Facilitating treatment via magnetic stimulation

• US 6,926,660 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuronetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuronetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Stanford W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/794,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 600 9- 15, 600382-383, 606/130
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia

Abstract

The invention provides a device, system and method for placing a treatment component on a patient'"'"'s head. The inventive device includes an attachment frame that attaches the treatment component to the patient'"'"'s head. The attachment frame also includes a window. A receiving mechanism holds the treatment component to the attachment frame, and an alignment structure permits the treatment component to be positioned at a desired location on the patient'"'"'s head. The inventive device also may include an isolator component capable of reducing sound to the patient'"'"'s ears and/or reducing vibration of the attachment frame. The inventive may also include an electrical connector to send and receive data based on the treatment, and an adjustment structure that is capable of adjusting the device to each patient.

Claims

1. A device for placing a treatment component on a patient'"'"'s head, comprising:

an attachment frame that attaches the treatment component to the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the attachment frame comprises a window;

a receiving mechanism that holds the treatment component to the attachment frame;

an alignment structure that permits the treatment component to be positioned at a desired location on the patient'"'"'s head; and

an adjustment structure that is capable of adjusting the device to the contours of an individual patient'"'"'s head.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the alignment structure comprises at least one hole that permits the patient'"'"'s head to be marked.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an isolator component.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the isolator component is capable of accomplishing at least one of the following:

reducing sound to the patient'"'"'s ears and reducing vibration of the attachment frame.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector to send and receive data as a function of the treatment.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment structure comprises a malleable material to mold to the patient'"'"'s head.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the malleable material hardens as a function of at least one of the following:

a predetermined wavelength of light, heat, and an ultrasonic signal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the alignment structure permits the treatment component to be placed in substantially the same location for each patient treatment.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the adjustment structure spans the patient'"'"'s nose.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the window includes at least one hole that permits attachment to a flexible circuit.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a securing structure that includes at least one of the following:

a nose bridge component, a chin strap component, and a rear strap component.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment frame is reusable.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment frame is rendered unusable.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the attachment frame automatically is rendered unusable at the conclusion of each patient treatment as a function of modification of at least one of the following:

the attachment frame, the electrical connector, the alignment structure, receiving mechanism, and the malleable material.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment component is a magnetic stimulation device used for transcutaneous magnetic stimulation treatment of the patient.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic stimulation device comprises an arc-shaped core spanning an angle of less than three hundred sixty degrees, and wherein the core comprises a highly saturable magnetic material having a magnetic saturation of at least 0.5 Tesla.

17. A system for placing a treatment device on a patient, comprising:

a treatment component;

a head-frame component for placing a treatment component on a patient'"'"'s head, comprising;

an attachment frame that attaches the treatment component to the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the attachment frame comprises a window,

a receiving mechanism that holds the treatment component to the attachment frame, and

an alignment structure that permits the treatment component to be positioned at a desired location on the patient'"'"'s head,

an adjustment structure that is capable of adjusting the device to the contours of an individual patient'"'"'s head;

a flexible circuit capable of being attached to the head-frame component; and

an electrical connector that communicates data as a function of the treatment component, wherein the electrical connector is in communication with the flexible circuit.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field being provided to the patient.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data communicated comprises at least one of the following:

calibration information, detection of fault or operation of the treatment device, the patient'"'"'s biological measurements.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the treatment component is a magnetic stimulation device used for transcutaneous magnetic stimulation treatment of the patient.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the magnetic stimulation device comprises an arc-shaped core spanning an angle of less than three hundred sixty degrees, and wherein the core comprises a highly saturable magnetic material having a magnetic saturation of at least 0.5 Tesla.

22. A method of placing a treatment device on a patient, comprising:

placing a head-frame component on the patient'"'"'s head;

aligning the head-frame component to the patient'"'"'s head;

securing the head-frame component to the patient;

attaching a treatment device to the head-frame component; and

adjusting the device to the contours of an individual patient'"'"'s head.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising connecting the head-frame component to a computing device.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising causing a malleable portion of the adjustment structure to mold to the patient'"'"'s head by providing at least one of the following:

a predetermined wavelength of light, heat, and an ultrasonic signal.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising placing the head-frame component in substantially the same location as a previous patient treatment.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising rendering the head-frame component unusable.