Trajectory-based deep-brain stereotactic transcranial magnetic stimulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9486639-B2
Application number	US-201113240060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2011
Priority date	May 5, 2006
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides for Stereotactic Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) at predetermined locations with the brain or spinal cord and incorporates an array of electromagnets arranged in a specified configuration where selected coils in the array are pulsed simultaneously. Activation of foci demonstrated by functional MRI or other imaging techniques can be used to locate the neural region affected. Imaging techniques can also be utilized to determine the location of the designated targets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for applying magnetic field stimulation to a deep brain target, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a plurality of bent electromagnetic coils at different locations about a subject's head, each coil comprising a plurality of concentric loops arranged about a normal axis, the concentric loops of each of the electromagnetic coils having a curved shape relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the normal axis such that the plurality of electromagnetic coils conform to the subject's head;
energizing the electromagnetic coils to produce a plurality of magnetic fields, wherein the coils are positioned such that a normal component of each of the magnetic fields points toward a common convergence point, the common convergence point spaced a distance away from the deep brain target and having a predetermined spatial relationship to the deep brain target; and
stimulating the deep brain target by summing stimulation from each of the magnetic fields at the deep brain target, wherein the deep brain target is deeper in the brain and further from the electromagnets than more superficial cortical non-target brain regions between the deep brain target and the electromagnetic coils.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each electromagnetic coil includes at least two loops.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein energizing the electromagnetic coils comprises energizing the electromagnetic coils at different patterns, frequencies, or patterns and frequencies of stimulation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning comprises placing the subject's head within a frame holding the plurality of electromagnetic coils.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils are directly adjacent to one another.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils are not concentric with one another.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils do not overlap with one another.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils are attached to one another.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils are electrically discrete from one another.

Assignees

• Mishelevich David J
• Schneider M Bret
• Univ Leland Stanford Junior

Inventors

• Mishelevich David J
• Schneider M Bret

Classifications

• A61N2/004 Primary

  specially adapted for a specific therapy · CPC title

• A61N2/008

  for pain treatment or analgesia · CPC title

• A61N2/006

  for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue · CPC title

• A61N2/02

  using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets (A61N2/12 takes precedence) · CPC title