Patent ID: 7912540

Claim:
An apparatus for selectively destroying dividing cells in a target area of living tissue, the dividing cells having members with strong dipole moments, the apparatus comprising: an article of clothing constructed to be worn over the target area; a first insulated electrode having a first conductor and a first dielectric coating, wherein the first insulated electrode is affixed to the article of clothing so that when the article of clothing is worn by a person, the first dielectric coating is positioned between the first conductor and the person's body and is held against the person's body; a second insulated electrode having a second conductor and a second dielectric coating, wherein the second insulated electrode is affixed to the article of clothing so that when the article of clothing is worn by the person, the second dielectric coating is positioned between the second conductor and the person's body and is held against the person's body; and an electric potential source configured to impose an alternating electric potential across the first and second conductors, wherein the alternating electric potential and the insulated electrodes are configured to operate together to impose, in the target area, an electric field with frequency and amplitude characteristics such that application of the electric field to the dividing cells in late anaphase or telophase gives rise to a non-homogenous electric field within the dividing cells that causes the members with strong dipole moments within the dividing cells to move in a manner that increases the likelihood that the dividing cells will structurally break apart.