Abstract: Treatment resistance to Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) has been observed in some subjects after those subjects were treated with TTFields for extended periods of time. Treatment resistance can be ameliorated by varying the treatment parameters of the TTFields over time. This can be accomplished by applying TTFields to cancer cells during a course of treatment, and varying a set of parameters of the TTFields during the course of treatment. Examples of parameters that can be varied during the course of treatment include the time of day at which the TTFields are applied, the frequency of the TTFields, the waveform used to generate the TTFields, the envelope shape of the waveform used to generate the TTFields, and the direction-switching rate of the TTFields.

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.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to generate a three-dimensional model, wherein the computer comprises one or more processors and memory accessible by the one or more processors, and the memory stores instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer to perform the computer-implemented method, includes: receiving first image data of a first portion of the patient's body in a first image modality, receiving second image data of a second portion of the patient's body in a second image modality, modifying the second image data from the second image modality to the first image modality, and generating, based on the first image data in the first image modality and the modified second image data in the second image modality, a three-dimensional model of the first portion and the second portion of the patient's body.

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.

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 computer-implemented method of determining locations of transducers on a subject's body for applying tumor treating fields, the method including: selecting a plurality of pairs of locations on the subject's body, each pair of locations having a first location to locate a first transducer and a second location to locate a second transducer; obtaining, for each pair of locations, a voltage measurement and a current measurement for an electric field induced between the first transducer and the second transducer, the induced electric field passing through a tumor of the subject's body; calculating, for each pair of locations, a resistivity based on the voltage measurement and the current measurement; and selecting and outputting one or more recommended pairs of locations based on the calculated resistivities.

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: TTFields are applied using transducer arrays made from a plurality of individual electrode elements. The temperatures of those electrode elements can be normalized by positioning respective regions of pyroelectric material in thermal contact with the electrode elements, and subsequently applying an AC signal to each of the electrode elements at respective duty cycles so that an alternating electric field is induced within the subject. For each of the regions of the pyroelectric material, an electrical characteristic that is related to temperature is measured after the AC signal turns off. The duty cycles of the AC signals that are applied to the electrode elements is adjusted until the measured electrical characteristics indicate that the temperatures of all the regions of the pyroelectric material have equalized to within 1° C.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus (“DTA”) connects to the field generator in a TTFields therapy system using the same connector on the field generator that is used to connect a transducer interface to the field generator. The field generator automatically determines whether the transducer interface or the DTA is connected to it. When the transducer interface is connected to the field generator, the field generator operates to deliver TTFields therapy to a patient. On the other hand, when the DTA is connected to the field generator, the field generator transfers patient-treatment data to the DTA, and the DTA accepts the data from the field generator. After the field generator and the DTA have been disconnected, the DTA transmits the data to a remote server, e.g., via the Internet or via cellular data transmission.

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.

Abstract: An alternating electric field may be applied to a target region in a living body or to cells in vitro. The alternating electric field is applied during a first interval of time that is at least 1 hour long. The first interval of time includes a plurality of (e.g., 10) non-overlapping sub-intervals of time per hour. In each of the sub-intervals of time, (a) the alternating electric field has a frequency between 50 kHz and 1 MHz (e.g., 50-500 kHz, or 100-300 kHz), (b) the alternating electric field has a respective peak intensity of at least 0.1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region, and (c) the alternating electric field remains at the respective peak intensity less than 75% the time (e.g., 25% or 33% of the time).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to determine placement of transducers on a subject's body, the method including: selecting a plurality of intersecting line segment pairs on an image of the subject's body, each of the line segment pairs intersecting in a region of the image corresponding to a tumor in the subject's body, each of the line segment pairs corresponding to locations to place the transducers on the subject's body; determining a pair value for each of the intersecting line segment pairs, each pair value based on a length of each line segment of the corresponding intersecting line segment pair; selecting one or more intersecting line segment pairs based on the pair values to obtain one or more selected intersecting line segment pairs; and outputting the locations to place the transducers on the subject's body corresponding to the one or more selected intersecting line segment pairs.

Abstract: This application discloses configurations for arranging transducer arrays on a person's head to impose tumor treating fields (TTFields) in the brain at field strengths that are as uniform as possible throughout the entire brain. In some embodiments, L-shaped sets of electrodes are positioned near the right and left ears, each with a horizontal arm above the ear and a vertical arm behind the ear. Optionally, these embodiments may be combined with a second pair of electrodes positioned on top of the head and behind the neck. In other embodiments, one pair of electrodes is positioned above the right ear and on the left/rear portion of the neck; and a second pair of electrodes is positioned above the left ear and on the right/rear portion of the neck. These configurations improve the uniformity of the electric fields imposed throughout the brain, and are particularly useful for preventing and/or treating metastases.

Abstract: The viability of cancer cells can be reduced by administering an Aurora kinase inhibitor (e.g., MLN8237 or another Aurora A kinase inhibitor, AZD1152 or another Aurora B kinase inhibitor) to the cancer cells, and applying an alternating electric field with a frequency between 100 and 300 kHz (e.g., 200 kHz) to the cancer cells. Furthermore, cancer (e.g., glioblastoma) in a subject may be treated by administering an Aurora kinase inhibitor to the subject, and applying an alternating electric field with frequency between 100 and 300 kHz (e.g., 200 kHz) to a target region of the subject (e.g., the brain).

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus (“DTA”) connects to the field generator in a TTFields therapy system using the same connector on the field generator that is used to connect a transducer interface to the field generator. The field generator automatically determines whether the transducer interface or the DTA is connected to it. When the transducer interface is connected to the field generator, the field generator operates to deliver TTFields therapy to a patient. On the other hand, when the DTA is connected to the field generator, the field generator transfers patient-treatment data to the DTA, and the DTA accepts the data from the field generator. After the field generator and the DTA have been disconnected, the DTA transmits the data to a remote server, e.g., via the Internet or via cellular data transmission.

Abstract: A transducer array for use in tumor-treating fields (TTFields) therapy is particularly suited for use in treating abdominal or thoracic cancers. The transducer array has features that increase its flexibility and adhesion to the patient's skin, including a branching configuration and a correspondingly branching top covering adhesive-backed layer. Additionally, a skin-level adhesive layer is provided beneath the flex circuit to which the electrode elements are attached, to help ensure thorough, lasting adhesion of the transducer array to the patient's skin over the course of treatment.

Abstract: Conventional transducer arrays for applying tumor treating fields (TTFields) include a set of individual electrode elements, and the more peripherally-located electrode elements (e.g., electrode elements at the corners or edges of the transducer arrays) tend to get hotter than the more centrally located electrode elements. This situation can be ameliorated by reducing the capacitance of the more peripherally-located electrode elements. Reducing the capacitance of those elements reduces the current that travels through those elements (at any given voltage), which reduces the temperature of those elements. Once the capacitance of the more peripherally-located electrode elements is reduced, higher voltages can be used without overheating. This leads to an increase in the overall current, which can improve the efficacy of the TTFields treatment.

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.