Apparatus and method for treating multiple tumors in patients with metastatic disease by electric fields

Abstract

An electronic device for delivering a plurality of tumor treating electromagnetic fields to a patient including a plurality of electrode elements each being independently programmable, a control device and a field generator. The control device is configured to dynamically program a frequency range, a firing configuration and a firing sequence for the plurality of electrode elements. The field generator generates electrical signals in the frequency range, the electrical signals being directed to at least two of the plurality of electrode elements. The plurality of electrode elements including both master and slave electrode elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device for delivering a plurality of tumor treating electromagnetic fields to a patient, comprising:
 a plurality of electrode elements each being independently programmable;   a control device configured to dynamically program a frequency range, a firing configuration and a firing sequence for the plurality of electrode elements; and   a field generator generating electrical signals in the frequency range, the electrical signals being directed to at least two of the plurality of electrode elements, the plurality of electrode elements including both master and slave electrode elements.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is connected to at least one of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is connected to a plurality of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the master electrode elements are each connected to a differing set of the slave electrode elements by way of wires from each of the master electrode elements to the corresponding set of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the master electrode elements directly control each of the slave electrode elements in the set of the slave electrodes that are connected to the master electrode element by way of the wires. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is in communication with the control device. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the firing configuration is conveyed to at least one of the master electrode elements from the control device. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the firing configuration of the slave electrode elements coupled to the at least one of the master electrode elements is controlled by the at least one of the master electrode elements by directing the electrical signals from the field generator to selected ones of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one master electrode element can deliver the electric signal to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein a combination of the master electrode elements and the slave electrode elements deliver the electric signal to the patient. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using an electrode array to deliver tumor treating electric fields to a patient, comprising the steps of:
 placing a plurality of electrode elements in optimized locations on the patient, each of the electrode elements being independently programmable;   dynamically programming a control device with a frequency range, a firing configuration and a firing sequence for the plurality of electrode elements; and   generating electrical signals with a field generator in the frequency range, the electrical signals being directed to at least two of the plurality of electrode elements, the plurality of electrode elements including both master and slave electrode elements.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is connected to at least one of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is connected to a plurality of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the master electrode elements are each connected to a differing set of the slave electrode elements by way of wires from each of the master electrode elements to the corresponding set of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the master electrode elements directly control each of the slave electrode elements in the set of the slave electrodes that are connected to the master electrode element by way of the wires. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the master electrode elements is in communication with the control device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the firing configuration is conveyed to at least one of the master electrode elements from the control device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the firing configuration of the slave electrode elements coupled to the at least one of the master electrode elements is controlled by the at least one of the master electrode elements by directing the electrical signals from the field generator to selected ones of the slave electrode elements. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one master electrode element can deliver the electric signal to the patient. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a combination of the master electrode elements and the slave electrode elements deliver the electric signal to the patient.