Patent ID: 8706261

Claim:
An apparatus for selectively destroying or inhibiting the growth of rapidly dividing cells located within a target region of a patient, the apparatus comprising: an AC voltage source; and a plurality of insulated electrodes that are operatively connected to the AC voltage source, wherein each of the electrodes has a surface configured for placing against the patient's body; wherein the AC voltage source and the electrodes are configured so that, when the electrodes are placed against the patient's body, a first AC electric field having a first frequency and a second AC field having a second frequency are imposed in an alternating sequence in the target region of the patient, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are different, wherein the first and second electric fields have frequency characteristics that correspond to a vulnerability of the rapidly dividing cells, wherein the first and second electric fields are strong enough to damage, during the late anaphase or telophase stages of cell division, a significant portion of the rapidly dividing cells whose long axis is generally aligned with lines of force of the electric fields, wherein the first and second electric fields leave non-dividing cells located within the target region substantially unchanged, and wherein the frequencies of the first and second electric fields are between 50 kHz and 500 kHz.