US 12,357,821 B2
Using interleaved cooling periods to increase the peak intensity of tumor treating fields
Tali Voloshin-Sela, Haifa (IL); Lilach Avigdor, Haifa (IL); and Reuven Shamir, Zichron Ya'akov (IL)
Assigned to Novocure GmbH, Baar (CH)
Filed by Novocure GmbH, Root (CH)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/128,721.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/325,230, filed on Mar. 30, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0310848 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36002 (2017.08) [A61N 1/08 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for inducing an alternating electric field in a target region in a subject's body, the apparatus comprising:
a pulse generator configured to generate a series of pulses of alternating current between a first output terminal and a second output terminal, with an amplitude that depends on a state of at least one control input; and
a controller configured to send signals to the at least one control input that cause the pulse generator to output pulses having a first amplitude between the first output terminal and the second output terminal during each of a plurality of first time intervals,
wherein the controller is further configured to, during each of a plurality of second time intervals, each of which immediately follows a respective one of the plurality of first time intervals, either (i) send signals to the at least one control input that cause the pulse generator not to output pulses during each of the plurality of second time intervals or (ii) send signals to the at least one control input that cause the pulse generator to output pulses having a second amplitude between the first output terminal and the second output terminal during each of a plurality of second time intervals, wherein the second amplitude is less than half the first amplitude,
wherein the controller is further configured to accept at least one first input signal from at least one first temperature sensor and to accept at least one second input signal from at least one second temperature sensor,
wherein the plurality of first time intervals includes at least 10 first time intervals,
wherein the plurality of second time intervals includes at least 10 second time intervals,
wherein each of the plurality of first time intervals is at least one minute long,
wherein each of the plurality of second time intervals is at least one minute long, and
wherein each series of pulses includes at least 10 pulses.