Tumor electric field treatment device and electrode plate

Abstract

The utility model provides a tumor electric field treatment device and an electrode slice, the electrode slice comprises an electrode array, the electrode array comprises a plurality of electrode units and a plurality of connecting parts connecting two adjacent electrode units, and the plurality of electrode units are arranged in multiple rows and multiple columns. The two adjacent electrode units located on the two middle columns in each row are disconnected, and the two electrode units located at the two opposite ends in each row are only connected with one adjacent electrode unit through corresponding connecting parts respectively. According to the tumor electric field treatment device and the electrode plate thereof provided by the invention, most of the electrode units have good degree of freedom, so that the attaching property of the electrode plate can be improved, and wrinkles are not easy to generate when the electrode plate is attached to a curved surface body surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a tumor electric field therapy device and electrode sheet. Background Technology

[0002] Tumor electric field therapy (TEF) is a tumor treatment method that uses a specialized electric field generator to generate a low-intensity, medium-to-high-frequency, alternating electric field to interfere with the mitotic process of tumor cells. Studies have shown that TGF therapy is highly effective in treating glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. The applied electric field can affect the aggregation of microtubules, prevent spindle formation, inhibit mitosis, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The TGF device mainly consists of an electric field generator, an adapter, and multiple pairs of electrodes. The electric field generator produces an alternating electrical signal, which is transmitted to the electrode pads via the adapter. The electrode pads are applied in pairs to the skin on opposite sides of the tumor region, and an alternating current signal is applied between each pair of electrodes to non-invasively apply a therapeutic electric field to the tumor region.

[0003] One publicly disclosed electrode pad has twenty electrode units arranged in four rows and six columns, with four electrode units in the first and last rows and six electrode units in each of the middle two rows. The electrode units in the first and last rows, as well as those at the ends of the middle two rows, are located around the outer periphery of the electrode pad. A connecting portion is provided between any two adjacent electrode units on the outer periphery, which increases the overall strength of the electrode pad. However, this structure also makes the electrode pad prone to wrinkling when applied to curved surfaces such as the chest and abdomen, affecting the application effect and thus reducing the therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, because the connecting portions are relatively thin, their location around the outer periphery may scratch the patient, posing a safety hazard.

[0004] Therefore, it is indeed necessary to provide an improved tumor electric field therapy device and electrode pads to overcome the problems existing in the prior art. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides an electrode pad with better adhesion and less crease formation, as well as a tumor electric field therapy device.

[0006] Specifically, this application is achieved through the following technical solution: an electrode sheet, including an electrode array, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode units and a plurality of connecting portions connecting two adjacent electrode units, the plurality of electrode units being arranged in multiple rows and columns, wherein two adjacent electrode units located in the middle two columns of each row are disconnected, wherein two electrode units located at opposite ends of each row are each connected to only one adjacent electrode unit through the corresponding connecting portion.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of connecting portions include a plurality of first connecting portions connecting two adjacent electrode units in a row and a plurality of second connecting portions connecting two adjacent electrode units in the same column, wherein the second connecting portions are only provided between any two adjacent electrode units in the middle two columns.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two electrode units at opposite ends of each row are each connected to only one of the first connecting portions.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode units are distributed in an axially symmetrical and centrally symmetrical manner.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode array includes twenty electrode units arranged in four rows and six columns, wherein the second and third rows each have six electrode units; and the first and fourth rows each have four electrode units.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode array is provided with a wiring portion, which connects to two parallel second connection portions located on the third and fourth columns and between the second and third rows.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode units at opposite ends of each row are connected to only one of the connecting parts, the four electrode units in the second and third rows and located in the third and fourth columns are connected to three of the connecting parts, and the other electrode units are connected to two of the connecting parts.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode array is provided with a plurality of temperature sensors, and a temperature sensor is provided on each of the other sixteen electrode units, except for the four electrode units located in the second and third rows and the second and fifth columns.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode array is provided with a plurality of diodes, and the diodes are connected in series with the corresponding temperature sensors.

[0015] This application also provides the following technical solution: a tumor electric field therapy device, which includes an electric field generator and several of the aforementioned electrode plates.

[0016] The tumor electric field therapy device and its electrode pads provided in this application have most of their electrode units having good degrees of freedom, which can improve the adhesion of the electrode pads and make them less prone to wrinkling when applied to curved surfaces.

[0017] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a frame diagram of a tumor electric field therapy device according to one embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a plan view of the electrode pads of the tumor electric field therapy device according to this application;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shown is a plan view of the electrode sheet after the adhesive has been removed.

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Partial exploded three-dimensional view of the electrode sheet shown;

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A plan view of the electrode array of the electrode sheet shown;

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 5 An exploded three-dimensional view of the electrode array shown.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0025] Tumor electric field therapy device 100, electric field generator 10, adapter 20, electrode sheet 30, electrode array 31, main trunk L1, L2, branch L3, electrode unit 310, connecting part 311, second connecting part 3112, first connecting part 3111, wiring part 312, flexible circuit board 313, main body 314, dielectric element 315, perforation 3151, insulating plate 316, temperature sensor 317, backing 32, support member 33, through hole 331, adhesive member 34. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses, systems, devices, and methods consistent with some aspects of this application.

[0027] refer to Figure 1As shown, the tumor electric field therapy device 100 includes an electric field generator 10, an adapter 20, and several pairs of electrode pads 30. The adapter 20 electrically connects the electric field generator 10 to each electrode pad 30. The electric field generator 10 generates an alternating current signal required for treatment. The adapter 20 receives the alternating current signal output from the electric field generator 10 and transmits it to the electrode pads 30. The pairs of electrode pads 30 are applied to the patient's body surface corresponding to the tumor area, applying the alternating current signal to the patient's tumor area to interfere with or prevent the mitosis of the patient's tumor cells, thereby achieving the purpose of treating the tumor.

[0028] refer to Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the electrode sheet 30 includes an electrode array 31, a backing 32, several support members 33, and several adhesive members 34. The electrode array 31 is adhered to the backing 32 and electrically connected to the adapter 20 via wires (not shown). The electrode array 31 has twenty electrode units 310 arranged in four rows and six columns. Each support member 33 corresponds to two or three electrode units 310 in the same row. The support member 33 has several through holes 331 and is adhered to the backing 32 such that each through hole 331 surrounds its corresponding electrode unit 310. The inner diameter of the through holes 331 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the electrode unit 310 to facilitate installation. The support member 33 supports and protects the electrode units 310. Similarly, each adhesive member 34 corresponds to two or three electrode units 310 in the same row, covering each row of electrode units 310 and the corresponding support member 33. In other embodiments, the adhesive members 34 can also be laid separately for each electrode unit 310. Electrode pads 30 are applied to the patient's skin with the exposed side of the adhesive patch 34 facing the patient. Here, the side of the electrode pad 30 facing the patient is defined as the front, and the opposite side as the back. The backing 32 is a mesh non-woven fabric with a biocompatible adhesive (not shown) coated on the front side to ensure a tight fit to the patient's skin. The support 33 is made of foam material. The adhesive patch 34 is double-sided adhesive, preferably a conductive gel, to keep the skin surface moist and prevent itching.

[0029] refer to Figure 5 As shown, the twenty electrode units 310 of the electrode array 31 are arranged both axially symmetrically and centrally symmetrically. These twenty electrode units 310 are arranged in four rows and six columns. Specifically, the first and fourth rows each have four electrode units 310, and the two middle rows (i.e., the second and third rows) each have six electrode units 310. The six electrode units 310 in each of the two middle rows are arranged in six columns, located in columns one through six; the four electrode units 310 in each of the first and fourth rows are arranged in four columns, located in columns two through five.

[0030] The electrode array 31 also includes a plurality of connecting portions 311 and a wiring portion 312 connecting two adjacent electrode units 310. The wiring portion 312 is positioned between two adjacent parallel connecting portions 311 in a "T" shape and is used to connect external wires (not shown) for electrical connection with the adapter 20. The connecting portions 311 connect the electrode array 31 into a whole and also serve as wiring to ensure that each electrode unit 310 can receive AC signals. The plurality of connecting portions 311 include a first connecting portion 3111 connecting two adjacent electrode units 310 in the same row and a second connecting portion 3112 connecting two adjacent electrode units 310 in the same column. The wiring portion 312 connects two parallel second connecting portions 3112 located in the third and fourth columns (i.e., the middle two columns) and between the second and third rows. In each row, adjacent electrode units 310 in the third and fourth columns are disconnected, without a first connecting part 3111. However, adjacent electrode units 310 in other adjacent columns of each row are connected by a first connecting part 3111. That is, the electrode array 31 is divided into left and right parts, connected only by a wiring part 312. Therefore, the positions of the left and right parts are relatively independent, allowing for more flexible placement. A second connecting part 3112 is provided between any two adjacent electrode units 310 in the third and fourth columns, while adjacent electrode units 310 in other columns are disconnected, without a second connecting part 3112. That is, the second connecting part 3112 is only provided between any two adjacent electrode units 310 in the middle two columns. Therefore, the electrode units 310 in other columns are not constrained, allowing for a higher degree of freedom.

[0031] This can be understood as follows: several electrode units 310 and corresponding second connecting portions 3112 on the third and fourth columns form two parallel main trunks L1 and L2, while several electrode units 310 and corresponding first connecting portions 3111 on each of the other rows form several branches L3, that is, the branches L3 are formed by the horizontal extension of the main trunks L1 and L2. In other words, the third and fourth columns of the electrode array 31 are two basically independent main trunks L1 and L2, and each row has two branches L3 that are horizontally extended from the two main trunks L1 and L2 respectively. The electrode units 310 at opposite ends of each row are located at the ends of each branch L3 and are connected to only one adjacent electrode unit 310 in the same row through a corresponding connecting part 311. That is, the two electrode units 310 at opposite ends of each row are each connected to only one adjacent electrode unit 310 through a corresponding connecting part 311. The four electrode units 310 located in the middle two rows and on the main branches L1 and L2, that is, the four electrode units 310 located at the center of the electrode sheet 30, are each connected to three surrounding electrode units 310 through connecting parts 311. The other electrode units 310 on the main branches L1 and L2 and on the branch L3 are each connected to two surrounding electrode units 310. In other words, the two electrode units 310 at opposite ends of each row are each connected to the adjacent electrode unit 310 through only one first connecting part 3111. Therefore, the eight electrode units 310 located on the left and right edges of the electrode pad 30 are connected only to one adjacent electrode unit 310, thus having a high degree of freedom and a large range of motion, which can better adhere to the patient's body surface and avoid wrinkles. In addition, apart from the four electrode units 310 located in the center and the eight electrode units 310 located on the left and right edges of the electrode pad 30, the other electrode units 310 are also connected only to the two surrounding electrode units 310 through the connecting part 311, so they also have a certain degree of freedom and a certain range of motion, which can also improve the adherence of the electrode pad 30.

[0032] refer to Figure 6The diagram shows the hierarchical structure of the electrode array 31. The electrode array 31 includes a flexible circuit board 313, which comprises several main body portions 314 corresponding to each electrode unit 310, several connecting portions 311, and several wiring portions 312. The connecting portions 311 connect two adjacent main body portions 314. The electrode array 31 also includes several dielectric elements 315, several insulating plates 316, several temperature sensors 317, and several diodes (not shown). A conductive pad (not shown) is provided on the front side of each main body portion 314. The dielectric elements 315 are disposed on the front side of each main body portion 314 in a one-to-one correspondence and are soldered to the conductive pad (not shown). A through hole 3151 is provided at the center of each dielectric element 315. The temperature sensors 317 are located on the front side of each main body portion 314 and are selectively disposed within some of the through holes 3151 of the dielectric elements 315. The insulating plates 316 are disposed on the back side of each main body portion 314 in a one-to-one correspondence. The main body 314, dielectric element 315, and insulating plate 316 are arranged in a centrally overlapping manner to form electrode unit 310. In this embodiment, there are sixteen temperature sensors 317. Except for the four electrode units 310 located in the second and third rows and the second and fifth columns, the other sixteen electrode units 310 are each provided with a temperature sensor 317 mounted on the main body 314 and housed in the opening 3151 of the dielectric element 315, and a diode (not shown). The diode (not shown) is connected in series with the corresponding temperature sensor 317. In other embodiments, the temperature sensors 317 may have different numbers and different arrangements, which are not limited here.

[0033] In this embodiment, the dielectric element 315 is a ceramic sheet, but it can also be in other forms, such as a polymer dielectric layer with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss made of a thin film material with non-fixed crystal orientation, high flexibility and high toughness. This polymer dielectric layer can be formed on the main body 314 by vapor deposition, sputtering or ion plating vapor deposition, printing, spraying or casting. In addition, the insulating plate 316 is not necessary and can be selectively provided according to requirements.

[0034] The tumor electric field therapy device and its electrode pads provided in this application have most of their electrode units having good degrees of freedom, which improves the adhesion of the electrode pads and makes them less prone to wrinkling when applied to curved surfaces. Therefore, when the tumor electric field therapy device is used, the electrode pads can better apply the received alternating current signal to the tumor area corresponding to the curved surface, avoiding a sharp increase in heat generation and a decrease in alternating electric field strength at the corresponding location due to poor electrode pad adhesion, thus preventing any impact on the treatment effect.

[0035] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An electrode sheet comprising an electrode array, the electrode array comprising a plurality of electrode units, a plurality of connecting portions connecting adjacent two of the electrode units, the plurality of electrode units being arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, characterized in that: The two electrode units in the middle two columns of each row are disconnected, and the two electrode units at opposite ends of each row are connected to only one adjacent electrode unit through a corresponding connection part.

2. The electrode pad of claim 1, wherein: The connection parts include first connection parts connecting adjacent electrode units in the same row and second connection parts connecting adjacent electrode units in the same column, and the second connection parts are arranged between any two adjacent electrode units in the middle two columns.

3. The electrode pad of claim 2, wherein: The two electrode units at opposite ends of each row are connected to only one first connection part.

4. The electrode pad of claim 3, wherein: The electrode units are distributed in an axial symmetry and central symmetry.

5. The electrode patch of claim 2, wherein: The electrode array includes twenty electrode units arranged in four rows and six columns, wherein the second and third rows each include six electrode units, and the first and fourth rows each include four electrode units.

6. The electrode pad of claim 5, wherein: The electrode array is provided with a wiring part connecting two parallel second connection parts located between the second and third rows and on the third and fourth columns.

7. The electrode pad of claim 5, wherein: The electrode units at opposite ends of each row are connected to only one connection part, the four electrode units on the second and third rows and on the third and fourth columns are connected to three connection parts, and the other electrode units are connected to two connection parts.

8. The electrode patch of claim 5, wherein: The electrode array is provided with temperature sensors, and each of the sixteen electrode units except the four electrode units on the second and third rows and on the second and fifth columns is provided with a temperature sensor.

9. The electrode pad of claim 8, wherein: The electrode array is provided with diodes connected in series with the corresponding temperature sensors.

10. A tumor electric field treatment device, characterized by: The electrode array includes an electric field generator and a plurality of electrode sheets according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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