FERROFLUIDIC COOLING AND ACOUSTICAL NOISE REDUCTION IN MAGNETIC STIMULATORS

• US 20080114199A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neuronetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuronetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Riehl, Mark, Ghiron, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US12/018,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/105 Cooling by special liquid or by liquid of particular composition
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/202 Electromagnets for high magnetic field strength for superconducting electromagnets H01F6/00; for transformers or inductances without a magnetic core H01F30/08

Abstract

A ferrofluid chamber has a housing that is adapted to be coupled to a component that generates a magnetic field. A ferrofluid may disposed within the housing for cooling the component via convection of the ferrofluid that is induced by the magnetic field.

Claims

1. A ferrofluid chamber, comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to a component that generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue; and

a ferrofluid disposed within the housing for cooling the component,

wherein the chamber is configured to facilitate thermal and magnetic convection of the ferrofluid.

2. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the housing is further adapted to enable convection of the ferrofluid when in the presence of the magnetic field.

3. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the housing is disposed around the component so as to substantially enclose an acoustic noise-producing region of the component.

4. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the ferrofluid contained within the chamber and the component form a first noise-attenuating interface.

5. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the ferrofluid is resistant to shear sound waves.

6. The chamber of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger coupled to the housing for cooling the ferrofluid.

7. The chamber of claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger is a heat sink.

8. The chamber of claim 6, wherein the housing is configured to facilitate thermal and magnetic convection of the ferrofluid between the component and the heat exchanger.

9. The chamber of claim 6, further comprising a pumping mechanism to cause the ferrofluid to circulate between the component and the heat exchanger.

10. The chamber of claim 6, wherein the pumping mechanism is a magnetic material for causing circulation of the ferrofluid when in the presence of the magnetic field.

11. The chamber of claim 6, wherein the ferrofluid contained within the chamber and the heat exchanger form a second noise-attenuating interface.

12. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the component is a coil.

13. The chamber of claim 12, wherein the coil has a ferromagnetic core.

14. The chamber of claim 12, wherein the coil has an air core.

15. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the component stimulates human brain tissue in connection with transcranial magnetic stimulation or magnetic seizure therapy.

16. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is a first magnetic field, and further comprising a permanent magnet proximate the housing to create a second magnetic field, wherein the ferrofluid experiences magnetic convection when exposed to the second magnetic field.

17. A magnetic stimulation system for generating a magnetic field having sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue, comprising:

a component for generating the magnetic field of sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue;

a chamber disposed substantially around the component, the chamber comprising a housing adapted to be coupled to the component that generates the magnetic field and a ferrofluid disposed within the housing for cooling the component;

a heat exchanger for cooling the ferrofluid, wherein the chamber is configured to facilitate thermal and magnetic convection of the ferrofluid between the component and the heat exchanger.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the magnetic field generated by the component drives the magnetic convection of the ferrofluid.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the chamber is disposed around the component so as to substantially enclose an acoustic noise-producing region of the component.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the ferrofluid is resistant to shear sound waves.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the ferrofluid contained within the chamber and the magnetic device form a first noise-attenuating interface.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the ferrofluid contained within the chamber and the heat exchanger form a second noise-attenuating interface.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the component is a coil.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the coil has a ferromagnetic core.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the coil has an air core.

26. The system of claim 17, further comprising a magnetic material for causing circulation of the ferrofluid in a first direction when in the presence of the magnetic field.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a valve for preventing the ferrofluid from circulating in a second direction.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger is a heat sink.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the component is used for stimulating tissue in connection with transcranial magnetic stimulation or magnetic seizure therapy.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the magnetic field is a first magnetic field, and further comprising a permanent magnet to create a second magnetic field, wherein the ferrofluid experiences magnetic convection when exposed to the second magnetic field.

31. The system of claim 17, further comprising a pumping mechanism to circulate the ferrofluid between the component and the heat exchanger.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the pumping mechanism is activated by a pulsing magnetic field causing circulation of the ferrofluid in a first direction when in the presence of the magnetic field.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a valve for preventing the ferrofluid from circulating in a second direction.