Electric field therapy system and electrode patch thereof

Abstract

The present application provides an electric field therapy system and an electrode patch thereof, including a backing and an electrode array attached to the backing, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode units arranged at intervals and a connection portion connecting two adjacent electrode units, the electrode unit having a main body and a conductive sheet arranged on the front of the main body, the electrode unit also having an insulating layer and a dielectric layer, the insulating layer covering the main body and the conductive sheet and exposing a portion of the conductive sheet, the dielectric layer covering the insulating layer and the conductive sheet exposing the insulating layer. The electrode array of the electric field therapy system and electrode patch of the present application has an insulating layer laid on the conductive layer, which can reduce the heat transfer from the conductive layer to the dielectric layer, and reduce the discomfort caused to the patient's body surface when the electrode patch is used.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to an electric field therapy system and an electrode patch thereof. Background Art

[0002] Medium frequency alternating electric field therapy has been proven to be an effective method for tumor treatment. It can interfere with the mitosis process of cancer cells, induce apoptosis of cancer cells, and can be used to treat tumors. The electric field therapy system usually includes an electric field generator, an adapter, and multiple pairs of electrode patches. The electric field generator generates an alternating electric signal and transmits the alternating electric signal to the electrode patch through the adapter. The electrode patches are applied in pairs on the surfaces of opposite sides of the patient's skin, and an alternating electric signal is formed between each pair of electrode patches to non-invasively apply a tumor treatment electric field to the target area.

[0003] The Chinese invention patent application No. 114099958 discloses an electrode patch, which includes an electrode array, which is provided with a flexible circuit board, twenty electrode units arranged at intervals on the flexible circuit board, and a temperature sensor selectively arranged on the flexible circuit board and used to detect the temperature at the location where the corresponding electrode unit is attached. The electrode unit of the electrode patch is made of a circular hard material with a certain thickness, which is difficult to be well attached to the surface of the human body, and during the treatment process of applying an electric field, the electrode unit will generate heat, causing discomfort to the human body, and in severe cases, it will cause low-temperature burns.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to improve the existing electric field therapy system and its electrode patch. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present application provides an electric field therapy system that can slow down the transfer of heat from an electrode patch to a patient.

[0006] Specifically, the present application is implemented through the following technical solutions: an electrode patch, including a backing and an electrode array attached to the backing, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode units arranged at intervals and a connecting portion connecting two adjacent electrode units, the electrode unit is provided with a main body and a conductive sheet arranged on the front of the main body, the electrode unit is also provided with an insulating layer and a dielectric layer, the insulating layer covers the main body and the conductive sheet and exposes a portion of the conductive sheet, the dielectric layer covers the insulating layer and the conductive sheet exposed by the insulating layer. According to one embodiment of the utility model, the insulating layer covers the front of the connecting portion.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrode array is provided with a connection portion extending from one of the connection portions, the connection portion is provided with a plurality of gold fingers, and the insulating layer covers the front side of the connection portion and exposes the gold fingers located on the front side of the connection portion.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the utility model, a through opening is provided at the center of the conductive sheet, and the insulating layer includes a circular insulating layer provided at the opening, an annular insulating layer surrounding the conductive sheet, and a plurality of insulating belts radially connecting the circular insulating layer and the annular insulating layer, and the insulating belts separate the space between the circular insulating layer and the annular insulating layer into a plurality of hollow areas exposing the conductive sheet.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the circular insulating layer covers the opening.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrode unit further includes a ground pad and a signal pad disposed on the main body and located in the opening, and the circular insulating layer covers the opening in a manner of exposing the ground pad and the signal pad.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the conductive sheet and the main body are both circular and concentrically arranged, the outer contour of the conductive sheet is smaller than the contour of the main body, the outer contour of the annular insulating layer is the same as the outer contour of the main body, and the inner contour of the annular insulating layer is larger than the outer contour of the conductive sheet.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the utility model, a plurality of the electrode units are arranged into four rows and six columns, wherein two adjacent electrode units in the same row are connected via the corresponding connecting portions, two adjacent electrode units in the third and fourth columns are connected via the corresponding connecting portions, and two adjacent electrode units in other columns are disconnected.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insulating layer has a thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm.

[0014] The present application also provides the following technical solution: an electric field therapy system, which includes an electric field generator, an adapter and the above-mentioned electrode patch.

[0015] The electrode array of the electric field therapy system and electrode patch of the present application has an insulating layer laid on the conductive layer, which can reduce the heat transfer from the conductive layer to the dielectric layer and alleviate the discomfort caused to the patient's body surface when the electrode patch is used.

[0016] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a framework diagram of an electric field therapy system according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2is a schematic plan view of an electrode patch according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic plan view of a first embodiment of an electrode array of the electrode patch shown;

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Another schematic plan view of the electrode array shown, wherein the dielectric layer and the alloy layer are not provided;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A partial enlarged view of point A shown;

[0022] Figure 6 For along Figure 3 The cross-section obtained by sectioning along the BB direction;

[0023] Figure 7 is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of an electrode array according to the present application;

[0024] Figure 8 for Figure 7 The cross-sectional view obtained by sectioning along the AA direction.

[0025] Description of reference numerals:

[0026] Electric field generator 10, adapter 20, electrode patch 30, electrode array 32, 32', connecting portion 322, 322', longitudinal connecting portion 3221, 3221', latitudinal connecting portion 3222, 3222', connecting portion 323, 323', gold finger 3231, 3231', substrate 325, 325', main body 3250, 3250', connecting strip 3251, adhesive member 33, electrode unit 32 0, 320', C1-C20, C1'-C20', conductive sheet 342, 342', opening 3421, 3421', ground pad 344, signal pad 345, insulating layer 346, 346', circular insulating layer 3461, annular insulating layer 3462, insulating tape 3463, dielectric layer 347, 347', alloy layer 348, 348', covering film 349, 349', heat dissipation hole 340. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Instead, they are only examples of devices, systems, equipment and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application.

[0028] First embodiment:

[0029] refer to Figure 1 As shown, the electric field treatment system 100 includes an electric field generator 10, an adapter 20, and a plurality of electrode patches 30 arranged in pairs, wherein the adapter 20 electrically connects the electric field generator 10 and each electrode patch 30. The electric field generator 10 generates an alternating current signal required for tumor treatment, and the adapter 20 receives the alternating current signal output from the electric field generator 10 and transmits the alternating current signal to the electrode patch 30. The electrode patch 30 is attached to the body surface of the patient corresponding to the tumor area, and applies the alternating current signal to the patient's tumor area for tumor electric field treatment.

[0030] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the electrode patch 30 includes a backing 31, an electrode array 32 attached to the front of the backing 31, and a plurality of adhesives 33 attached to the front of the electrode array 32, wherein the front of the backing 31, the electrode array 32, and the adhesives 33 are all the sides facing the patient's skin. The electrode array 32 includes twenty electrode units 320 arranged in four rows and in an interval shape, and eight temperature sensors (not shown) selectively arranged on eight of the electrode units 320. The electrode array 32 also includes a connecting portion 322 connecting two adjacent electrode units 320 and a wiring portion 323 extending outward from one of the connecting portions 322, the wiring portion 323 is welded to a wire (not shown), and the wire (not shown) is used to electrically connect the electrode patch 30 to the adapter 20 to receive the AC signal from the electric field generator 10 and transmit the temperature detection signal of each temperature sensor (not shown) to the electric field generator 10, and a plurality of gold fingers 3231 are provided on the front and back sides of the wiring portion 323.

[0031] The electrode patch 30 is applied with its front side facing the patient, and the part of the backing 31 not covered by the electrode array 32 is applied to the patient's body surface. The backing 31 is usually made of breathable materials such as textiles, non-woven fabrics and microporous membranes. The shape of the backing 31 is roughly similar to the overall outer contour of the electrode array 32, but the area of ​​the backing 31 is larger than the area of ​​the overall outer contour of the electrode array 32. The adhesive 33 is in the form of a sheet and covers the electrode unit 320. It is usually a conductive hydrogel and is in direct contact with the patient.

[0032] The twenty electrode units 320 are arranged in four rows and six columns, with four electrode units 320 in each of the first and fourth rows, and six electrode units 320 in each of the second and third rows. The six electrode units 320 in each of the second and third rows correspond to each other and are roughly arranged in six columns, and the four electrode units 320 in each of the first and fourth rows are located in the middle four columns. From left to right, the four electrode units 320 in the first row are defined as C1, C2, C3, and C4, the six electrode units 320 in the second row are defined as C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, and C10, the six electrode units 320 in the third row are defined as C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, and C16, and the four electrode units 320 in the fourth row are defined as C17, C18, C19, and C20. The multiple electrode units 320 in the same row are not distributed along a straight line, but are roughly distributed along an arc line, wherein the electrode units 320 located in the first and second rows are distributed on the arc lines with both ends tilted upward, and the electrode units 320 located in the third and fourth rows are distributed on the arc lines with both ends tilted downward.

[0033] The twenty electrode units 320 are divided into ten electrode unit groups in total, with two electrode units 320 adjacent to each other in the row. The electrode unit groups include eight peripheral electrode unit groups located at the periphery and two central electrode unit groups surrounded by the eight peripheral electrode unit groups. The aforementioned eight temperature sensors (not shown) are respectively arranged in the eight peripheral electrode unit groups. Specifically, the eight temperature sensors (not shown) are respectively arranged on the electrode units C2, C3, C6, C9, C12, C15, C18, and C19. This arrangement can basically monitor the temperatures of all twenty electrode units 320.

[0034] The structure of the electrode array 32 is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the several connecting parts 322 of the electrode array 32 include a longitudinal connecting part 3221 extending in the longitudinal direction (i.e., upward in the column) and a latitudinal connecting part 3222 extending in the latitudinal direction (i.e., similar to upward in the row). Any two adjacent electrode units 320 on the third column are connected by a longitudinal connecting part 3221, and any two adjacent electrode units 320 on the fourth column are also connected by a longitudinal connecting part 3221. The adjacent two electrode units 320 on other columns are arranged in a disconnected state, that is, no connecting part 322 is provided, that is, the electrode units 320 on other columns are free in the longitudinal direction and have a certain free range of movement. Any two adjacent electrode units 320 in each row are connected by a latitudinal connecting part 3222, wherein the wiring part 323 extends outward from a latitudinal connecting part 3222 located in the middle of the fourth row. The electrode units C1, C4, C5, C6, C9, C10, C11, C12, C15, C16, C17, and C20 located on the periphery are not connected to any longitudinal connecting parts 3221 in the column direction, so these electrode units 320 have a certain amount of free movement space and can adjust their positions appropriately. Therefore, when the electrode patch 30 is attached to the chest, abdomen, or waist, it has better adhesion and can avoid the problems of wrinkling and curling around the electrode patch 30 and loose attachment.

[0036] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4 Combined with Figure 6As shown, the electrode array 32 includes a flexible substrate 325 arranged in a sheet shape. The flexible substrate 325 serves as a supporting base plate and is integrally arranged in each electrode unit 320, each connection part 322 and the wiring part 323. Each electrode unit 320, each connection part 322 and the wiring part 323 is further provided with other structures on the front and / or bottom surface of the substrate 325, which will be described in detail later. The thickness of the substrate 325 is 0.1mm-0.3mm, and its material is polyimide or polyester film, which has the characteristics of light weight, thin thickness, bendability, high flexibility, etc. For the convenience of description, the part of the substrate 325 corresponding to each electrode unit 320 is defined as the main body 3250, and the part of the substrate 325 corresponding to each connection part 322 and the wiring part 323 is defined as the connecting strip 3251, and each main body 3250 and each connecting strip 3251 are different parts of the entire substrate 325. The main body 3250 is provided in a circular shape, and the electrode unit 320 is provided with a conductive sheet 342 on the main body 3250. The thickness of the conductive sheet 342 is 10 μm to 50 μm. The conductive sheet 342 is provided in a circular ring shape. The outer contour of the conductive sheet 342 is smaller than the outer contour of the main body 3250. A through opening 3421 is provided at the center of the conductive sheet 342. The main body 3250 of some electrode units 320 is provided with a ground pad 344 and a signal pad 345 in the opening 3421 of the conductive sheet 342 at intervals. The temperature sensor (not shown) is placed in the opening 3421 of the corresponding electrode unit 320. The temperature sensor (not shown) is provided with a ground terminal (not shown) and a signal terminal (not shown). The ground terminal (not shown) is welded to the ground pad 344, and the signal terminal (not shown) is electrically connected to the signal pad 345.

[0037] The electrode array 32 is provided with a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) on both the front and back surfaces of the substrate 325. The conductive traces (not shown) include a conductive trace (not shown) electrically connected to all the ground pads 344, a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) electrically connected to each signal pad 345 one-to-one and used to transmit temperature detection signals, and a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) electrically connected to all electrode units 320 and used to transmit AC signals to each electrode unit 320. There are a total of eleven gold fingers 3231 of the aforementioned connection portion 323, wherein ten gold fingers 3231 are respectively connected to the conductive traces (not shown) one by one, and the remaining gold finger 3231 is connected to the shielding layer (not shown) of the wire (not shown) and grounded for electromagnetic shielding and preventing signal interference.

[0038] The conductive sheet 342 is disposed on each main body 3250, and the ground pad 344 and the signal pad 345 are also disposed on some main body 3250. The conductive trace (not shown), the conductive sheet 342, the ground pad 344 and the signal pad 345 on the front side of the substrate 325 are located on the same side of the substrate 325, and together constitute a conductive layer (not numbered) on the front side of the substrate 325.

[0039] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, after the conductive layer (unnumbered) is laid, the electrode array 32 lays an insulating layer 346 on the substrate 325 and the conductive layer (unnumbered). The insulating layer 346 covers or partially covers the main body 3250, the connecting portion 322, the wiring portion 323 and the substrate 325 not covered by the conductive layer (unnumbered), thereby forming a solder resist layer located on the substrate 325. The insulating layer 346 is arranged on the front of the substrate 325 as a whole by a hot pressing bonding process, and the thickness of the insulating layer 346 is 10μm to 50μm. The electrode array 32 also includes a dielectric layer 347 laid on the insulating layer 346 and on the conductive layer (unnumbered) not covered by the insulating layer 346. The insulating layer 346 can also play a heat insulation role to reduce the heat transfer from the conductive layer (unnumbered) to the dielectric layer 347 laid on the insulating layer 346.

[0040] The insulating layer 346 partially covers the main body 3250 and the latitudinal connecting parts 3222 in each electrode unit group. The insulating layer 346 located on the main body 3250 is generally arranged in a hub shape, including a circular insulating layer 3461 located at the center, an annular insulating layer 3462 located at the outer ring, and four insulating strips 3463 radially connecting the circular insulating layer 3461 and the annular insulating layer 3462. For the main body 3250 provided with the grounding pad 344 and the signal pad 345, the circular insulating layer 3461 needs to avoid the grounding pad 344 and the signal pad 345 to avoid affecting the setting of the temperature sensor (not shown). The outer contour of the annular insulating layer 3462 is the same as the outer contour of the main body 3250, the inner contour of the annular insulating layer 3462 is slightly smaller than the outer contour of the conductive sheet 342, and the outer contour of the circular insulating layer 3461 is slightly larger than the outer contour of the opening 3421 of the conductive sheet 342, so that the insulating layer 346 can assist in pressing the corresponding conductive sheet 342 onto the corresponding main body 3250 to prevent the inner and outer edges of the conductive sheet 342 from warping. Four fan-shaped hollow areas (not numbered) are separated by four insulating strips 3463 between the circular insulating layer 3461 located at the center and the annular insulating layer 3462 located at the outer circle to expose the conductive sheet 342 located at the lower layer of the insulating layer 346, so that the conductive sheet 342 can directly contact and conduct with the dielectric layer 347 laid thereon. The insulating layer 346 on the latitudinal connecting portion 3222 in each electrode unit group exposes the corresponding conductive trace (not shown) for transmitting AC signals, so that the conductive trace (not shown) directly contacts and conducts with the dielectric layer 347 laid thereon. The insulating layer 346 on the latitudinal connecting portion 3222 between each electrode unit group completely covers the corresponding conductive trace (not shown).

[0041] The electrode unit 320 is evenly provided with a plurality of penetrating heat dissipation holes 340 on its outer periphery, and the heat dissipation holes 340 avoid the connection between the electrode unit 320 and the corresponding connecting portion 322. These heat dissipation holes 340 are arranged around the outer side of the conductive sheet 342 and penetrate the substrate 325 and the insulating layer 346. The heat dissipation holes 340 can facilitate heat dissipation of the electrode unit 320.

[0042] Back to Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the dielectric layer 347 is laid separately for each electrode unit group, that is, the dielectric layer 347 between each electrode unit group is disconnected. The dielectric layer 347 covers the insulating layer 346 of each electrode unit group, the conductive sheet 342 not covered with the insulating layer 346, and the conductive trace (not shown) not covered with the insulating layer 346 and used to transmit AC signals. The dielectric layer 347 can completely cover the conductive sheet 342 to prevent the conductive sheet 342 from directly contacting the human body to generate DC conduction and affect human safety. The edge of the dielectric layer 347 does not exceed the substrate 325, so that the dielectric layer 347 can obtain full support from the substrate 325. The dielectric layer 347 is a polymer dielectric layer with a high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which is made of a thin film material with non-fixed crystal orientation, high flexibility and high toughness. In this embodiment, the material of the dielectric layer 347 is a polymer with a dielectric constant of not less than 20 and a dielectric strength of not less than 40V / μm to prevent the dielectric layer 347 from being broken down under normal applied voltage. The polymer is a polymer with relaxor ferroelectric behavior, which can be a vinyl fluoride polymer, P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) or P(VDF-TrFE-CFE-CTFE), and can be a polyamide composite material, such as piperazine-biuret copolymer polyamide. The dielectric layer 347 can be formed on the surface of the conductive sheet 342 and the insulating layer 346 by evaporation, sputtering or ion plating vapor deposition, or by printing, spraying or casting. The thickness of the dielectric layer 347 is 3μm-10μm. A corresponding dielectric layer 347 is also formed on the inner wall of the heat dissipation hole 340 to facilitate heat dissipation.

[0043] The dielectric layer 347 is divided into a plurality of spaced-apart regions and is laid out based on each electrode unit group. The dielectric layer 347 of a single region entirely covers a corresponding electrode unit group including two electrode units 320 and a latitudinal connecting portion 3222. The shape of the dielectric layer 347 of a single region is consistent with the outer contour of the single electrode unit group, and directly covers the conductive sheets 342 of the two electrode units 320 of the corresponding electrode unit group and the conductive traces (not shown) on the latitudinal connecting portion 3222 for transmitting alternating current signals. The dielectric layers 347 of different regions cover different electrode unit groups, and the dielectric layers 347 of different regions are disconnected and separated from each other. The dielectric layer 347 simultaneously covers and conducts the conductive sheets 342 of the two electrode units 320 in the corresponding electrode unit group and the conductive traces (not shown) therebetween for transmitting AC signals, so that the two electrode units 320 are simultaneously applied with AC signals. With this arrangement, due to the high heat transfer performance of the dielectric layer 347, the temperatures of the two electrode units 320 in each electrode unit group are basically the same. Therefore, only one temperature sensor (not shown) needs to be set in each electrode unit group to monitor the temperatures of the corresponding two electrode units 320 in one electrode unit group.

[0044] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, an alloy layer 348 is further laid on the dielectric layer 347, and the alloy layer 348 only covers the dielectric layer 347. The adhesive member 33 is attached to the alloy layer 348. The alloy layer 348 is used as an auxiliary layer to increase the conductivity between the dielectric layer 347 and the adhesive member 33. The size of the alloy layer 348 is slightly smaller than the size of the dielectric layer 347. The alloy layer 348 covers the inner wall of the heat dissipation hole 340, which can improve the heat dissipation performance of the electrode unit 320. The material of the alloy layer 348 can be one or more of zinc-aluminum alloy, zinc-copper alloy, silver-titanium, or graphite. The alloy layer 348 can be deposited on the surface of the dielectric layer 347 using a vapor deposition method. The thickness of the alloy layer 348 is 3-10nm. The alloy layer 348 is selectively set and is not required. The substrate 325 also includes a covering film 349 that is integrally laid on the back of the substrate 325. The aforementioned conductive traces (not shown) disposed on the back of the substrate 325 are all laid on the back of the substrate 325 by pressing and covering the covering film 349. The conductive traces (not shown) located on the back of the substrate 325 all penetrate the substrate 325 and are electrically connected one by one with the corresponding signal pads 345 disposed on the front of the main body 3250 of the substrate 325. The front and back of the wiring portion 323 are covered by an insulating layer 346 and a covering film 349, respectively. The insulating layer 346 and the covering film 349 are provided with corresponding windows (not numbered) corresponding to each gold finger 3231 on the wiring portion 323, so that each gold finger 3231 can be welded and connected to the corresponding circuit in the wire (not shown).

[0045] Figure 6This is a cross-sectional view of an electrode unit 320 without a temperature sensor (not shown), which includes a main body 3250 of a substrate 325, a conductive sheet 342 disposed on the front side of the main body 3250, an insulating layer 346 covering part of the conductive sheet 342 and the main body 3250, a dielectric layer 347 covering the insulating layer 346 and the conductive sheet 342 exposed from the insulating layer 346, an alloy layer 348 covering the dielectric layer 347, and a covering film 349 covering the bottom surface of the main body 3250. Please note that the insulating layer 346 also covers the front side of the main body 3250 located in the opening 3421 of the conductive sheet 342.

[0046] An electrode unit 320 provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) includes a main body 3250 of a substrate 325, a conductive sheet 342 located on the front side of the main body 3250, a ground pad 344 and a signal pad 345 located on the front side of the main body 3250 and in an opening 3421 of the conductive sheet 342, an insulating layer 346 covering the conductive sheet 342 and the main body 3250, a temperature sensor (not shown) soldered to the ground pad 344 and sealed by curing of a sealant, a dielectric layer 347 covering the insulating layer 346, the conductive sheet 342 exposed from the insulating layer 346, and the sealant, an alloy layer 348 covering the dielectric layer 347, conductive traces (not shown) provided on the front and back sides of the main body 3250, and a covering film 349 covering the back side of the main body 3250 and the corresponding conductive traces (not shown). Please note that the insulating layer 346 avoids the ground pad 344 and the signal pad 345 so that the ground pad 344 and the signal pad 345 can be welded to the temperature sensor (not shown); the insulating layer 346 also avoids part of the conductive sheet 342 so that the conductive sheet 342 can be in contact with the dielectric layer 347. The sealant is set after the insulating layer 346 is laid, and the insulating layer 346 can increase the adhesion of the sealant.

[0047] The present application also provides other embodiments of the electrode array 32 , and the differences among the multiple embodiments are mainly differences in the layout arrangements of the electrode units 320 , the connecting parts 322 , and the wiring parts 323 of the electrode array 32 , which will be described in detail below.

[0048] Second embodiment:

[0049] Figure 7 The figure shows a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of an electrode array of an electrode patch according to the present application. In the present embodiment, the electrode array 32' also includes a plurality of electrode units 320' arranged at intervals, a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown), a plurality of connecting parts 322' and a wiring part 323', wherein the temperature sensor (not shown) is selectively arranged on a portion of the electrode units 320', the connecting part 322' connects two adjacent electrode units 320', and the wiring part 323'' is arranged between the two connecting parts 322' and is welded or detachably connected to a wire (not shown).

[0050] The electrode array 32' is provided with a total of twenty electrode units 320', and the twenty electrode units 320' are also arranged in an array of four rows and six columns. Four electrode units 320' are provided in each of the first row and the fourth row, and six electrode units 320' are provided in each of the second row and the third row. The six electrode units 320' located in each row of the second row and the third row correspond to each other one by one and are arranged in six columns, and the four electrode units 320' located in each row of the first row and the fourth row are located on the middle four columns respectively. From left to right, the four electrode units 320' in the first row are defined as electrode units C1', C2', C3', and C4', the six electrode units 320' in the second row are defined as electrode units C5', C6', C7', C8', C9', and C10', the six electrode units 320' in the third row are defined as electrode units C11', C12', C13', C14', C15', and C16', and the four electrode units 320' in the fourth row are defined as electrode units C17', C18', C19', and C20'.

[0051] The plurality of connection parts 322' of the electrode array 32' also include a longitudinal connection part 3221' extending along the longitudinal direction (i.e., upward in the column) and a latitudinal connection part 3222' extending along the latitudinal direction (i.e., upward in the row). However, only some of the two adjacent electrode units 320' in each row are connected by a latitudinal connection part 3222', and the connection part 323' is arranged in a "T" shape between the two longitudinal connection parts 32221'.

[0052] and Figure 3 The difference of the electrode array 32 shown is that the electrode units 320' of this embodiment are arranged in a straight line in both the row direction and the column direction, and the two adjacent electrode units 320' in each of the second to fifth columns are connected by a corresponding longitudinal connection portion 3221'. The two adjacent electrode units 320' in the four middle columns of the second row are arranged in a disconnected state in the row direction, that is, the corresponding latitudinal connection portion 3222' is not arranged between the two adjacent electrode units 320' in the four middle columns of the row; the two adjacent electrode units 320' in the four middle columns of the third row are also arranged in a disconnected state in the row direction, that is, the corresponding latitudinal connection portion 3222' is not arranged between the two adjacent electrode units 320' in the four middle columns of the row. The T-shaped connection portion 323' is disposed between the longitudinal connection portion 3221' connecting two electrode units 320' located in the second row and third column and the third row and third column and the longitudinal connection portion 3221' connecting two electrode units 320' located in the second row and fourth column and the third row and fourth column.

[0053] The composition of the electrode unit group of the present embodiment is also different from that of the electrode unit group of the first embodiment. Specifically, the electrode unit group of the present embodiment is composed of a first electrode unit group formed by two electrode units C1', C2' located in the first row and a latitudinal connecting portion 3222' therebetween, a second electrode unit group formed by two electrode units C3', C4' located in the first row and a latitudinal connecting portion 3222' therebetween, a third electrode unit group formed by two electrode units C5', C6' located in the second row and a latitudinal connecting portion 3222' therebetween, a fourth electrode unit group formed by two electrode units C7', C13' located in the third column and a meridional connecting portion 3221' therebetween, and a fourth electrode unit group formed by two electrode units C8', C14' located in the fourth column and a meridional connecting portion 3221' therebetween. The fifth electrode unit group is formed by the warp connection portion 3221', the sixth electrode unit group is formed by the two electrode units C9', C10' located in the second row and the latitudinal connection portion 3222' therebetween, the seventh electrode unit group is formed by the two electrode units C11', C12' located in the third row and the latitudinal connection portion 3222' therebetween, the eighth electrode unit group is formed by the two electrode units C15', C16' located in the third row and the latitudinal connection portion 3222' therebetween, the ninth electrode unit group is formed by the two electrode units C17', C18' located in the fourth row and the latitudinal connection portion 3222' therebetween, and the tenth electrode unit group is formed by the two electrode units C19', C20' located in the fourth row and the latitudinal connection portion 3222' therebetween.

[0054] Among the ten electrode unit groups of the electrode array 32', the fourth electrode unit group and the fifth electrode unit group are located at the center of the electrode array 32', and are defined as the central electrode unit group; the other eight electrode unit groups surround the periphery of the central electrode unit group, and are defined as the peripheral electrode unit group. The two electrode units 320' in each electrode unit group have the same electrical properties and the same heating conditions, so the temperature is basically the same. The specific reasons have been explained in detail in the first embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0055] The eight peripheral electrode unit groups of the electrode array 32' of the present embodiment are each provided with a temperature sensor (not shown). Specifically, these eight temperature sensors (not shown) are respectively arranged on the electrode units C2', C3', C6', C9', C12', C15', C18', and C19', and can directly detect the temperature of each peripheral electrode unit group.

[0056] refer to Figure 8As shown, the hierarchical structure of the electrode array 32' of this embodiment is the same as that of the electrode array 32 in the first embodiment, and it also includes a substrate 325' having a plurality of main bodies 3250' and a plurality of connecting strips (not shown). The electrode unit 320' is also provided with a conductive sheet 342' having a through opening 3421' at the center on the main body 3250'. The main body 3250' of some electrode units 320' is provided with a ground pad (not shown) and a signal pad (not shown) for electrical connection with a temperature sensor (not shown) in the opening 3421' of the conductive sheet 342'. The electrode array 32' is provided with a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) on the substrate 325', and the conductive traces (not shown) include a conductive trace (not shown) for transmitting a ground signal, eight conductive traces (not shown) for transmitting a direct current signal, and a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) for transmitting an alternating current signal. The aforementioned connection portion 323 ′ is also provided with eleven gold fingers 3231 ′. The connection method of the eleven gold fingers 3231 ′ and a plurality of conductive traces (not shown) is referred to the related description of the electrode array 32 in the first embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0057] The electrode array 32' of this embodiment also includes an insulating layer 346' provided on the substrate 325' in a manner of partially covering the main body 3250' and the connecting portion 322' and completely covering the wiring portion 323', a dielectric layer 347' laid on the insulating layer 346' in units of electrode unit groups and on the conductive sheet 342' not covered with the insulating layer 346' and the conductive trace (not shown) for transmitting AC signals in the electrode unit group, an alloy layer 348' laid on the dielectric layer 347' in units of electrode unit groups, and a covering film 349' laid on the back of the substrate 325' as a whole. For the specific hierarchical structure of the electrode array 32' of this embodiment and the arrangement of the conductive traces (not shown), please refer to the relevant description of the electrode array 32 in the first embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0058] Continue to refer Figure 7As shown, the insulating layer 346' of the electrode array 32' of the present embodiment covers the main body 3250', the conductive sheet 342', the latitudinal connecting portion 3222' located in the electrode unit group and the connecting strips (not shown) of the corresponding longitudinal connecting portions 3221' in the fourth electrode unit group and the fifth electrode unit group in a partially covering manner, and is arranged on the latitudinal connecting portion 3222', the remaining longitudinal connecting portion 3221' and the connecting strips (not shown) of the connecting portion 323' located between two adjacent electrode unit groups in a manner that completely covers the conductive traces (not shown) on the connecting strips (not shown) of the latitudinal connecting portion 3222', the remaining longitudinal connecting portion 3221' and the connecting portion 323'. The insulating layer 346' on the latitudinal connection portion 3222' within each electrode unit group and the longitudinal connection portion 3221' within each electrode unit group exposes corresponding conductive traces (not shown) for transmitting AC signals, so that the conductive traces (not shown) for transmitting AC signals directly contact and conduct with the dielectric layer 347' laid thereon.

[0059] The above is only a preferred implementation mode of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An electrode patch, comprising a backing and an electrode array attached to the backing, wherein the electrode array comprises a plurality of electrode units arranged at intervals and a connecting portion connecting two adjacent electrode units, wherein the electrode unit comprises a main body and a conductive sheet arranged on the front of the main body, characterized in that: The electrode unit is further provided with an insulating layer and a dielectric layer. The insulating layer covers the main body and the conductive sheet and exposes a portion of the conductive sheet. The dielectric layer covers the insulating layer and the conductive sheet that exposes the insulating layer.

2. The electrode patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating layer covers the front surface of the connecting portion.

3. The electrode patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrode array is provided with a connection portion extending from one of the connection portions, the connection portion is provided with a plurality of gold fingers, and the insulating layer covers the front side of the connection portion and exposes the gold fingers located on the front side of the connection portion.

4. The electrode patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: A through opening is provided at the center of the conductive sheet, and the insulating layer includes a circular insulating layer provided at the opening, an annular insulating layer surrounding the conductive sheet, and a plurality of insulating belts radially connecting the circular insulating layer and the annular insulating layer, wherein the insulating belts separate the space between the circular insulating layer and the annular insulating layer into a plurality of hollow areas exposing the conductive sheet.

5. The electrode patch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The circular insulating layer entirely covers the opening.

6. The electrode patch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electrode unit further includes a ground pad and a signal pad disposed on the main body and located in the opening, and the circular insulating layer covers the opening in a manner of exposing the ground pad and the signal pad.

7. The electrode patch according to claim 6, characterized in that: The conductive sheet and the main body are both circular and concentrically arranged, the outer contour of the conductive sheet is smaller than the contour of the main body, the outer contour of the annular insulating layer is the same as the outer contour of the main body, and the inner contour of the annular insulating layer is smaller than the outer contour of the conductive sheet.

8. The electrode patch according to claim 5, characterized in that: Several of the electrode units are arranged into four rows and six columns, wherein two adjacent electrode units in the same row are connected by the corresponding connecting parts, two adjacent electrode units in the third and fourth columns are connected by the corresponding connecting parts, and two adjacent electrode units in other columns are disconnected.

9. The electrode patch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating layer has a thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm.

10. An electric field therapy system, characterized in that: The invention comprises an electric field generator, an adapter and an electrode patch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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