Coil arrangement for transcranial magnetic stimulation

• US 6,179,771 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Mueller, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/296,026
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 600/13, 600/74, 600/15, 600/11, 600/411, 600/421, 600/422
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• 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 coil arrangement for transcranial magnetic stimulation has several individual coils, each having separate current terminals, connected with a support element. The individual coils are constructed in a unitary structural component with a radio-frequency head antenna.

Claims

1. A coil arrangement for transcranial magnetic stimulation comprising:

a plurality of individual transcranial magnetic stimulation coils, each of said coils having separate current terminals connected thereto;

a radio-frequency head antenna for magnetic resonance imaging; and

a single, unitary structural support element, composed of electrically non-conductive and non-magnetic material, on which all of said coils are mounted together with said radio-frequency head antenna.

2. A coil arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support element has a helmet-like configuration adapted to be worn on a head of an examination subject.

3. A coil arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support element is comprised of rigid material.

4. A coil arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said individual coils has a position marker allocated thereto identifying a position of the allocated individual coil, the position marker comprising a substance visible in a selected medical imaging technology.

5. A coil arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said substance comprises a substance detectable by magnetic resonance imaging technology.