Patent ID: 7706890

Claim:
An apparatus for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having polarizable or polar or charged intracellular members, the apparatus comprising: a first insulated electrode; a second insulated electrode; an electric field source configured to apply an AC voltage between the first and second insulated electrodes, a first intervening member disposed between the first insulated electrode and a first skin surface, the first intervening member comprising a material having a high conductance; and a second intervening member disposed between the second insulated electrode and a second skin surface, the second intervening member comprising a material having a high conductance, wherein the second intervening member is physically separate from the first intervening member, the first insulated electrode is of a smaller size than the second insulated electrode, and the first intervening member is of a smaller size than the second intervening member, and wherein the first and second insulated electrodes and the first and second intervening members are configured to permit positioning with respect to the target area to induce an electric field in the target area that encourages the selective destruction of dividing cells in the target area, and with the first insulated electrode positioned closer to the target area than the second insulated electrode.