Methods and devices for transcranial magnetic stimulation and cortical cartography

• US 20030023159A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Tanner, Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 7,239,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/417
• 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: A61B 5/4011 Evaluating olfaction, i.e. sense of smell
• 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 and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain using at least one stimulation device, wherein: the spatial structure of the head or brain is recorded; a three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain is generated from the recording of the spatial structure of the brain; and the stimulation device is arranged relative to the head or brain using the three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain, such that the at least one point or area of the brain can be stimulated using the stimulation device; a device for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain, comprising a recording device for detecting the spatial structure of the brain, a computational device for generating a simulation model of the surface of the brain and at least one stimulation or induction device, in particular a coil; a method for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, wherein at least one particular area is stimulated using a stimulation device and the stimulus response is measured at at least two different positions, and a device for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, comprising at least one stimulation device and at least two stimulus detection devices.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain using at least one stimulation device, wherein:

a) the spatial structure of the head or brain is recorded;

b) a three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain is generated from the recording of the spatial structure of the brain; and

c) the stimulation device is arranged relative to the head or brain using the three-dimensional simulation model of the surface of the brain, such that the at least one point or area of a brain can be stimulated using the stimulation device.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spatial structure of the head or brain is recorded using a nuclear spin resonance, computer tomography, x-ray or ultrasound method.

3. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the simulation model of the surface of the brain is formed by a plurality of polygons.

4. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stimulation device is positioned such that the magnetic field generated or generable by the stimulation device is vertical on the simulation model of the surface of the brain on or over the area to be stimulated or exhibits a predetermined spatial angle relative to it.

5. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more coils are used as the stimulation device.

6. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stimulation device is navigated to the calculated position for the desired stimulation.

7. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a stimulation signal is only released or generated when the deviation of the calculated position of the stimulation device from the actual position of the stimulation device is smaller than a predetermined value or keeps within a predetermined angular range.

8. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positional data for the stimulation device and/or the brain or head and/or the electrical field which may be induced on the surface of the brain are displayed.

9. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a simulation model of the induction device and/or the head and/or the brain is used, in particular a multi-shell model.

10. A computer program which performs the method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9 when it is loaded on a computer or is running on a computer.

11. A program storage medium or a computer program product comprising the program as set forth in claim 10.

14. The device as set forth in claim 12 or 13, comprising a control system with which the stimulation device can be positioned, as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

21. The method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein a method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9 is used to position the at least one stimulation device.

28. The device as set forth in claim 26 or 27, comprising a control device for performing a method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9 and/or 16 to 22.

12. A device for stimulating and/or inhibiting at least one point or area of a brain, comprising a recording device for detecting the spatial structure of the brain, a computational device for generating a simulation model of the surface of the brain and at least one stimulation or induction device, in particular a coil.

13. The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein markers are provided on the head and/or on the brain and/or on the stimulation device, for navigating and positioning the stimulation device relative to the brain.

15. The device as set forth in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein a display device is provided for displaying the position of the head or brain relative to the stimulation device and/or for displaying the stimulation signal generated or generable by the stimulation device, in particular an induced electrical field or signal.

16. A method for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, wherein at least one particular area is stimulated using a stimulation device and the stimulus response is measured at at least two different positions.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least two, preferably more, positions on a grid structure are provided for stimulating various areas of the brain sequentially or in parallel.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16 and 17, wherein the at least two stimulus detection devices detect the strength of the stimulus response.

19. The method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein stimulation signals are applied in the area of the motor cortex.

20. The method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein a computer-guided or navigated stimulation device is used to generate stimulation signals.

22. The method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein a mean value is formed from a number of stimulus responses for substantially the same stimulation signals.

23. The method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 22, wherein a stimulus sensitivity function is generated for at least one muscle, in accordance with the position on the surface of the brain.

24. A computer program which performs the method as set forth in any one of claims 16 to 23 when it is loaded on a computer or is running on a computer.

25. A program storage medium or a computer program product comprising the program as set forth in claim 24.

26. A device for determining the function of a particular area of the brain, comprising at least one stimulation device and at least two stimulus detection devices.

27. The device as set forth in claim 26, wherein at least two, preferably sixteen or more, stimulation devices are provided, arranged in a grid structure.