A transducer that can deliver tumor treatment sites and reduce the occurrence of creases.

Abstract

A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment site to the body of a subject, the transducer device comprising: a substrate; an array of at least one electrode disposed on the substrate, the array configured such that the surface of the array faces the body of the subject and is positioned on the body of the subject, and the tumor treatment site can be delivered to the body of the subject; and an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising an internal slit that, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array, substantially extends along the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer, the internal slit being surrounded by anisotropic material and having no electrodes within the internal slit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 524,586, filed Jun. 30, 2023, and U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 757,028, filed Jun. 27, 2024, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 524,561, filed Jun. 30, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0002] Tumor treatment fields (TT fields) are low - intensity alternating current fields within the intermediate frequency range (e.g., 50 kHz to 1 MHz) and can be used for treating tumors as described in U.S. Patent No. 7,565,205. In current commercial systems, TT fields are non - invasively induced in the target area. This is achieved by applying an alternating current (AC) voltage between transducers using an electrode assembly (e.g., an electrode array, a transducer array, or an array of capacitive coupling electrodes, also simply referred to as a “transducer”) placed on the patient's body. Conventionally, a first pair of transducers and a second pair of transducers are placed on the subject's body. An AC voltage is applied between the first pair of transducers for a first time interval, generating an electric field with electric field lines running generally in the anteroposterior direction. Next, an AC voltage is applied between the second pair of transducers at the same frequency for a second time interval, generating an electric field with electric field lines running generally in the left - right direction. The system repeats this two - step sequence over the course of treatment.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] This application describes an exemplary transducer (or transducer device) used to deliver a TT field to a subject's body for treating one or more cancers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The inventors acknowledge that transducers used to deliver the TT field to subjects may crease during insertion and wearing by the subject. Creases may occur in the transducer, and may be more pronounced if placed on curved areas of the subject (e.g., breasts or head) and / or areas with significant movement (e.g., upper body). While not limited to transducers containing anisotropic material layers (e.g., sheets of graphite), the relatively less flexible anisotropic material layers may exacerbate the transducer creasing problem when used. Transducer creasing can affect the transducer's ability to deliver the recommended dose of the TT field to the subject.

[0005] The inventors recognized the need to reduce the occurrence of creases in transducers used to deliver the TT field to subjects. The inventors discovered that transducers having one or more slits inside can reduce the occurrence of creases in the transducer.

[0006] This specification describes various types of transducers. Each embodiment disclosed herein may be used for one or more types of transducers described herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1A] An example of a transducer placed on a subject's body to deliver a TT field is shown. [Figure 1B] An example of a transducer placed on a subject's body to deliver a TT field is shown. [Figure 2A] An example of a transducer placed on a subject's body to deliver a TT field is shown. [Figure 2B] An example of a transducer placed on a subject's body to deliver a TT field is shown. [Figure 3]Two example top views of transducers are shown. [Figure 4A] Two example top views of transducers are shown. [Figure 4B] A transducer 400B applied to an exemplary breast area is shown. [Figure 5] Two example top views of transducers are shown. [Figure 6] An example top view of a transducer is shown. [Figure 7] An example top view of a transducer is shown. [Figure 8] The image shows the two transducers after they were removed from the subjects. [Figure 9] The image shows the two transducers after they were removed from the subjects. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Figures 1A and 1B show examples of transducers positioned on a subject's body to deliver a TT field. Figure 1A shows transducer 100 positioned on the front of the subject's right chest and transducer 102 positioned on the front of the subject's left thigh. Figure 1B shows a third transducer 104 located on the left side of the subject's upper back and a fourth transducer 106 located on the back of the subject's right thigh. Each transducer 100, 102, 104, and 106 may include one or more electrode elements positioned on a flexible surface to conform the transducer to the subject's body. Transducers 100, 102, 104, and 106 may be capable of delivering a TT field to the subject's body.

[0009] Similarly, Figures 2A and 2B show examples of other transducers for delivering a TT field, positioned on the subject's body. Figure 2A shows a first transducer 200 positioned on the front of the subject's right chest and a second transducer 202 positioned on the front of the subject's left thigh. Figure 2B shows a third transducer 204 located on the left side of the subject's upper back and a fourth transducer 206 located on the back of the subject's right thigh. Each transducer 200, 202, 204, and 206 may include one or more electrode elements positioned on a flexible surface to adapt the transducer to the subject's body. Transducers 200, 202, 204, and 206 may be capable of delivering a TT field to the subject's body.

[0010] Transducers placed on the subject's torso (shown in Figures 1A to 2B) can apply the TT field to tumors in the subject's chest or abdomen. Transducers may be placed in various combinations of positions on the subject's torso, in addition to the positions shown in Figures 1A to 2B.

[0011] Figures 1A and 1B, and Figures 2A and 2B, both illustrate assemblies for applying a TT field to a subject's body while avoiding at least one area having anatomical features or apparatus. For example, in Figure 1A, the surface of the transducer 100 is formed and fitted to conform to the contour of the subject's breast while avoiding the subject's nipple 108. In some embodiments, when fitted to the subject's body, a substantially circular opening 110 corresponds to the subject's nipple 108, thereby ensuring that the transducer's electrodes do not lie on the nipple 108. The transducer 100 may also include an internal slit 120, which may help reduce the occurrence of creases in the transducer 100 when fitted to the subject.

[0012] In another example, in Figure 2A, the surface of the transducer 200 is formed and fitted to the contour to avoid the chemotherapy port 208 located on the subject's body. In particular, the surface of the transducer 200 is configured to be positioned on the subject's body such that the substantially circular opening 210 of the transducer 200 coincides with the location of the chemotherapy port 208 located on the subject's body. The transducer 200 may include an internal slit 220 which may help to suggest the formation of folds in the transducer 200 when it is implanted on the subject. In another example, the surface of the transducer 200 may be positioned on the subject's body such that the two opposing portions of the transducer surface are spaced apart and straddle the location of the chemotherapy port 208 located on the subject's body. The electrodes of the transducer 200 should not be positioned over the chemotherapy port 208. The chemotherapy port 208 is often inserted into the subject's body before the subject receives TT treatment. The transducers disclosed herein may enable the application of a TT field to a region of interest in the subject's chest or abdomen without interfering with or affecting the subject's chemotherapy port 208.

[0013] Returning to Figures 1A and 1B, one or more other transducers 102, 104, and 106 may have a different shape from transducer 100. For example, as shown, the second, third, and fourth transducers 102, 104, and 106 of the assembly have a different shape from the first transducer 100. In some embodiments, the second, third, and fourth transducers 102, 104, and 106 may have the same or substantially similar shapes as each other. As shown, the surface of at least one transducer 102, 104, and 106 may have a substantially convex shape. More specifically, the surface of at least one transducer 102, 104, and 106 may have a rectangular, substantially rectangular with rounded corners (as shown), circular, oval, ovaloid, ovoid, or elliptical shape. Similar situations may apply to transducers 200, 202, 204, and 206. In particular, transducer 200 shown in Figure 2A may have a shape similar to transducer 100 shown in Figure 1A. Also, transducers 202, 204, and 206 shown in Figures 2A and 2B may have a shape similar to transducers 102, 104, and 106 shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0014] In other embodiments, one or more of the other transducers 102, 104, and 106 may have a surface having the same shape or mirror image shape as transducer 100 shown in Figures 1A and 1B. Similarly, one or more of the other transducers 202, 204, and 206 may have a surface having the same shape or mirror image shape as transducer 200 shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0015] Figure 3 shows top views of two exemplary transducers 300A and 300B. Transducers 300A and 300B have the same shape and features. Transducers 300A and 300B are shown in different orientations applicable to a subject's breast. Transducers 300A and 300B may each include a substrate 302 having a first surface facing the subject and a second surface opposite to the first surface. One or more electrodes (not shown) may be attached to the first surface of the substrate 302, and optionally an adhesive layer may be provided between the first surface of the substrate 302 and one or more electrodes.

[0016] Transducers 300A, 300B (and other transducers disclosed or described herein) may include any of the features described herein. They may also include any number of electrode elements (e.g., one or more electrode elements). For example, a transducer may include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more electrode elements (e.g., twenty electrode elements). Electrode elements may be of various shapes, sizes, and materials. For example, electrode elements may be triangular, square, rectangular, circular, oval, ovaloid, ovoid, or elliptical in shape, or substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially rectangular, substantially circular, substantially oval, substantially ovaloid, substantially ovoid, or substantially elliptical in shape. Any structure for mounting a transducer (or electric field generator) to be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention may be used, insofar as it is possible for them to (a) deliver a TT electric field to the body of a subject and (b) be positioned at the location specified herein. Any structure for mounting a transducer (or electric field generator) for use in embodiments of the present invention may be used, insofar as it is possible for it to deliver a TT field to the body of a subject. The transducer may be conductive or nonconductive. In some embodiments, an AC signal may be capacitively coupled to the body of a subject. In certain embodiments, at least one electrode (or electrode element) of a transducer configured to generate an AC electric field (e.g., transducers 300A, 300B) may include a ceramic disk as a dielectric layer. One or more electrodes (or electrode elements) of transducers 300A, 300B may be non-ceramic dielectric materials disposed on a plurality of planar conductors. Examples of non-ceramic dielectric materials disposed on planar conductors include polymer films disposed on pads on a printed circuit board or on substantially flat metal pieces. In some embodiments, such polymer films have a high dielectric constant, for example, one greater than 10.

[0017] Transducers 300A and 300B can be configured to be placed on the body of the subject such that the surface of at least one electrode array faces the body of the subject. In some embodiments, transducers 300A and 300B may be substantially planar. In some embodiments, transducers 300A and 300B may be substantially planar before being placed, applied, or worn on the subject.

[0018] In some embodiments, transducers 300A, 300B (and other transducers disclosed or described herein) may include an anisotropic material layer, as described below. For example, the anisotropic material layer may be positioned on top of at least one electrode on the skin side of at least one electrode array (so that the anisotropic material layer faces a first surface of the substrate 302). In some embodiments, the anisotropic material layer may exist as a laminate having a layer of conductive adhesive, an anisotropic material layer, and a layer of conductive adhesive, or may include such a laminate. In some embodiments, the anisotropic material may be a sheet of graphite. In some embodiments, the anisotropic material layer may be a sheet of pyrolytic graphite, a graphitized polymer film, or a graphite foil made from compressed high-purity exfoliated mineral graphite. In some embodiments, the anisotropic material layer may have the same or similar shape as the substrate 302, and may be similar in size to the substrate or slightly smaller than the substrate. Furthermore, in some embodiments, an adhesive layer may be present between the substrate and the anisotropic material layer. For simplification, both the substrate and the anisotropic material layer are not shown in Figures 1-5 and 7, but both may be present in one or more (or all) of these embodiments. In embodiments without anisotropic material layers, the shape of the transducer body may or may not reflect the shape of the substrate (e.g., 302, 402, 502, 702 shown in Figures 3-5 and 7). In these figures (Figures 3-5 and 7), the slits are shown as slits within the substrate layer, but it should be understood that these embodiments also apply equally to slits within anisotropic material layers of similar (or identical) shape, or to slits passing through both the substrate and the anisotropic material layer. Figures 6, 8, and 9 show anisotropic material layers 603, 803, and 903, respectively, whose outer periphery may or may not follow the shape of the transducer body (as in Figures 6, 8, and 9).Similarly, in describing the process of transforming a planar transducer to produce a non-planar transducer, it should be understood that the substrate and the anisotropic material layer may have the same or similar shapes (overlapping each other) and may be adhered to each other. Thus, in some embodiments, bending a first portion of the substrate over a second portion of the substrate may include bending both layers (the substrate and the anisotropic material layer) simultaneously.

[0019] Transducers 300A, 300B may include internal slits 370 disposed within the substrate 302 (and / or within the anisotropic material layer 303 if present). In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 may be an aperture that penetrates the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303). In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 may be disposed entirely within the perimeter of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303). In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 may be a perforation that penetrates the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303). In some embodiments, no electrodes are disposed in the internal slit 370.

[0020] In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 may be positioned along a centerline 325 that passes through the longest dimension of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303). The centerline 325 may divide the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) into a first portion 330 and a second portion 332. In some embodiments, the centerline 325 may divide the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) into a first portion 330 and a second portion 332 that are substantially the same size, substantially the same shape, and have reflective symmetry. The internal slit 370 may have reflective symmetry with respect to the centerline 325. In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 may extend from below the upper edge 372 (including the uppermost endpoint 373) of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) to above the lower edge 374 (including the concave edge 305 of the opening 304, the first end 312, and the second end 314). In some embodiments, if the internal slit 370 is an opening that penetrates the substrate 302, the internal slit 370 may be located between the uppermost endpoint 373 and the recessed edge 305 and surrounded by the substrate 302. In some embodiments, if the transducer includes an anisotropic material layer, the internal slit 370 may be an opening that penetrates the anisotropic material layer. In such cases, the internal slit 370 may be located between the uppermost endpoint 373 and the recessed edge 305 and surrounded by the anisotropic material. In some embodiments, the internal slit 370 is an opening that passes through both the substrate and the anisotropic material. In such cases, the internal slit 370 may be located between the uppermost endpoint 373 and the recessed edge 305 and surrounded by both the substrate and the anisotropic material.

[0021] When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of transducers 300A, 300B (or the array of at least one electrode of transducers 300A, 300B), the internal slit 370 may have a substantially rectangular (e.g., bar-shaped) or rounded rectangular shape, although the internal slit 370 may have other shapes compatible with the embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the centroid 376 of the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) may be located within the internal slit 370. In some embodiments, the centroids of transducers 300A, 300B may be located within the internal slit 370. In some embodiments, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) contains only one internal slit. In some embodiments, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) does not contain an internal slit extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and / or centerline 325 of the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303). In some embodiments, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) includes a plurality of internal slits 370 that extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the substrate (or anisotropic material layer 303). In some embodiments, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) includes two discontinuous non-parallel internal slits.

[0022] In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer, the internal slit 370 covers approximately 0.5% to 10% of the surface area of ​​the substrate 302 (or approximately 0.5% to 10% of the surface area of ​​the anisotropic material layer 303). In yet another embodiment, the internal slit 370 covers approximately 1% to 5% of the surface area of ​​the substrate 302 (or approximately 1% to 5% of the surface area of ​​the anisotropic material layer 303). In some embodiments, the width of the internal slit 370 is approximately 0.5 mm to 10.0 mm. In further embodiments, the width of the internal slit 370 is approximately 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the internal slit 370 is approximately 1.0 cm to 10.0 cm. In some embodiments, the length of the internal slit 370 is approximately 3.0 cm to 6.0 cm.

[0023] In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of transducers 300A and 300B, the transducers may have substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surfaces. In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of transducers 300A and 300B, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) may have substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surfaces.

[0024] In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, and when the transducers 300A and 300B are substantially planar, the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) may have an opening 304 facing the wider portion 316 side of the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) rather than the narrower portion 318. In some embodiments, no electrodes are located in the opening 304. The opening 304 may have at least one recessed edge 305 defining the opening 304 between two opposing portions of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303), namely a first portion 330 and a second portion 332. The recessed edge 305 may include a substantially C-shaped concave surface.

[0025] In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, and when the transducers 300A and 300B are substantially planar, the transducers 300A and 300B may have a configuration in which a first end 306 and a second end 308 are separated by a gap 310. The gap 310 may be located closer to the wider portion 316 of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) than to the narrower portion 318. The center line 325 may extend through the longest dimension of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) and through the center of the gap 310. The substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) may have reflection symmetry, and the reflection symmetry of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303) may be centered on the center line 325.

[0026] The substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) may have two opposing ends (or two opposing sides), namely a first end 312 and a second end 314. The gap 310 may be defined as existing between the opposing ends 312, 314 of the substrate 302 (or the layer of anisotropic material 303). The first end 312 may include a convex edge, and the second end 314 may include a convex edge.

[0027] The first end portion 306 may have a first edge 320 and a second edge 322. The first edge 320 may define a part of the outer edge 340 of the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) and may be convex. The second edge 322 may define a part of the concave edge 305 of the opening 304 and may be concave. The second end portion 308 may have a first edge 324 and a second edge 326. The first edge 324 may define a part of the outer edge 340 of the substrate 302 (or anisotropic material layer 303) and may be convex. The second edge 326 may define a part of the concave edge 305 of the opening 304 and may be concave. The opening 304 may have a partially circular, nearly circular, substantially partially circular, or substantially nearly circular edge defined by the first edge 322 and the second edge 326.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first portion 330 and the second portion 332 may be used to define the opening 304. In some embodiments, the first end 306 and the second end 308 may be used to define the opening 304. In some embodiments, the first end 306 and the second end 308 may be used to define the gap 310. In some embodiments, the first portion 330 and the second portion 332 may be close to the narrower portion 318, and the first end 306 and the second end 308 may be close to the wider portion 316. In some embodiments, the first portion 330 and the first end 306 may overlap at least partially, and in some embodiments, the second portion 332 and the second end 308 may overlap at least partially.

[0029] In some embodiments, the first end 306 and the second end 308 may each include part of an array of at least one electrode. In other embodiments, only one of the first end 306 or the second end 308 includes part of an array of at least one electrode. In some embodiments, the first end 306 and the second end 308 are part of a single continuous substrate 302 (or a layer of anisotropic material 303). In other embodiments, the first end 306 and the second end 308 are located in two separate discontinuous portions of the substrate 302 (or a layer of anisotropic material 303).

[0030] Transducers 300A and 300B may be deformed from substantially planar to substantially nonplanar, for example, into substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloids, substantially truncated oblique cones, etc. Transducers 300A and 300B may also be conical, for example, substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloids, or substantially truncated oblique cones. By being deformed, the first end 312 and the second end 314 approach each other to form a three-dimensional shape such as substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloids or substantially truncated oblique cones (see, for example, Figure 4B). This three-dimensional shape may have a substantially circular opening partially formed by the opening 304 (as seen in the planar transducer of Figure 3). When implanted in a subject, the papilla or chemotherapy port may be located within the substantially circular opening of the three-dimensional shape.

[0031] Figure 4A shows top views of two exemplary transducers 400A and 400B. Transducers 400A and 400B have the same shape and features. Transducers 400A and 400B are similar to transducers 300A and 300B, and the labeling scheme for transducers 400A and 400B follows the labeling scheme for transducers 300A and 300B. Therefore, features labeled as 4xx on transducers 400A and 400B are similar to features labeled as 3xx on transducers 300A and 300B. Transducers 400A and 400B are similar to transducers 300A and 300B, but differ in that the first end 406 and the second end 408 are longer than the first end 306 and the second end 308, and have internal slits 470 of a different shape. The internal slit 470 may be wider than the first tapered end 474 or the second tapered end 476 in the intermediate portion 472, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B. In alternative embodiments, other slit shapes may be used, such as the internal slit 370 shown in Figure 3.

[0032] Figure 4B shows transducer 400B applied to an exemplary breast area. For ease of explanation, transducer 400B is depicted on a mannequin. In some embodiments, the transducer may be substantially non-planar. Referring to Figure 4B, and also to the labeling scheme of the relevant features in Figure 4A, if transducer 400B is deformed and substantially formed as a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone, the opening 404 (Figure 4A) may form a substantially circular opening 450 at the truncation apex 452 of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone. The internal slit 470 can reduce the occurrence of creases when transducer 400B is deformed into such a shape and fitted to the body. In some embodiments, when the transducer 400B is formed substantially as a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone, a substantially circular opening 450 can be formed in the truncated portion 452 of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone by eliminating the gap 410 between two opposing ends of the substrate 402 (or anisotropic material layer 403), namely the first end 412 and the second end 414. In some embodiments, when the transducer 400B is formed substantially as a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone, the first end 406 abuts, contacts, or overlaps with the second end 408, and / or the second end 408 abuts, contacts, or overlaps with the first end 406. As shown in Figure 4B, the second end 414 of the second end 408 overlaps with the first end 412 of the first end 406. As shown in Figure 4B, the contact, contact, or overlap of the first end 406 and the second end 408 is located in the lower part of the subject's breast. In such embodiments, the transducer 400B may be adapted to be positioned on or around the subject's anatomical features, e.g., the breast (Figure 4B). A substantially circular opening 450 may correspond to a first location on the subject, e.g., the nipple, and the electrodes of the transducer array should not be positioned on the nipple.

[0033] Figure 5 shows top views of two exemplary transducers 500A and 500B. Transducers 500A and 500B are mirror images of each other but otherwise have the same shape and features. Transducers 500A and 500B are similar to (and follow similar descriptions and labeling) transducers 400A and 400B in Figure 4A, but differ in that each transducer does not have reflective symmetry and in other points detailed below. Internal slits 570A and 570B are similar to internal slit 470 shown in Figure 4A. In alternative embodiments, internal slits 570A and 570B may be similar to internal slit 370 shown in Figure 3. The substrates 502A and 502B (or layers of anisotropic material 503A and 503B) are provided with openings 504A and 504B and gaps 510A and 510B, respectively. In some embodiments, the gaps 510A, 510B may be located on one side of the substrates 502A, 502B (or anisotropic material layers 503A, 503B). As shown in Figure 5, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 502A and the transducer 500A is substantially planar, the gap 510A is located on the left side of the substrate 502A (or anisotropic material layer 503A). The first portion 530A is smaller than the second portion 532A. As shown in Figure 5, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 502B (or anisotropic material layer 503B) and the transducer 500B is substantially planar, the gap 510B is located on the right side of the substrate (or anisotropic material layer). The first portion 530B is smaller than the second portion 532B. Transducers 500A and 500B may be deformable from substantially planar to substantially nonplanar, for example, in the same manner as described above for transducers 400A and 400B, into the shape of a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or a truncated oblique cone. Transducers 500A and 500B may similarly be used in the breast region.

[0034] Figure 6 shows a top view of an exemplary transducer 600. Transducer 600 is similar to the exemplary transducers 500A and 500B shown in Figure 5, and has similar feature labels, but includes a slit 660 instead of a gap 510. The top view of Figure 6 additionally shows an anisotropic material layer 603 that may cover (partially cover) the substrate 602. The substrate 602 may be an adhesive bandage for securing the transducer 600 to a subject, or may include an adhesive bandage. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer 600, and the transducer 600 is substantially planar, the slit 660 may be located between the outer edge 640 of the substrate 602 and the recessed edge 605 of the opening 604. The slit 660 may separate the first end 606 of the transducer 600 from the second end 608 of the transducer 600. The slit 660 may be defined by a first edge 662 of the first end 606 and a second edge 664 of the second end 608. For example, the slit 660 may be formed by making a cut in the transducer 600. The first edge 662 and the second edge 664 may both be straight lines between the outer edge 640 and the recessed edge 605 of the substrate 602. The slit 660 may penetrate the anisotropic material layer 603. The slit 660 may penetrate the substrate 602. The slit 660 may penetrate both the substrate 602 and the anisotropic material layer 603 (as shown in Figure 6). Similar embodiments may also exist for transducers having a substrate but no anisotropic material layer, or having an anisotropic material layer but no substrate.

[0035] The transducer 600 may include an internal slit 670 similar to the internal slit 470 in Figure 4A and the slits 570A and 570B in Figure 5. Alternatively, the internal slit 670 may have a shape similar to the internal slit 370 in Figure 3. The internal slit 670 is different from the slit 660. For example, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer 600, and when the transducer 600 is substantially planar, the internal slit 670 is surrounded by the anisotropic material layer 603 (and substrate 602). Furthermore, the periphery of the internal slit 670 does not intersect with the edge 642 of the anisotropic material layer 603, and the periphery of the internal slit 670 does not intersect with the recessed edge 605 of the opening 604.

[0036] The transducer 600 may further include an overlapping portion 668 of the second end 608 (shaded area in Figure 6). The overlapping portion 668 may be specified to overlap with the first end 606 when the transducer 600 is positioned on a subject (e.g., the nipple of the subject) and deforms substantially from a planar shape to a substantially non-planar shape (such as being distorted into a substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or a substantially truncated oblique cone).

[0037] Figure 7 shows a top view of an exemplary transducer 700. Transducer 700 may be structurally similar to transducers 300A and 300B in Figure 3 and have similar feature labels, but differs in having multiple internal slits. Transducer 700 may include an internal slit 770, which may be similar to the internal slit 370 in Figure 3. Alternatively, internal slit 770 may have a shape similar to internal slit 470 in Figure 4A. Transducer 700 may further include internal slits 782 and 784 (shown in a shape similar to internal slit 470 in Figure 4A). Alternatively, internal slits 782 and 784 may have a shape similar to internal slit 370 shown in Figure 3. In some embodiments, internal slits 782 and 784 may not extend beyond the recessed edge 705 of the opening 704. For example, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer 700, and when the transducer 700 is substantially planar, the internal slits 782 and 784 may extend from the upper edge 772 (including the uppermost endpoint 773) of the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703) to above a horizontal line 727 that is perpendicular to the center line 725 and intersects the upper end of the concave edge 705 of the opening 704. The internal slits 782 and 784 may or may not have reflective symmetry with respect to the center line 725 that passes through the longest dimension of the substrate 702. In some embodiments, no electrodes are placed in the internal slits 782 and 784.

[0038] The transducer 700 may further include internal slits 786 and 788 located within a first portion 730 and a second portion 732 of the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703), respectively. The combination of the first portion 730 and the internal slit 786, and the combination of the second portion 732 and the internal slit 788, may be mirror images of each other and may have reflective symmetry with respect to the center line 725. In some embodiments, the internal slits 786 and 788 do not have reflective symmetry. For example, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer 700, and when the transducer 700 is substantially planar, the internal slits 786 and 788 may extend from above or below the horizontal line 727 to above the first end 712 and the second end 714, respectively. In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transducer 700, and when the transducer 700 is substantially planar, one or more internal slits may extend from above the horizontal line 727 (and below the upper edge 772) to above the first end 712 and the second end 714, respectively. In some embodiments, electrodes are not located in the internal slits 786 and 788.

[0039] The internal slits 770, 782, 784, 786, and 788 may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703). In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the transducer 700, the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703) may contain at least one internal slit in each quadrant defined by the intersection of the center line 725 and the horizontal line 727. In some embodiments, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the transducer 700, the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703) does not contain any internal slits extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate 702 (or anisotropic material layer 703).

[0040] Figure 8 shows two transducers 800A and 800B removed from a subject. Transducers 800A and 800B are examples of transducers 300A and 300B in Figure 3 and have similar feature labels except for the internal slit 370. Transducers 800A and 800B show the array faces facing the subject's body. Transducers 800A and 800B have the same shape and the same features. Transducers 800A and 800B may each include substrates 802A and 802B, an array of at least one electrode (not shown) disposed on substrates 802A and 802B, and anisotropic material layers 803A and 803B, respectively. In this example, the substrate may include an adhesive layer for fixing transducers 800A and 800B to the subject. At least one electrode (not shown) may be placed between the substrates 802A, 802B and the anisotropic material layers 803A, 803B. The anisotropic material layers 803A, 803B may have a first surface 805A, 805B facing the subject and a second surface opposite to the first surface facing the substrates 802A, 802B.

[0041] As shown in Figure 8, both transducer 800A and transducer 800B develop folds after being attached to, worn, and removed from the subject. Transducer 800A includes folds 8010 and 8020. Fold 8010 is generally along the longitudinal direction of transducer 800A, is mostly linear, has a first end 8012 at the upper edge 872A of the anisotropic material layer 803A, and a second end 8010 inside the anisotropic material layer 803A. It extends from the upper edge 872A of the anisotropic material layer 803A to the opposite lower edge 874A of the anisotropic material layer 803A, covering a range of approximately 80% to 90%. The fold 8020 is generally formed along the longitudinal direction of the transducer 800A, has a shape similar to a closing bracket, has a first end 8022 at the lower end 874A of the anisotropic material layer 803A, a second end 8024 inside the anisotropic material layer 803A, and extends over a range of approximately 80% to 90% from the lower edge 874A to the upper edge 872A of the anisotropic material layer 803A.

[0042] Transducer 800B includes folds 8030 and 8040. Fold 8030 is generally linear along the longitudinal direction of transducer 800B, has a first end 8032 at the upper edge 872B of anisotropic material layer 803B, and a second end 8034 inside the anisotropic material layer 803B. It extends for approximately 50% to 60% of the anisotropic material layer 803B, from the upper edge 872B to the opposite lower edge 874B. Fold 8040 is generally linear along the longitudinal direction of transducer 800B, has a first end 8032 at the upper edge 872B of anisotropic material layer 803B, and a second end 8044 inside the anisotropic material layer 803B. Furthermore, it extends from the upper edge 872B of the anisotropic material layer 803B to the lower edge 874B on the opposite side of the anisotropic material layer 803B, covering a range of approximately 70% to 80%.

[0043] As the inventors have recognized, folds can reduce the surface area of ​​the electrodes in contact with the subject's skin and / or affect the directionality of the TT field, thus reducing the effectiveness of the electrodes of transducers 800A and 800B in transmitting the TT field. As the inventors have found, providing at least one internal slit in transducers 800A and 800B can reduce the occurrence of folds in the transducers.

[0044] Figure 9 shows two transducers 900A and 900B removed from a subject. Transducers 900A and 900B are examples of transducers 400A and 400B in Figure 4 and have similar feature labels. However, the internal slits 970A and 970B are similar to the internal slit 370 of transducers 300A and 300B in Figure 3. Other exemplary transducers use internal slits similar to slit 470 in Figure 4A. Transducers 900A and 900B show the array faces facing the subject's body. Transducers 900A and 900B have a generally similar shape and features to transducers 800A and 800B. However, transducers 900A and 900B each include internal slits 970A and 980B, respectively. Transducer 900A has an internal slit 970A, which is generally along the longitudinal direction of transducer 900A. Transducer 900B has an internal slit 970B, which is generally along the longitudinal direction of transducer 900B. Compared to transducers 800A and 800B shown in Figure 8, transducers 900A and 900B do not have folds (e.g., folds 8010, 8020, 8030, and 8040 in Figure 8) because they are provided with internal slits 970A and 970B.

[0045] As described above, the disclosed transducer may include an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the electrode element array (i.e., the side of the electrode element array facing the subject's body), as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2023 / 0037806 A1. The anisotropic material layer may include anisotropic thermal properties and / or anisotropic electrical properties. If the anisotropic material layer has anisotropic thermal properties (e.g., the property that the thermal conductivity in the plane of the layer is higher than the thermal conductivity through the plane of the layer), the layer diffuses heat more uniformly over a larger surface area. If the anisotropic material layer has anisotropic electrical properties (e.g., the property that the electrical conductivity in the plane of the layer is higher than the electrical conductivity through the plane of the layer), the layer diffuses current more uniformly over a larger surface area. In either case, this results in a decrease in the temperature of hot spots and an increase in the temperature of cold regions when a given AC voltage is applied to the array of electrode elements. Therefore, the current can be increased without exceeding the safe temperature threshold at any point on the subject's skin (and consequently, the therapeutic effect can be increased).

[0046] In some embodiments, the anisotropic material layer is anisotropic with respect to electrical conductivity. In some embodiments, the anisotropic material layer is anisotropic with respect to thermal conductivity. In some preferred embodiments, the anisotropic material layer is anisotropic with respect to both electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.

[0047] Anisotropic thermal properties include directional thermal properties. Specifically, an anisotropic material layer may have a first thermal conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the front surface (the surface facing the skin), which is different from the thermal conductivity of the anisotropic material layer in a direction parallel to the front surface. For example, the thermal conductivity of the anisotropic material layer in the direction parallel to the front surface is more than twice as high as the first thermal conductivity. In some preferred embodiments, the thermal conductivity in the parallel direction is more than 10 times higher than the first thermal conductivity. For example, the thermal conductivity of the sheet in the direction parallel to the front surface may be 1.5 times, 2 times, 3 times, 5 times, 10 times, 20 times, 100 times, 200 times, or even more than 1,000 times the first thermal conductivity.

[0048] Anisotropic electrical properties include directional electrical properties. Specifically, an anisotropic material layer may have a first electrical conductivity (or resistance) perpendicular to the front surface, which differs from the electrical conductivity (or resistance) of the anisotropic material layer in the direction parallel to the front surface. For example, the resistance of the anisotropic material layer in the direction parallel to the front surface may be less than the first resistance. In some preferred embodiments, the resistance in the parallel direction is less than half of the first resistance, or less than 10% of the first resistance. For example, the resistance of the anisotropic material layer in the direction parallel to the front surface may be less than 75%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 1%, 0.5%, or even less than 0.1% of the first resistance.

[0049] In some embodiments (for example, when the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of pyrolytic graphite), the anisotropic material layer has both anisotropic electrical properties and anisotropic thermal properties. Exemplary Embodiments

[0050] The present invention includes other exemplary embodiments ("Embodiments") as follows:

[0051] Embodiment 1: A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment area to the body of a subject, the transducer device comprising: a substrate; an array of at least one electrode disposed on the substrate, the array configured such that the surface of the array faces the body of the subject and is positioned on the body of the subject, thereby enabling delivery of the tumor treatment area to the body of the subject; and an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising an internal slit that, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array, substantially extends along the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer, the internal slit is surrounded by the anisotropic material, and no electrodes are present within the internal slit; and an anisotropic material layer comprising an internal slit.

[0052] Embodiment 2: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slit separates the first portion and the second portion of the anisotropic material layer, and the first portion and the second portion have substantially the same size and substantially the same shape.

[0053] Embodiment 3: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slits are arranged along a center line passing through the maximum dimension of the anisotropic material layer.

[0054] Embodiment 3A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the center of gravity of the anisotropic material layer is located within the internal slit.

[0055] Embodiment 4: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slits include a surface area of ​​approximately 0.5% to approximately 10% of the surface area of ​​the anisotropic material layer.

[0056] Embodiment 4A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slits have a surface area of ​​about 1% to about 5% of the surface area of ​​the anisotropic material layer.

[0057] Embodiment 5: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the width of the internal slit is approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 10.0 mm when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array.

[0058] Embodiment 5A: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the width of the internal slit is approximately 1.0 mm to approximately 5.0 mm when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array.

[0059] Embodiment 6: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the length of the internal slit is approximately 1.0 cm to approximately 10.0 cm when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array.

[0060] Embodiment 6A: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the length of the internal slit is approximately 3.0 cm to approximately 6.0 cm when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array.

[0061] Embodiment 6B: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the internal slit is a perforation that penetrates the anisotropic material layer.

[0062] Embodiment 6C: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the internal slit has reflective symmetry.

[0063] Embodiment 6D: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the anisotropic material layer does not include internal slits extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer.

[0064] Embodiment 7: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the anisotropic material layer includes only one internal slit.

[0065] Embodiment 8: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the anisotropic material layer includes two discontinuous and non-parallel internal slits.

[0066] Embodiment 8A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the anisotropic material layer includes a plurality of internal slits that extend substantially parallel and substantially along the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer.

[0067] Embodiment 9: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of graphite.

[0068] Embodiment 9A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the anisotropic material is a sheet of pyrolysis graphite, a graphitized polymer film, or a graphite foil made from compressed high-purity exfoliated mineral graphite.

[0069] Embodiment 10: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein one or more of the transducer, the anisotropic material layer, or the substrate has a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, and the surface has an opening positioned toward a wider portion of the surface.

[0070] Embodiment 11: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 10, wherein the opening defines a substantially C-shaped surface in the broad portion of the substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface.

[0071] Embodiment 11A: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the transducer device has reflection symmetry with respect to a center line passing through the maximum dimension of the transducer device.

[0072] Embodiment 12: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the transducer apparatus is substantially non-planar, and the transducer apparatus has the shape of a substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone, and a substantially circular opening is formed by an opening in the truncated portion of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or truncated oblique cone.

[0073] Embodiment 13: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 1, comprising an internal slit, wherein the substrate is an internal slit extending substantially along the longitudinal direction of the layer of the substrate, the internal slit is surrounded by the substrate, and no electrodes are present within the internal slit.

[0074] Embodiment 14: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 13, wherein the anisotropic material layer includes internal slits extending substantially along the longitudinal direction of the layer of the substrate, the internal slits in the anisotropic material layer and the internal slits in the substrate correspond to form a composite internal slit, and no electrodes are present in the composite internal slit.

[0075] Embodiment 14A: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the transducer device is adapted to be positioned on or around the anatomical features of a subject.

[0076] Embodiment 14B: The transducer device according to Embodiment 14A, wherein the anatomical feature is a breast.

[0077] Embodiment 14C: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the transducer device is adapted to be positioned on the head of a subject.

[0078] Embodiment 14D: The transducer device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the transducer device is adapted to be positioned on the torso of a subject.

[0079] Embodiment 14E: A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment area to the body of a subject, the transducer device comprising a substrate and an array of at least one electrode disposed on the substrate, the array configured such that the faces of the array face the body of the subject and are positioned on the body of the subject, and an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array, the anisotropic material layer comprising a plurality of internal slits that extend substantially parallel to each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the faces of the array and substantially along the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer, the anisotropic material layer not comprising internal slits that extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer.

[0080] Embodiment 14F: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 14E, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, each internal slit is surrounded by anisotropic material, and no electrodes are present in the internal slits.

[0081] Embodiment 15: A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment area to the body of a subject, the transducer device comprising a substrate and an array of at least one electrode disposed on the substrate, the array being configured such that the faces of the array are facing the body of the subject and positioned on the body of the subject, the transducer device having a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array and the transducer device is substantially planar, the surface having an opening disposed toward a wider portion of the surface, the substrate comprising an internal slit substantially extending along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, the internal slit having no electrodes disposed therein.

[0082] Embodiment 15A: The transducer device according to Embodiment 15, wherein the internal slit is located in the substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, closer to the narrower portion than to the wider portion.

[0083] Embodiment 15B: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array and the transducer is substantially planar, the transducer includes a first end separated from a second end by a gap.

[0084] Embodiment 15C: The transducer device according to Embodiment 15B, wherein the first end has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge defining a portion of the outer edge of a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, and the second edge defining a portion of the opening; and the second end has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge defining a portion of the outer edge of a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, and the second edge defining a portion of the opening.

[0085] Embodiment 15D: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15B, wherein the first end and the second end each include a portion of the array of at least one electrode.

[0086] Embodiment 15E: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15B, wherein only one of the first end or the second end includes a portion of the array of at least one electrode.

[0087] Embodiment 15F: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15B, wherein the first end and the second end are part of a single continuous substrate.

[0088] Embodiment 15G: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15B, wherein the first end and the second end are located on two separate discontinuous portions of the substrate.

[0089] Embodiment 16: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the array and the transducer apparatus is substantially planar, the substrate has at least one recessed edge defining the opening between two opposing sides of the substrate, and the opening defines a substantially C-shaped surface in the broad portion of the substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface.

[0090] Embodiment 16A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15, wherein the substrate has reflection symmetry.

[0091] Embodiment 17: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 16, wherein the gap defined by the substantially C-shaped surface is located on one side of the substrate and is defined by a center line passing through the maximum dimension of the substrate and a center line passing through the center of the gap.

[0092] Embodiment 18: The transducer device according to Embodiment 15, wherein, when the transducer device is substantially non-planar, the transducer device has the shape of a substantially truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or a truncated oblique cone, and a substantially circular opening is formed by an opening in the truncated portion of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or the truncated oblique cone.

[0093] Embodiment 19: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 15, further comprising an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array.

[0094] Embodiment 20: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 19, wherein the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of graphite.

[0095] Embodiment 20A: The transducer apparatus according to Embodiment 19, wherein the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of pyrolysis graphite, a graphitized polymer film, or a graphite foil made from compressed high-purity exfoliated mineral graphite.

[0096] Embodiments shown in any heading or portion of this disclosure may be combined with embodiments shown in the same or other headings or portions of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated herein or unless the context expressly contradicts otherwise. For example, an embodiment described in dependent claim form with respect to a given embodiment (e.g., a given embodiment described in independent claim form) may be combined with other embodiments (described in independent or dependent claim form).

[0097] Numerous modifications, alterations, and changes are possible to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and is intended to have the entire scope as defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment site to the body of a subject, wherein the transducer device is circuit board and An array of at least one electrode disposed on the substrate, wherein the array is configured such that the surface of the array faces the body of the subject and is positioned on the body of the subject, and the tumor treatment field can be delivered to the body of the subject, An anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array, wherein the anisotropic material layer is When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, An internal slit substantially extending along the longitudinal direction of the anisotropic material layer, The aforementioned internal slit is surrounded by anisotropic material, A transducer device comprising an anisotropic material layer including an internal slit, wherein no electrodes are present within the internal slit.

2. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, The internal slit separates the first portion and the second portion of the anisotropic material layer. The transducer device according to claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part have substantially the same size and substantially the same shape.

3. The transducer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slits are arranged along a center line passing through the maximum dimension of the anisotropic material layer.

4. The transducer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the internal slits include a surface area of ​​about 0.5% to about 10% of the surface area of ​​the anisotropic material layer.

5. The transducer device according to claim 1, wherein when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the width of the internal slit is approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 10.0 mm.

6. The transducer device according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, the length of the internal slit is approximately 1.0 cm to approximately 10.0 cm.

7. The transducer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of graphite.

8. The transducer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the transducer, the anisotropic material layer, or the substrate has a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, and the opening is positioned toward a wider portion of the surface.

9. The transducer device is substantially non-planar, The transducer device has substantially the shape of a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or a truncated oblique cone, The transducer device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially circular opening is formed by an opening in the truncated portion of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or the truncated oblique cone.

10. The substrate includes an internal slit that extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the layer of the substrate, the internal slit is surrounded by the substrate, and there are no electrodes within the internal slit. The anisotropic material layer includes internal slits that extend substantially along the longitudinal direction of the substrate layer, The transducer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal slits in the anisotropic material layer and the internal slits in the substrate correspond to each other to form a composite internal slit, and no electrodes are present in the composite internal slit.

11. A transducer device for delivering a tumor treatment site to the body of a subject, wherein the transducer device is circuit board and The array includes at least one array of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein the surface of the array is positioned on the subject's body facing the subject's body, When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, and the transducer device is substantially planar, The transducer has a substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface, and the surface includes an opening positioned toward a wider portion of the surface. The substrate includes an internal slit that extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the layer of the substrate, The transducer device according to claim 1, wherein no electrodes are present in the internal slit.

12. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the array, Furthermore, if the transducer device is substantially planar, The at least one recessed edge defines an opening between two opposing sides of the substrate, and the substrate has at least one recessed edge defining the opening between the two opposing sides of the substrate. The transducer apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the opening defines a substantially C-shaped surface in the broad portion of the substantially pear-shaped or rounded triangular surface.

13. The transducer device is substantially non-planar, The transducer device is substantially formed as a truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or a truncated oblique cone, The transducer device according to claim 11, wherein a substantially circular opening is formed by the opening in the truncated portion of the truncated ellipsoidal paraboloid or the truncated oblique cone.

14. The transducer apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an anisotropic material layer disposed on the skin side of the array.

15. The transducer apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the anisotropic material layer is a sheet of graphite.

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