Abstract: Methods of treating cancer are provided. In some instances, the method comprises applying alternating electric fields to the abdomen of the subject at a frequency of 100 to 500 kHz, administering a checkpoint inhibitor to the subject, and administering systemic cancer therapy to the subject. In some instances, the cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Abstract: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered to a subject's body with improved safety and efficacy by determining the condition of participating electrode elements and/or the subject's skin condition under positioned electrode elements. This may be accomplished by applying an AC signal to pairs or groups of electrode elements and taking corresponding impedance measurements. In some embodiments, the impedance measurements are indicative of electrode element condition and/or skin condition. These determined conditions can be used to adjust or pause TTFields treatment, for example to permit skin recovery or to ensure that participating electrode elements will properly function.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 27, 2022
Publication date:
January 5, 2023
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram WASSERMAN, Uri WEINBERG, Stas OBUCHOVSKY, Nataliya KUPLENNIK, David SHAPIRO, Michael SHTOTLAND, Sergei KIRILLOV
Abstract: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered to a subject's body at higher field strengths by switching off one or more electrode elements that are overheating without switching off other electrode elements that are not overheating. This may be accomplished using a plurality of temperature sensors, with each of the temperature sensors positioned to sense the temperature at a respective electrode element; and a plurality of electrically controlled switches, each of which is wired to switch the current to an individual electrode element on or off. A controller input signals from the temperature sensors to determine the temperature at each of the electrode elements, and controls the state of the control input of each of the electrically controlled switches to selectively switch off the current or adjusted the duty cycle at any electrode element that is overheating.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 9, 2022
Publication date:
December 29, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram WASSERMAN, Michael KRINITSKY, Sergey KIRILOV, Michael SHTOTLAND, Victor KAIKOV
Abstract: Improved hydrogel configurations for use with a TTField-generating system is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits containing the improved hydrogel configurations and methods of producing and using the improved hydrogel configurations.
Abstract: Certain substances (e.g., large molecules) that ordinarily cannot traverse the cell membrane of cells can be introduced into cells by applying an alternating electric field to the cell 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 cell membrane. Once the permeability of the cell membrane has been increased, the substance is able to cross the cell membrane. This approach is particularly useful in the context of cancer cells (e.g., glioblastoma).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 3, 2019
Date of Patent:
December 20, 2022
Assignees:
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Edwin Chang, Chirag B. Patel, Sanjiv S. Gambhir, Tali Voloshin-Sela, Yaara Porat, Moshe Giladi
Abstract: Methods of treating and preventing cancer are provided. In some instances, the method comprises delivering radioactive particles to an organ of the subject, wherein the organ contains a tumor, applying alternating electric fields to the organ at a frequency of 50 kHz to 10 MHz (e.g., 50 kHz to 1 MHz or 80 to 500 kHz), and administering systemic cancer therapy to the subject.
Abstract: Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 11, 2022
Publication date:
December 8, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Eilon KIRSON, Yoram WASSERMAN, Hadas Sara HERSHKOVICH, Zeev BOMZON
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:
February 26, 2020
Date of Patent:
October 18, 2022
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Yoram Wasserman, Zeev Bomzon, Hadas Sara Hershkovich, Ariel Naveh, Moshe Giladi, Eilon Kirson, Golan Bar-Tal, Tali Voloshin-Sela
Abstract: Methods of treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject are provided by applying alternating electric fields to the brain of the subject, optionally also administering a drug for treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia) to the subject. In some instances, the neurodegenerative disorder can be treated by applying alternating electric fields to a brain of the human subject wherein the brain is tumor-free.
Abstract: A cage assembly can have at least one enclosure. Each enclosure can have a floor defining a floor area having a major dimension and a cover having a bottom surface. A spacing between the bottom surface of the cover and the floor can define a cage height. At least one sidewall can extend between the floor and the cover. A ratio of the cage height to the major dimension of the floor area of each enclosure of the at least one enclosure can be at least 0.70.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 2020
Date of Patent:
October 11, 2022
Assignee:
NOVOCURE GMBH
Inventors:
Shalom Strauss, Yoram Wasserman, Shiri Davidi, Roni Blat, Golan Bar Tal, Moshe Giladi, Michael Krinitsky, Michal Munster
Abstract: Treatment of a target region using alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) may be planned by determining, based on a plurality of impedance measurements obtained during a first window of time, a first impedance at each of a plurality of voxels that correspond to the target region. Then, based on the first impedances, a plan for treating the target region with alternating electric fields is generated. Subsequently, an electric field may be induced in the target region based on the plan. In some embodiments, a baseline MRI of the target region is obtained, and contemporaneous baseline impedances are registered to the MRI. In these embodiments, the plan for treating the target region is further based on a comparison between the first impedances and the baseline impedances.
Abstract: A method of applying tumor treating fields to a region of interest of a subject's body corresponding to a tumor, the method including: alternately applying to the region of interest a first electric field between a first pair of locations of the subject's body and a second electric field between a second pair of locations of the subject's body; detecting a change in the region of interest of the subject's body; ceasing applying the first and second electric fields; selecting, based on the detected change, a third pair of locations of the subject's body and a fourth pair of locations of the subject's body, the third and fourth pairs of locations being different than the first and second pairs of locations; and alternately applying to the region of interest a third electric field between the third pair of locations and a fourth electric field between the fourth pair of locations.
Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: an array of electrode elements comprising all electrode elements present on the transducer apparatus, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a face thereof facing the subject's body; when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the face, a number of electrode elements of the array are peripheral electrode elements defining an outer perimeter, the peripheral electrode elements substantially surrounding all other electrode elements; for each pair of adjacent peripheral electrode elements, a distance between the pair is not more than 25% greater than a distance between any other pair of adjacent peripheral electrode elements; and for each peripheral electrode element, an angle formed between the peripheral electrode element and its two adjacent peripheral electrode elements is greater than 90 and less than 180 degrees and facing interior to the array.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 18, 2022
Publication date:
September 29, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Tal MARCIANO, Smadar ARVATZ, Boaz MARSAULT
Abstract: Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 4, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 27, 2022
Assignee:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Eilon Kirson, Yoram Wasserman, Hadas Sara Hershkovich, Zeev Bomzon
Abstract: Methods of treating diseases and infections by applying alternating electric fields to tissues followed by administering a treatment for the disease or infection are provided. In some instances, alternating electric fields can be applied at least until substantial improvement in disease manifestation. The exemplary methods can be used to treat kidney, heart, brain, and bone disease and conditions.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 11, 2022
Publication date:
September 15, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Tali VOLOSHIN-SELA, Lilach AVIGDOR, Boris BRANT
Abstract: A treatment assembly can have an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface and defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The treatment assembly can further comprise a plurality of plates, each plate being at least partially received within a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the inner layer. The treatment assembly can further comprise treatment circuitry comprising a cable having a plurality of electrical leads and a plurality of lead ends, each electrical lead being electrically connected to a respective lead end of the plurality of lead ends. A cover layer can be attached to the outer surface of the inner layer and overlie the plurality of lead ends of the cable. The plurality of lead ends can be in contact with respective plates of the plurality of plates to define a plurality of electrodes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 2020
Date of Patent:
September 13, 2022
Assignee:
NOVOCURE GMBH
Inventors:
Michal Munster, Yoram Wasserman, Michael Shtotland, Shiri Davidi, Roni Blat, Golan Bar Tal, Moshe Giladi, Michael Krinitsky, Shalom Strauss
Abstract: This application discloses an improved approach for delivering alternating electric fields (e.g., TTFields) at a therapeutically effective strength to a target region of the spinal anatomy. In some embodiments, first and second sets of electrode elements are positioned with their centroids adjacent to upper and lower portions of the person's spine, respectively. In other embodiments, a first set of electrode elements is positioned with its centroid on an upper surface of the person's head, and a second set of electrode elements is positioned with its centroid adjacent to the person's spine (e.g., below the L3 vertebrae). Applying an AC voltage between the first and second sets of electrode elements generates a generally vertical field in the target region at levels that are not achievable using other layouts for positioning the electrode elements on the subject's body. These configurations are particularly useful for preventing and/or treating metastases.
Abstract: A computer-implemented method for tumor segmentation, the method comprises obtaining image data of a region of interest of a subject's body, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a tumor of the subject's body, generating two or more tumor segmentation predictions based on the image data, calculating a divergence between the two or more tumor segmentation predictions, and generating a visualization of tumor segmentation uncertainty based on the calculated divergence between the two or more tumor segmentation predictions.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 1, 2022
Publication date:
September 8, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Michal HOLTZMAN GAZIT, Reuven Ruby SHAMIR
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:
Application
Filed:
May 11, 2022
Publication date:
August 25, 2022
Applicant:
Novocure GmbH
Inventors:
Carsten HAGEMANN, Mario LOHR, Almuth F. KESSLER, Malgorzata BUREK, Carola FORSTER, Catherine BRAMI, Hadas Sara HERSHKOVICH, Tali VOLOSHIN-SELA
Abstract: Methods and kits treating a subject with a checkpoint inhibitor are provided by detecting expression levels of one or more biomarkers (e.g., cytokines and cytotoxic genes, immune cell functional regulators, naïve immune cell markers, regulatory T cell factors, and immune inhibitory receptors) in immune cells of a patient or subject with a condition (e.g., cancer) before and after exposure of tumor cells to alternating electric fields. Kits comprising nucleic acid probes for detecting the one or more biomarkers are also provided.