Method and device for transcranial magnetic stimulation

• US 6,827,681 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Hartlep, Andreas, Wist, Henrik, Weyh, Thomas, Wendicke, Kerstin, Tanner, Phillipp
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/003,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9-15, 600/26-28, 128/897-899
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device (1), comprising the following steps: recording the spatial structure of the head, in particular the brain; generating a simulation model of the induction device (1); and arranging the induction device (1) relative to the head such that a specific area of the brain determined by means of the simulation model of the induction device (1) is stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device (1), as well as to a method for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device (1), comprising the following steps: recording the spatial structure of the head, in particular the brain; generating a simulation model of the head; and arranging the induction device (1) relative to the head such that a specific area of the brain determined by means of the simulation model of the head is stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device (1), as well as to a device for stimulating specific areas of a brain using an induction device (1) connected to a marker (1a).

Claims

1. A method for stimulating a specific area of a brain using an induction device, comprising the following steps:

a) recording the spatial structure of the brain;

b) generating a simulation model of the induction device; and

c) arranging the induction device relative to the head using the simulation model of the induction device, such that a specific area of the brain can be stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein markers are arranged on the induction device and/or on the head to enable the induction device and/or the head to be tracked.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a coil in the form of an eight is used as the induction device.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the areas of the brain are stimulated by electrical impulses in the induction device.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the simulated area of stimulation of the brain determined from the simulation model of the induction device and/or the simulation model of the head is displayed optically.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the induction device is automatically positioned relative to the head.

2. A method for stimulating a specific area of a brain using an induction device, comprising the following steps:

a) recording the spatial structure of the brain in a head;

b) generating a simulation model of the head; and

c) arranging the induction device relative to the head using the simulation model of the head, such that a specific area of the brain can be stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein a simulation model of the induction device is generated, and the induction device is arranged relative to the head using the simulation model of the induction device in such a way that a specific area of the brain can be stimulated by a current flowing in the induction device.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein a multi-shelled model is used as the simulation model of the head.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the simulation model of the head is adapted and/or modified according to the recorded spatial structure of the head.

11. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein markers are arranged on the induction device and/or on the head to enable the induction device and/or the head to be tracked.

12. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein a coil in the form of an eight is used as the induction device.

13. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the areas of the brain are stimulated by electrical impulses in the induction device.

14. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the simulated area of stimulation of the brain determined from the simulation model of the induction device and/or the simulation model of the head is displayed optically.

15. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the induction device is automatically positioned relative to the head.