Transcranial magnetic stimulation system and methods

• US 20060287566A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainsway, Ltd., The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture, Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Original Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Inventors: Zangen, Abraham, Roth, Yiftach, Miranda, Pedro C., Hazani, David, Hallet, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A coil for magnetic stimulation of a target area, the coil positionable on a body part, the coil comprising:

a base portion comprising at least one member for providing electrical current flow in a direction tangential to the target area, said base portion positioned at a first level with respect to the target area;

a protruding return portion for carrying returning current in a direction opposite the target area, said protruding return portion in electrical communication with said at least one member and positioned at a second level with respect to the target area, the second level located at a distance above the first level; and

a contacting return portion for carrying returning current in a direction opposite the target area, said contacting return portion in electrical communication with said at least one member and positioned substantially in the first level and spaced at a distance from the target area.

2. The coil of claim 1, wherein said at least one member includes multiple members.

3. The coil of claim 1, wherein said at least one member includes 10 members.

4. The coil of claim 1, wherein said at least one member includes 14 members.

5. The coil of claim 2, wherein a portion of said multiple members is in electrical communication with said protruding return portion and a portion of said multiple members is in electrical communication with said contacting return portion.

6. The coil of claim 1, wherein said at least one member is positioned in a lateral-medial direction.

7. The coil of claim 1, wherein said at least one member is positioned in an anterior-posterior direction.

8. The coil of claim 2, wherein said multiple members are parallel to one another.

9. The coil of claim 1, wherein said first level is on the skull.

10. The coil of claim 1, wherein said distance of said second level above said first level is 4-10 cm.

11. The coil of claim 1, wherein said distance of said second level above said first level is 7 cm.

12. The coil of claim 1, wherein said distance of said contacting return portion from said target area is 7-10 cm.

13. The coil of claim 1, wherein said base portion comprises an arch configuration which is complementary to the body part.

14. The coil of claim 1, wherein the body part is a head and the target area is a portion of a brain.

15. The coil of claim 15, wherein said portion of a brain is at least 3 cm deep.

16. A system for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the system comprising:

a helmet for placement on a head of a subject, the helmet comprising at least one coil for magnetic stimulation;

a rigid cover portion; and

a flexible cover portion;

a positioning portion comprising a stand and an adjustable arm, said adjustable arm attached to said rigid cover portion;

a stimulator in electrical communication with said at least one coil; and

a cooling system comprising an external unit and an internal system, said internal system in thermal proximity and approximate geometric alignment with at least a portion of said at least one coil.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one coil comprises:

a base portion comprising at least one member for providing electrical current flow in a direction tangential to a target area, said base portion positioned at a first level with respect to the target area;

a protruding return portion for carrying returning current in a direction opposite the target area, said protruding return portion in electrical communication with said at least one member and positioned at a second level with respect to the target area, the second level located at a distance above the first level; and

a contacting return portion for carrying returning current in a direction opposite the target area, said contacting return portion in electrical communication with said at least one member and positioned substantially in the first level and spaced at a distance from the target area.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said positionable portion further comprises a chair and a rear head support.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising an additional stimulator, in electrical communication with said at least one coil.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said internal system is separated from said coils by an insulator.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said insulator is a polyurethane resin.

22. A method for stimulation of a deep brain region, the method comprising:

providing a coil having a base portion for delivering current to the deep brain region, the base portion positionable on a skull;

a protruding return portion for carrying returning current and positionable above the skull; and

a contacting return portion for carrying returning current and positionable on the skull but at a distance from the base portion;

placing said coil on the skull of a subject, such that said base portion and said contacting return portion are in contact with the skull and said protruding return portion is located at a distance above the skull; and

activating said coil to stimulate the deep brain region.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said activating comprises providing electrical impulses to said coils.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said providing comprises simultaneously providing electrical impulses to individual members of said coil.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said providing comprises sequentially providing electrical impulses to individual members of said coil.

26. A method of activating a neuronal structure, the method comprising:

providing a coil for delivery of electrical impulses to a target area, the coil including individual members designed to carry current in predetermined directions; and

activating said individual members non-simultaneously.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said predetermined directions are a same direction for each of said individual members.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said predetermined directions are a different direction for each of said individual members, and wherein each of said predetermined directions forms a path designed to mimic a neuronal structure.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said activating comprises sequentially activating each of said individual members.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said activating comprises randomly activating each of said individual members.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said activating comprises selectively activating some of said individual members.