Method and apparatus for recording an electroencephalogram during transcranial magnetic stimulation

• US 20020007128A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvaro Pascual-Leone, John R. Ives
• Original Assignee: Alvaro Pascual-Leone, John R. Ives
• Inventors: Ives, John R., Pascual-Leone, Alvaro
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• 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 for monitoring an electroencephalogram of a patient during administration of transcranial magnetic stimulation including a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system, an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring system, and a control system, coupled between the EEG S system and the TMS system, that responds to signals provided by the EEG system and controls the TMS system wherein timing of operation of the TMS system does not need to be synchronized to timing of operation of the EEG system. A conductive plastic electrode system for use with the EEG monitoring system is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an electroencephalogram of a patient during administration of transcranial magnetic stimulation, comprising:

a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system;

an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring system;

a control system, coupled between the EEG system and the TMS system, that responds to signals provided by the EEG system and controls the TMS system,

wherein timing of operation of the TMS system does not need to be synchronized to timing of operation of the EEG system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system monitors the signals provided by the EEG system during operation of the TMS system and stops operation of the TMS system if the EEG signals are in an undesirable state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system automatically monitors the EEG signals and controls the TMS system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system includes a display that displays the EEG signals and allows manual control of the TMS system.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the TMS system generates a magnetic field and wherein the control system can turn off the magnetic field.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control system includes a programmed computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the EEG system includes a plurality of electrodes that are used to obtain signals from a patient.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the EEG system includes a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers being coupled to a respective electrode in the plurality of electrodes, and wherein each amplifier has an output that saturates during a TMS pulse and that returns to normal operation within 20 milliseconds after the TMS pulse ceases.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a multiplexer coupled to each output of each amplifier.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electrodes are electrically conductive plastic.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive plastic electrodes include a coating of electrically conductive epoxy.

12. An electrode system for use in electroencephalogram detection, comprising:

an electrically conductive plastic electrode;

a wire molded into an inner surface of the conductive plastic electrode; and

a coating of conductive epoxy disposed on the inner surface of the conductive plastic electrode.

13. A method for controlling administration of transcranial magnetic stimulation to a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to a patient;

monitoring an electroencephalogram (EEG) of the patient during TMS using an EEG system that includes an amplifier that saturates during a TMS pulse and that returns to normal operation within 20 milliseconds after the TMS pulse is over; and

stopping transcranial magnetic stimulation if the EEG of the patient indicates onset of a seizure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of monitoring the EEG of the patient and continuing applying TMS until the EEG of the patient is in a desired state.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of monitoring the EEG of the patient and continuing applying TMS until the EEG of the patient is no longer in an undesired state.