and one or more skin surface conditions; determining a representation of the one or more landmarks and the one or more skin surface conditions in three-dimensional (3D) space; determining, based on the representation of the one or more landmarks and the one or more skin surface conditions in 3D space, a plurality of placement positions for one or more transducer arrays on the subject's body for applying tumor treating fields; determining, based on the one or more skin surface conditions in 3D space, one or more recommended placement positions of the plurality of placement positions for the one or more transducer arrays; and outputting an indication of the one or more recommended placement positions for the one or more transducer arrays.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2021
Date of Patent:
April 8, 2025
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Oren Ben Zion Bakalo, Reuven Ruby Shamir
Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: an array of electrodes, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face of the array facing the subject's body, the array comprising electrode elements positioned in existing electrode positions arranged around a centroid of the array; an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrodes and located on a front side of the front face of the array; and at least one void space in the array of electrodes capable of enclosing an areal footprint equivalent to at least a portion of an areal footprint of at least one existing electrode position, and superimposable on at least a portion of at least one existing electrode position by rotation of the array around the centroid.
Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating spatial thermal mapping of a subject is disclosed. The method includes: providing first signals to heat a plurality of heating elements on a garment worn by the subject; receiving second signals from a plurality of thermal sensing elements on the garment worn by the subject; ceasing the first signals; determining thermal-related values based on the second signals; and generating a spatial thermal mapping of the subject based on at least one of the determined temperatures or the determined times.
Abstract: When transducer arrays (i.e., arrays of electrode elements) are used to apply alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) to a subject's body, the subject may experience electrosensation. This electrosensation can be ameliorated by (a) increasing the amplitude of the field in a series of steps, and allowing some time to pass for the subject to acclimate to each step before the amplitude is increased to the next-higher value, (b) starting out at a frequency that is higher than the recommended frequency for each indication (e.g., higher than 200 kHz for treating glioblastoma), subsequently decreasing the frequency to the recommended frequency in a series of steps, and allowing some time to pass for the subject to acclimate to each step before the frequency is decreased to the next-lower value, and (c) avoiding (or at least minimizing) situations in which an increase in amplitude and a decrease in frequency occur simultaneously.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 26, 2024
Publication date:
April 3, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Mor BEN-TOV KUPERBERG, Yoram Wasserman, Michael Shtotland
Abstract: When Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are applied to a subject's brain through the subject's skull, the skull dramatically attenuates the amplitude of the TTFields. The attenuating effect of the skull can be surmounted by making small through-holes in the skull, and installing individual electrodes in each of those through-holes so that the inner ends of those individual electrodes are positioned beneath the subject's skull. Then, when an AC voltage is applied between the electrodes on one side of the subject skull and the electrodes on the opposite side of the subject's skull, the resulting electric field will not pass through the skull and will therefore not be attenuated.
Abstract: Alternating electric fields (e.g., tumor treating fields or TTFields) can be applied to a subject's body using electrode assemblies that are made from two discrete subassemblies, which are removably and adhesively connectable to each other. As long as the two subassemblies remain in intimate contact (which can be determined, e.g., by measuring an electrical resistance or an optical reflectance), the system applies an AC voltage to the electrode assemblies. But if (a) the subassemblies within any given electrode assembly become separated (or even begin to separate), or (b) the subassemblies within any given electrode assembly are not aligned correctly, then the system will turn off the AC voltage to that electrode assembly.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 27, 2024
Publication date:
April 3, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram WASSERMAN, Stas OBUCHOVSKY, David SHAPIRO, Inbar SCHLACHET DRUKERMAN
Abstract: Alternating electric fields (e.g., Tumor Treating Fields or TTFields) can be applied to a subject's body using an apparatus (e.g., a transducer array) that includes a first PCB that has metal pads for coupling an AC signal into the subject's body at high currents, and a second, less expensive PCB that can only handle lower currents. The first PCB is located at a central portion of the apparatus, and the second PCB is located at a peripheral portion of the apparatus. Temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors) are electrically connected to the second PCB. In some embodiments, the second PCB is significantly larger than the first PCB.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 27, 2024
Publication date:
April 3, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram WASSERMAN, Stas Obuchovsky, David Shapiro, Inbar Schlachet Drukerman
Abstract: A method of applying tumor treating fields to a torso of a subject's body, the method including: locating a first transducer at a first location of the subject's body, the first location being on the torso of the subject's body; locating a second transducer at a second location of the subject's body, the second location being below the torso of the subject's body; and inducing an electric field between at least part of the first transducer and at least part of the second transducer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 13, 2024
Publication date:
April 3, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Ori FARBER, Ariel NAVEH, Yoram WASSERMAN
Abstract: Alternating electric fields (e.g., tumor treating fields or TTFields) can be applied to a subject's body by positioning electrode elements on opposite sides of a target region in the subject's body, and applying an AC voltage between the opposing electrode elements. Temperature sensors that are positioned in front of the electrode elements (i.e., between the electrode elements and the subject's skin) and in thermal contact with the subject's skin are used to monitor the temperature of the subject's skin. The current that is applied to the electrode elements is adjusted to the highest level possible that will not cause the subject's skin to exceed the safety threshold (e.g., 41° C.). Optionally, one or more heat exchangers is included to remove heat from the electrode elements, in which case it will be possible to drive larger currents through the electrode elements without exceeding the safety threshold.
Abstract: An apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body. The apparatus comprises: a plurality of electrically coupled electrode elements to be located on a subject's body and able to deliver tumor treating fields to the subject's body, wherein at least one electrode element of the plurality of electrically coupled electrode elements comprises a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer has a first surface to face the subject's body and a second surface opposite the first surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the dielectric layer is a non-planar surface.
Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for reducing viability of cancer cells and treating cancer, as well as preventing an increase of volume of a tumor present in a body of a living subject, are disclosed. The systems and methods involve application of an alternating field concurrently with administration of at least one composition that increases MHC Class I expression in the cancer cells.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 20, 2024
Publication date:
March 27, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Tal Kan, Tali Voloshin-Sela, Yiftah Barsheshet, Lilach Avigdor
Abstract: Methods of treating gastric cancer and reducing the viability of gastric cancer cells by administering folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin to a subject, and applying an alternating electric field to a target region of the subject are provided. In some instances, chemotherapy such as XELOX, FOLFOX and individual components thereof are administered to a subject followed by applying an alternating electric field to the subject.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 19, 2024
Publication date:
March 13, 2025
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Einav Zeevi, Karnit Gotlib, Rosa S. Shnaiderman, Moshe Giladi, Uri Weinberg
Abstract: A method of applying tumor treating fields to a subject's body includes: inducing a modulated electric field between a first transducer and a second transducer to treat a tumor of the subject's body, wherein the first transducer is located at a first location of the subject's body, and wherein the second transducer is located at a second location of the subject's body.
Abstract: A method for applying tumor treating fields, the method comprising: determining, based on two-dimensional (2D) image data associated with a portion of a subject's body, one or more landmarks and one or more skin surface conditions; determining a representation of the one or more landmarks and the one or more skin surface conditions in three-dimensional (3D) space; determining, based on the representation of the one or more landmarks and the one or more skin surface conditions in 3D space, a plurality of placement positions for one or more transducer arrays on the subject's body for applying tumor treating fields; determining, based on the one or more skin surface conditions in 3D space, one or more recommended placement positions of the plurality of placement positions for the one or more transducer arrays; and outputting an indication of the one or more recommended placement positions for the one or more transducer arrays.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2025
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Oren Ben Zion Bakalo, Reuven Ruby Shamir