Method, apparatus, and system for automatically positioning a probe or sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for positioning a probe or sensor with respect to a subject, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject;
determining an optimal position for the probe or sensor with respect to the subject, based on the magnetic resonance image; and
moving the probe or sensor to the optimal position.
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Abstract
A self-contained hardware/software system has been designed to provide anatomy-referenced positioning of a probe or sensor, such as a TMS coil, with respect to a subject. The system may be used in interleaved TMS/fMRI studies of brain circuitry. The system allows the TMS coil to be positioned with millimeter accuracy based on anatomical target locations selected in an MR volume of a subject'"'"'s brain acquired at the beginning of the interleaved TMS/fMRI study. The TMS coil may then be held in that position during subsequent scans.
56 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for positioning a probe or sensor with respect to a subject, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject;
determining an optimal position for the probe or sensor with respect to the subject, based on the magnetic resonance image; and
moving the probe or sensor to the optimal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for determining effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on a subject'"'"'s brain, comprising the steps of:
computing a point on the scalp of the subject contacted by transcranial magnetic stimulation and computing a point of maximum TMS magnetic field intensity based predetermined settings of a coil position, wherein the computed points are used to determine a relation of the transcranial magnetic stimulation and effects on particular areas of the brain. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for automatically positioning a probe or sensor with respect to a subject, comprising the steps of:
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means for obtaining a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject;
means for determining an optimal position for the probe or sensor with respect to the subject, based on the magnetic resonance image; and
means for automatically moving the probe or sensor to the optimal position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for determining effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on a subject'"'"'s brain, comprising:
means for computing a point of the scalp contacted by transcranial magnetic stimulation from a coil and means for computing a point of maximum TMS magnetic field intensity based on predetermined settings of a coil position, wherein the computed points are used for determining a relation of the transcranial magnetic stimulation and effects on particular areas of the brain. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for automatically positioning a probe or sensor with respect to a subject, the system comprising:
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a magnetic resonance imaging device for providing a magnetic resonance image of at least a portion of the subject;
a processor for determining an optimal position for the probe or sensor with respect to the subject, based on the magnetic resonance image; and
a movable arm for automatically moving the probe or sensor to the optimal position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for determining effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on a subject'"'"'s brain, comprising:
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a positioner for positioning a TMS coil supplying the transcranial magnetic stimulation based on predetermined settings; and
a processor for computing a point of the scalp contacted by transcranial magnetic stimulation from a coil and a point of maximum TMS magnetic field intensity based on the predetermined settings of the coil position, wherein the computed points are used to determine a relation of the transcranial magnetic stimulation and effects on particular areas of the brain. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification