Abstract: Electrode assemblies for applying Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to a subject's body can employ a sheet of graphite to spread out the heat and electrical current over the surface of the electrode assembly. But because graphite does not stretch, normal movements of the subject's body in certain anatomical locations can cause the electrode assemblies to peel away from the subject's body. The electrode assemblies described herein are shaped and configured in ways that reduce this tendency to peel away from the subject's body. This can be accomplished by configuring the sheet of graphite so that it has a main section and two protruding sections that extend from the main section into adjacent quadrants of a Cartesian coordinate system, with a gap disposed between the two protruding sections.

Abstract: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a proven approach for treating tumors using alternating electric fields. The TTFields are induced by electrode assemblies positioned on the subject's skin. When the electrode assemblies are implemented using flex circuits, the place where the cable terminates on the flex circuit is susceptible to mechanical failure. By incorporating a flex circuit that is bent back on itself so that one region of the PCB is positioned behind another region of the PCB, the embodiments described herein absorb mechanical strain that is induced by pulling upon the cables before those strains can reach the flex circuit. And this advantageously reduces the incidence of mechanical failures.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: first and second electrode subassemblies, each subassembly configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face of the subassembly facing the subject's body, each subassembly having a back face opposite the front face, each subassembly comprising: at least one electrode element; an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the at least one electrode element, the anisotropic material layer comprising a front face facing the subject's body and a back face opposite the front face, the back face facing the at least one first electrode element; and a flexible electrical connector electrically connecting the first and second electrode subassemblies, wherein the first and second electrode subassemblies are separated by the flexible electrical connector.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields includes: an array of electrode elements, the array configured to be positioned over a subject's body with a front face facing the subject's body; electrical connections connecting the electrode elements and having a front face facing the subject's body and a back face; and an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrode elements and located on a front side of the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising a front face and a back face, the back face facing the array of electrode elements, wherein, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to and toward the back face of the anisotropic material layer, the electrode elements have convex shapes with respect to a perimeter of the anisotropic material layer and the electrical connections have concave shapes with respect to the perimeter of the anisotropic material layer.

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; an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrodes and located on a front side of the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising a front face and a back face, the back face facing the array of electrodes, the anisotropic material layer further including a hole passing through the front face and the back face of the anisotropic material layer; and a foam layer coupled to the front face of the anisotropic material layer and covering the hole on the front face of the anisotropic material layer.

Abstract: A transducer array for delivering tumor treating fields (TTFields) to a subject's body, comprising: an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrode elements, a front face, and a back face, the electrode array configured to deliver TTFields to the subject's body; at least one void space capable of enclosing an areal footprint equivalent to at least a portion of an areal footprint of at least one electrode element position, and superimposable on at least a portion of at least one electrode element position by rotation of the electrode array; a first conductive adhesive layer located on the front face of the electrode array; a second conductive adhesive layer comprising a front face for facing the subject's body and a back face facing the front face of the first conductive adhesive layer; wherein the first conductive adhesive layer and the second conductive adhesive layer comprise different adhesives.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus comprising an array of one or more electrode elements, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face of the array facing the subject's body, an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array and located on a front side of the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising a front face and a back face, the back face facing the array, and a flexible layer coupled to the front face of the anisotropic material layer and configured to contact the subject's body, wherein the flexible layer comprises a flexible material and, optionally, an adhesive.

Abstract: Suture clips configured to be placed in a predetermined path of a suturing needle that advances through a device inserted to a body cavity, and remotely operated from that position to secure and clamp suturing. In some embodiments, a suture tightening device is placed in the predetermined path and configured to capture the suture and shorten a length of tissue-engaged suture by pulling on the suture. In some embodiments, sensors are placed along the needle path and used to provide an indication of needle position and/or status.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the electrode assembly apparatus including a layer of conductive anisotropic material, an electrode element and a cover. The electrode assembly is provided in different shapes, such as an asymmetric oval, including ovaloid, ovoid and ovate shapes or stretched asymmetric oval, ovaloid, ovoid, or ovate shapes, as well as a pear shape and a rounded arrowhead shape. These shapes can be provided in different sizes to allow the electrode assembly to be attached or secured to a subject or patient's body, especially when the site may be nonplanar, or otherwise contoured, resulting in a more comfortable experience, or even a more favorable clinical outcome.

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 at least one metal pad disposed on a substrate and a plurality of temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors). The temperature sensors are disposed on the substrate at positions that are outside a first convex hull that encloses the at least one metal pad (e.g., at the edges of the apparatus). A layer of graphite is disposed in front of the metal pads and the temperature sensors and is in thermal contact with both the metal pads and the temperature sensors. Positioning the thermistors outside the first convex hull (e.g., at the edges of the apparatus) can help prevent overheating in situations where the edges of the apparatus tend to be the hottest portions of the apparatus.

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 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 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 including electrode elements; and an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrodes and located on a front side of the front face of the array, the anisotropic material layer including a front face and a back face, the back face facing the array of electrodes. The anisotropic material layer further includes a hole passing through the front face and the back face of the anisotropic material layer, wherein the electrode elements are positioned around the hole of the anisotropic material layer.

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: Suture clips configured to be placed in a predetermined path of a suturing needle that advances through a device inserted to a body cavity, and remotely operated from that position to secure and clamp suturing. In some embodiments, a suture tightening device is placed in the predetermined path and configured to capture the suture and shorten a length of tissue-engaged suture by pulling on the suture. In some embodiments, sensors are placed along the needle path and used to provide an indication of needle position and/or status.