Targeting method and apparatus for the magnetic stimulation of the brain
First Claim
1. A method for targeting electromagnetic stimulation on the human brain, in which method pulse-like electromagnetic fields, which have a strong local electromagnetic maximum, are formed, the electromagnetic maximum of the field is targeted on the brain (2), the distribution, direction, and strength of the electromagnetic field arising in the brain are defined, and some physiological or biological response, such as, for example, a muscular response measured using electromyography, is measured, characterized in that the position of the brain is defined in three-dimensional space and the position data is received in electrical form in a data-processing apparatus (8), the position data of the electromagnetic fields is received in the data-processing apparatus (8), in electrical form, in at least more or less real time, the positions of the electromagnetic fields are modelled in the same three-dimensional set of co-ordinates as the position of the brain (2), with the aid of the data-processing apparatus (8), the position data of the electromagnetic fields are combined with the position data of the brain (2), and a graphical presentation (9) of the position data of the electromagnetic fields and of the position data of the brain is formed with the aid of the data-processing apparatus (8).
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for targeting electromagnetic stimulation on the human brain. According to the method, pulse-like electromagnetic fields are formed, which have a strong local electromagnetic maximum, the electromagnetic maximum of the field is targeted on the brain (2), the distribution, direction, and strength of the electromagnetic field arising in the brain are defined, and some physiological or biological response, such as, for example, a muscular response measured using electromyography, is measured. According to the invention, the position of the brain is defined in three-dimensional space and the position data is received in electrical form in a data-processing apparatus (8), the position data of the electromagnetic fields are received in the data-processing apparatus (8) in the same three-dimensional set of co-ordinates as the brain, the position data of the electromagnetic fields are combined with the position data of the brain (2), and a graphical presentation (9) of the position data of the electromagnetic fields and of the position data of the brain is formed with the aid of the data-processing apparatus (8).
49 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for targeting electromagnetic stimulation on the human brain, in which method
pulse-like electromagnetic fields, which have a strong local electromagnetic maximum, are formed, the electromagnetic maximum of the field is targeted on the brain (2), the distribution, direction, and strength of the electromagnetic field arising in the brain are defined, and some physiological or biological response, such as, for example, a muscular response measured using electromyography, is measured, characterized in that the position of the brain is defined in three-dimensional space and the position data is received in electrical form in a data-processing apparatus (8), the position data of the electromagnetic fields is received in the data-processing apparatus (8), in electrical form, in at least more or less real time, the positions of the electromagnetic fields are modelled in the same three-dimensional set of co-ordinates as the position of the brain (2), with the aid of the data-processing apparatus (8), the position data of the electromagnetic fields are combined with the position data of the brain (2), and a graphical presentation (9) of the position data of the electromagnetic fields and of the position data of the brain is formed with the aid of the data-processing apparatus (8).
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5. A method for targeting stimulation at a point in the brain defined by the operator characterized in that
the desired point in the brain (2) is indicated from a magnetic image, the optimal location and angles of tilt, relative to the head (3), of the coil (4) that acts as the excitation component are calculated in order to create the maximum stimulation in the target point inside the head, an interactive computer program guides the operator to bring the coil (4) to the optimal location and attitude.
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6. A method for the precise charting of responses to magnetic stimulation, such as, for example, a muscular response measured using electromyography, characterized in that
the coil (4) is located relative to the head (3) by using positioning devices (7, 8) immediately after each stimulation, the electrical field created in the head (3) and the area of the strongest effect of the field are calculated, some physiological or biological response is measured or detected, the magnitude or quality of the response is depicted as a chart in the point of the strongest effect of the stimulation field created in the brain by the coil (4).
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12. A user interface in connection with electromagnetic stimulation, characterized in that at least a more or less real-time three-dimensional model of the brain (2) and of the electromagnetic radiation directed to the brain is depicted in the interface with the aid of a two-dimensional display (9).
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13. An apparatus for targeting electromagnetic stimulation onto the human brain, which apparatus includes
means (4) for creating such pulse-like electromagnetic fields as have a powerful local electromagnetic maximum, means for targeting the electromagnetic maximum of the field on the brain, means for determining the distribution, direction, and strength of the electromagnetic field created in the brain, and means for measuring a physiological or biological response caused by the stimulation, characterized in that the apparatus includes means (5, 6, 7) for defining the position of the brain in three-dimensional space and for receiving the position data in the data system, means (7) for receiving the position data of the electromagnetic fields, means (8) for modelling the position of the electromagnetic fields together with the position of the brain (2) in the same three-dimensional set of co-ordinates, in at least more or less real time, and means (9) for forming a graphical presentation, of the position data of the electromagnetic fields and of the position data of the brain, with the aid of the data system.
Specification