Transcranial magnetic stimulation system and methods
First Claim
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1. A method for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the method comprising:
- positioning a first electromagnetic coil on a first region of a skull;
positioning a second electromagnetic coil at a second location; and
performing a procedure using the first and second electromagnetic coils, the procedure comprising;
providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the first electromagnetic coil induces a first electric field pulse in a first brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull wherein said providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil comprises inducing the first electric field pulse at a threshold level which is at a level high enough to produce an action potential in the first brain region;
providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the second electromagnetic coil induces a second electric field pulse in a second brain region;
separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil;
summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the pulse provided to the second electromagnetic coil so as to activate a brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull while maintaining the position of the first electromagnetic coil on the first region of the skull throughout the steps of providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil, providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil, and separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and providing to the second electromagnetic coil; and
repeating the steps of providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil, providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil, separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil, and summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil, wherein the position of the first electromagnetic coil on the first region of the skull is maintained throughout the performed procedure.
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Abstract
A system and methods for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the system including a helmet, a positioning portion, a stimulator and a cooling system, are disclosed. The helmet includes a coil for deep brain magnetic stimulation. The coil has a base portion, and return portions, which may include a protruding return portion and a contacting return portion. The coil is designed to minimize unintended stimulation of portions of the brain, while reducing accumulation of surface charges. The coil is stimulated at several locations and/or at different times so as to focus the electrical field on a specific deep neuronal structure.
5 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the method comprising:
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positioning a first electromagnetic coil on a first region of a skull; positioning a second electromagnetic coil at a second location; and performing a procedure using the first and second electromagnetic coils, the procedure comprising; providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the first electromagnetic coil induces a first electric field pulse in a first brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull wherein said providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil comprises inducing the first electric field pulse at a threshold level which is at a level high enough to produce an action potential in the first brain region; providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the second electromagnetic coil induces a second electric field pulse in a second brain region; separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil; summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the pulse provided to the second electromagnetic coil so as to activate a brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull while maintaining the position of the first electromagnetic coil on the first region of the skull throughout the steps of providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil, providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil, and separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and providing to the second electromagnetic coil; and repeating the steps of providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil, providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil, separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil, and summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil, wherein the position of the first electromagnetic coil on the first region of the skull is maintained throughout the performed procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the method comprising:
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positioning a first electromagnetic coil on a first region of a skull wherein said first electromagnetic coil includes first coil stimulating elements positioned in a first direction; positioning a second electromagnetic coil at a second location, wherein said second electromagnetic coil includes second coil stimulating elements positioned in a second direction which is on a different axis than said first direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are not parallel to one another, wherein the positions and design of the first coil stimulating elements and the second coil stimulating elements are configured to approximate a path of a neuronal bundle; providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the first electromagnetic coil induces a first electric field pulse in a first brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull; providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the second electromagnetic coil induces a second electric field pulse in the first brain region, wherein the induced first electric field pulse is in a different direction than the induced second electric field pulse such that individual points along the approximated path of the neuronal bundle in which the electric field is produced are not in a straight line; separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil; and summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the pulse provided to the second electromagnetic coil so as to activate a brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the method comprising:
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positioning a first electromagnetic coil on a first region of a skull; positioning a second electromagnetic coil on a second region of the skull, which is different than the first region of the skull such that a distance between a center of the first electromagnetic coil from a center of the second electromagnetic coil is between 5 centimeters and 10 centimeters; providing a current pulse to the first electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the first electromagnetic coil induces a first electric field pulse in a first brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull; providing a current pulse to the second electromagnetic coil wherein the provided current pulse in the second electromagnetic coil induces a second electric field pulse in a second brain region adjacent to the second region of the skull; separately controlling the providing to the first electromagnetic coil and the providing to the second electromagnetic coil; and summing the pulse provided to the first electromagnetic coil and the pulse provided to the second electromagnetic coil so as to activate a brain region adjacent to the first region of the skull. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification