Electrodes and systems for electric field therapy

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrode and system for electric field therapy, wherein the electrode for electric field therapy comprises at least two pairs of electrode sheets, each pair of electrode sheets comprises a first electrode sheet and a second electrode sheet, the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet are arranged opposite to each other, each electrode sheet is provided with at least one column of electrode sheets, and each electrode sheet column comprises at least one electrode sheet; the first electrode sheet in a pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet or / and the second electrode sheet in another pair of electrode sheets, so as to realize the multi-directional emission of electrons by the electrode and increase the electric field strength. The above-mentioned electrode for electric field therapy is provided with at least one column of electrode sheets on each electrode sheet, and at least two pairs of electrode sheets are respectively located in different directions for use, and different electrode sheets on different electrode sheets are controlled to be combined into different combinations, so as to form a multi-directional controllable output, so as to achieve a higher inhibition rate of tumor cells and tumor treatment effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electric field therapy, and in particular to an electrode for electric field therapy and an electric field therapy system. Background Art

[0002] Tumor treating fields (TTF), also known as tumor treatment fields, is an electrotherapy device for treating cancer. It generates an electric field around the tumor to destroy the growth and reproduction of cancer cells. In the middle stage of cancer cell division, the electric field affects the aggregation of tubulin into clusters, preventing the formation of spindles and causing chromosomes to be unable to separate normally; in the late stage of cancer cell division, the electric field pushes the charge to the neck of the dividing cell, destroying the cancer cell structure. The final result of these two mechanisms of action is to inhibit the normal division of cancer cells, eventually causing blistering of the surface membrane and the death of cancer cells.

[0003] Since there is a certain relationship between TTF electric field tumor treatment technology and direction, the more directions of action, the better the inhibitory effect. This is mainly because during cell mitosis, the maximum effect of the electric field force occurs at the parallel part of the cell cleavage furrow, while the morphological distribution of cells is random, resulting in poor therapeutic effects of existing electric field treatment technologies.

[0004] Since there is a certain relationship between TTF electric field tumor treatment technology and field strength, but a single electrode with too strong a field strength can cause overheating and burn the skin, in order to balance this contradiction (field strength and temperature), the total field strength can be increased by increasing the number of electrodes, while avoiding the problem of overheating of a single electrode, protecting the skin and improving the treatment effect. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrode for electric field therapy to solve the problem of poor therapeutic effect of existing electric field therapy technology.

[0006] The present invention provides an electrode for electric field therapy, comprising at least two pairs of electrode sheets, each pair of electrode sheets comprising a first electrode sheet and a second electrode sheet, the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet being arranged opposite to each other, each of the electrode sheets being provided with at least one column of electrode sheets, and each of the electrode sheets comprising at least one electrode sheet; the first electrode sheet in a pair of the electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet or / and the second electrode sheet in another pair of the electrode sheets, so as to realize multi-directional electron emission of the electrodes and increase the electric field strength.

[0007] The above-mentioned electric field therapy electrode is formed by arranging at least one column of electrode sheets on each electrode sheet, and locating at least two pairs of electrode sheets in different directions for use. By controlling different electrode sheets on different electrode sheets to be combined into different combinations, a multi-directional controllable output is formed, thereby achieving a higher inhibition rate of tumor cells and a tumor treatment effect.

[0008] Furthermore, when each column of the electrode sheets includes a plurality of the electrode sheets, all the electrode sheets in each column of the electrode sheets are connected in parallel.

[0009] Furthermore, at least one electrode sheet column on the first electrode sheet of a pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one electrode sheet column on the first electrode sheet of another pair of electrode sheets or / and at least one electrode sheet column on the second electrode sheet.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a temperature detection unit, which is used to detect the temperature of the electrode single piece. When the temperature of the electrode single piece is higher than a set value, the electrode single piece column where the electrode single piece is located is turned off.

[0011] Furthermore, the on and off of each electrode sheet in the electrode sheet array is controlled individually.

[0012] Furthermore, each column of electrode monolithic sheets is provided with a switch to control the on and off of the electrode monolithic sheets.

[0013] Furthermore, after the first electrode sheet in the pair of electrode sheets is selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet or / and the second electrode sheet in the other pair of electrode sheets, the electrode pair formed is symmetrical.

[0014] Furthermore, the electrode single-piece row includes three electrode single pieces, and each electrode piece includes three rows of electrode single-piece rows.

[0015] Furthermore, each of the electrode sheets is fixed to the patient's body surface by a breathable tape.

[0016] The present invention also provides an electric field therapy system, comprising a power supply, a voltage amplitude adjustment circuit connected to the power supply, an inverter frequency modulation circuit connected to the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit, and a multi-channel signal distribution circuit connected to the inverter frequency modulation circuit, wherein the power supply, the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit, the inverter frequency modulation circuit, and the multi-channel signal distribution circuits are all connected to a control unit and controlled by the control unit, and also comprises an electric field therapy electrode as described in any one of the above, and each of the signal distribution circuits is connected to an electric field therapy electrode.

[0017] Furthermore, the number of the electrode sheets in the electric field therapy electrode is an even number. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a connection structure diagram of the electric field therapy electrode in the first mode (direction) in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A diagram of the connection structure of the electrodes for electric field therapy in the second mode (direction);

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A diagram of the connection structure of the electrodes for electric field therapy in the third mode (direction);

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram of the connection structure of the electrodes for electric field therapy in the fourth mode (direction);

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the module structure of the electric field treatment system in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an electrode monolith having a corresponding switch on an electrode monolith;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the inhibitory effect of the electric field therapy system of the present invention on tumor cells in different directions.

[0025] Description of main component symbols:

[0026] Electrode sheet 10 Electrode Monolithic 1111 Inverter frequency modulation circuit 300 The first electrode 11 switch 13 Signal distribution circuit 400 The second electrode sheet 12 Power supply 100 Control unit 500 Electrode Monolithic Array 111 Voltage amplitude adjustment circuit 200 Human-computer interaction 600

[0027] The following specific implementation manner will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. Implementation

[0028] In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Several embodiments of the present invention are provided in the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present invention more thorough and comprehensive.

[0029] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 7 The present invention provides an electrode for electric field therapy, comprising at least two pairs of electrode sheets 10, each pair of electrode sheets 10 comprising a first electrode sheet 11 and a second electrode sheet 12, the first electrode sheet 11 and the second electrode sheet 12 being arranged opposite to each other, each of the electrode sheets (the first electrode sheet 11 and the second electrode sheet 12) being provided with at least one column of electrode sheets 111, and each of the electrode sheets 111 comprising at least one electrode sheet 1111; the first electrode sheet 11 in a pair of the electrode sheets 10 can be selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet 11 or / and the second electrode sheet 12 in another pair of the electrode sheets, so as to realize multi-directional electron emission of the electrode and increase the electric field strength.

[0032] The above-mentioned electric field therapy electrode is formed by arranging at least one column of electrode sheets 111 on each electrode sheet (the first electrode sheet 11, the second electrode sheet 12), and locating at least two pairs of electrode sheets 10 in different directions for use. By controlling different electrode sheets 111 on different electrode sheets to be combined into different combinations, a multi-directional controllable output is formed, thereby achieving a higher inhibition rate of tumor cells and a tumor treatment effect.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, when each electrode sheet column 111 includes a plurality of electrode sheets 1111, all the electrode sheets 1111 in each electrode sheet column 111 are connected in parallel to make the electric field distribution on the electrode sheet column 111 uniform.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one electrode single-sheet column 111 on the first electrode sheet 11 of a pair of electrode sheets 10 can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one electrode single-sheet column 111 on the first electrode sheet 11 of another pair of electrode sheets 10 or / and at least one electrode single-sheet column 111 on the second electrode sheet 12, so as to form different combinations and form multi-directional controllable output, thereby achieving a higher inhibition rate of tumor cells and tumor treatment effect.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, a temperature detection unit (not shown) is further included, and the temperature detection unit is used to detect the temperature of the electrode monolith. When the temperature of the electrode monolith 1111 is higher than a set value, the electrode monolith array 111 where the electrode monolith 1111 is located is turned off to prevent the temperature of the electrode monolith array 1111 from being too high and scalding the user.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the on and off of each electrode single chip 1111 on the electrode single chip array 111 is individually controlled so that the corresponding electrode single chip 1111 can be selected for operation according to the treatment position, thereby avoiding wasting electric energy on the electrode single chip 1111 at the position that does not require treatment.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, a switch 13 is provided on each electrode monolithic column 111 to control the on and off of the electrode monolithic column 111; in one embodiment of the present invention, each switch 13 is composed of two parallel first switches and second switches to form a redundant design to improve reliability.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode sheet in the pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet or / and the second electrode sheet in the other pair of electrode sheets, and the electrode pair formed is symmetrical (for example Figure 1-Figure 4 The embodiment shown, Figure 1 In the figure, “c1, a1, a2, a3, d1” and “d3, b3, b2, b1, c3” form a symmetrical electrode pair; Figure 2 In the figure, “a1, c1, c2, c3, b1” and “b3, d3, d2, d1, a3” form a symmetrical electrode pair; Figure 3 In the figure, “a2, a1, c1, c2” and “b2, b3, d3, d2” form a symmetrical electrode pair; Figure 4 In the embodiment, “c2, c3, b1, b2” and “d2, d1, a3, a2” form a symmetrical electrode pair. In other embodiments, the formed electrode pair may also be asymmetrical (for example, Figure 1 In the embodiment, the connection of the single electrode column d1 in the second electrode sheet 12 on the right is disconnected, which will change the direction and field strength of the electric field E). The electrode sheets and the combination (in parallel) of the single electrode columns can be set according to the treatment position, tumor shape and tumor size.

[0039] In addition, the shape of the electrode sheet can be customized according to the treatment position, so that the shape of the electrode sheet fits the patient's body surface; further, the electrode single sheet row can be arranged according to the shape of the electrode sheet, for example Figure 1-Figure 4In the embodiment shown, the shape of the electrode sheet is a rectangle, and the outer contour of the electrodes on each electrode sheet after being arranged in a row is also a rectangle; in other embodiments, the shape of the electrode sheet is a trapezoid, and the outer contour of the electrodes on each electrode sheet after being arranged in a row is also a trapezoid; or, in other embodiments, the shape of the electrode sheet is a circle, and the outer contour of the electrodes on each electrode sheet after being arranged in a row is also a circle; and so on.

[0040] In one embodiment of the present invention, each electrode sheet is provided with a breathable tape, and each electrode sheet is fixed to the patient's body surface by the breathable tape. According to actual needs, the breathable tape can be attached to the patient's body surface. For example, a total of 4 breathable tapes are provided, and each breathable tape corresponds to an electrode sheet. When the patient's tumor is located in the head, the 4 breathable tapes can be attached to the front, back, left, and right sides of the patient's head, or they can be attached to the front and back sides of the head in pairs, or they can be attached to the left and right sides of the head in pairs, and so on; when the patient's tumor is located in the abdominal cavity, the 4 breathable tapes can be attached to the front, back, left, and right sides of the patient's abdomen, or they can be attached to the front and back sides of the patient's abdomen in pairs, or they can be attached to the left and right sides of the patient's abdomen in pairs, and so on; the specific attachment position is selected according to the adaptability of the tumor size, shape, position, etc.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 As shown, each electrode monolith 1111 is provided with a switch S connected in series therewith, which controls each electrode monolith 1111 to connect to and disconnect from the electrode monolith column. In this way, the number of electrode monoliths used can be more accurately controlled according to actual needs, and each electrode monolith can be controlled individually; for example, when the tumor is large, all switches S can be closed so that all electrode monoliths are connected to the electrode monolith column; when the tumor is small, some switches S can be closed so that some electrode monoliths are connected to the electrode monolith column.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode single-piece array 111 includes three electrode single pieces 1111 , and each of the electrode sheets (the first electrode sheet 11 , the second electrode sheet 12 ) includes three columns of electrode single-piece arrays 111 to form an electric field with a larger area.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the electrode sheets (the first electrode sheet 11 and the second electrode sheet 12) is fixed to the patient's body surface by a breathable tape (not shown), so as to facilitate the fixing of the electrode sheets.

[0044] See also Figures 1 to 5In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one column of electrode single-sheet columns 111 on the first electrode sheet 11 of a pair of electrode sheets 10 can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one column of electrode single-sheet columns 111 on the first electrode sheet 11 of another pair of electrode sheets 10 or / and at least one column of electrode single-sheet columns 111 on the second electrode sheet 12. To form different combinations, a multi-directional controllable output is formed to achieve a higher inhibition rate and tumor treatment effect on tumor cells. For example, the electrode sheet 10 includes electrode sheet a, electrode sheet b, electrode sheet c, and electrode sheet d, wherein the electrode sheet a has at least three columns of electrode single-sheet columns a1, a2, and a3, the electrode sheet b has three columns of electrode single-sheet columns b1, b2, and b3, the electrode sheet c has three columns of electrode single-sheet columns c1, c2, and c3, and the electrode sheet d has three columns of electrode single-sheet columns d1, d2, and d3. The electrode sheets a, electrode sheets b, electrode sheets c, and electrode sheets d have a total of four modes (the directions of the electric field E are different). Please refer to the table below for details of the four modes.

[0045] Modal Electrode 1 Electrode 2 Mode (direction) 1 c1a1a2a3d1 d3b3b2b1c3 Mode (Direction) 2 a1c1c2c3b1 b3d3d2d1a3 Mode (direction) 3 a2a1c1c2 b2b3d3d2 Mode (Direction) 4 c2c3b1b2 d2d1a3a2

[0046] In addition to the above four modes, the electrodes for electric field therapy in the present application can also be combined into other modes (directions), for example, electrode 1 is a1c1, electrode 2 is b3d3, and so on, which will not be repeated one by one.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, an electric field therapy system is further provided, comprising a power supply 100, a voltage amplitude adjustment circuit 200 connected to the power supply 100, an inverter frequency modulation circuit 300 connected to the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit 200, and a multi-channel signal distribution circuit 400 connected to the inverter frequency modulation circuit 300, wherein the power supply 100, the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit 200, the inverter frequency modulation circuit 300, and the multi-channel signal distribution circuit 400 are all connected to a control unit 500 and controlled by the control unit 500, and also include the above-mentioned electric field therapy electrodes, each of the signal distribution circuits 400 is connected to an electric field therapy electrode, specifically, the two ends of the output of the signal distribution circuit 400 are respectively connected to the two ends of the electrode pair (the common end C of the switch 13).

[0048] The above-mentioned electric field therapy system, by arranging at least one column of electrode sheets 111 on each electrode sheet (the first electrode sheet 11, the second electrode sheet 12), and locating at least two pairs of electrode sheets 10 in different directions for use, and controlling different electrode sheets 111 on different electrode sheets to be combined into different combinations, forms a multi-directional controllable electric field output, thereby achieving a higher inhibition rate and tumor treatment effect on tumor cells located in the electric field.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, a human-machine interface 600 connected to the control unit 500 is further included so that a user can adjust the control unit 500 through the human-machine interface 600, thereby controlling the power supply 100, the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit 200, the inverter frequency modulation circuit 300, and the multi-channel signal distribution circuit 400.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of the electrode sheets 10 in the electric field therapy electrode is an even number, which are arranged symmetrically for use. It can be understood that the human body is symmetrical, and by setting an even number of electrode sheets 10, it is convenient to treat the same and symmetrical positions of the human body at the same time.

[0051] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of the present invention. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. An electrode for electric field therapy, characterized in that: It comprises at least two pairs of electrode sheets, each pair of electrode sheets comprises a first electrode sheet and a second electrode sheet, the first electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet are arranged opposite to each other, each of the electrode sheets is provided with at least two columns of electrode sheets, each of the electrode sheets comprises at least one electrode sheet; one column of electrode sheets in the first electrode sheet of a pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one column of electrode sheets in the first electrode sheet of the other pair of electrode sheets or / and one column of electrode sheets in the second electrode sheet, one column of electrode sheets in the second electrode sheet of a pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one column of electrode sheets in the second electrode sheet of the other pair of electrode sheets or / and one column of electrode sheets in the first electrode sheet, one column of electrode sheets in the first electrode sheet of a pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with one column of electrode sheets in the second electrode sheet of the pair, so as to form a new electrode pair; the outer contour of the electrode sheets after arrangement is consistent with the shape of the electrode sheets.

2. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1, characterized in that: When each column of the electrode sheets includes a plurality of the electrode sheets, all the electrode sheets in each column of the electrode sheets are connected in parallel.

3. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least one electrode sheet column on a first electrode sheet in a pair of the electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least one electrode sheet column on a first electrode sheet in another pair of the electrode sheets or / and at least one electrode sheet column on a second electrode sheet.

4. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It also includes a temperature detection unit, which is used to detect the temperature of the electrode single sheet. When the temperature of the electrode single sheet is higher than a set value, the electrode single sheet column where the electrode single sheet is located is turned off.

5. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 4, characterized in that: The on and off of each electrode single piece in the electrode single piece array is controlled individually.

6. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each column of electrode monolithic sheets is provided with a switch to control the on and off of the electrode monolithic sheets.

7. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first electrode sheet in the pair of electrode sheets can be selectively connected in parallel with at least the first electrode sheet or / and the second electrode sheet in the other pair of electrode sheets, so that the formed electrode pair is asymmetric.

8. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electrode single-piece row includes three electrode single pieces, and each electrode piece includes three electrode single-piece rows.

9. The electrode for electric field therapy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each electrode sheet is fixed to the patient's body surface by a breathable adhesive tape.

10. An electric field therapy system, comprising a power supply, a voltage amplitude adjustment circuit connected to the power supply, an inverter frequency modulation circuit connected to the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit, and a multi-channel signal distribution circuit connected to the inverter frequency modulation circuit, wherein the power supply, the voltage amplitude adjustment circuit, the inverter frequency modulation circuit, and the multi-channel signal distribution circuit are all connected to a control unit and controlled by the control unit, characterized in that: It also includes an electrode for electric field therapy as described in any one of claims 1-7, and each of the signal distribution circuits is connected to an electrode for electric field therapy.

11. The electric field therapy system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The number of the electrode sheets in the electric field therapy electrode is an even number.

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