mTMS coil device with overlapping coil windings
Inventors
Ilmoniemi, Risto • Koponen, Lari • Nieminen, Jaakko • Järnefelt, Gustaf
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10780291-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided herein is a multichannel Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (mTMS) coil device with two or more overlapping coil windings within a casing. The mTMS coil device is capable of adjusting parameters of the stimulation of magnetic and induced electric fields through the selective control of the multiple coil windings within the mTMS coil device. Additionally, provided are methods of operation including navigated TMS for adjusting parameters such as location, direction and/or orientation of magnetic and induced electric fields from mTMS coil devices.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a multichannel transcranial magnetic stimulation (mTMS) coil device with a rigid casing that houses two coil windings. A first coil winding and a second coil winding are affixed within the casing such that each winding has a center point and the center points of the first and second coil windings are overlapping. The second coil winding has a different geometry than the first coil winding and each coil winding has its own power input line.
The device enables electronic adjustment of the stimulation electric field by separately controlling currents through the power input lines of the first and second coil windings. In this arrangement, a first, primary electric field is generated by the first coil winding and a second, secondary electric field is generated by the second coil winding, to modify the primary electric field. The modification comprises changing the position, direction and/or orientation of the primary electric field so that a modified primary electric field targets a target location within the brain of an individual without requiring relocation of the device.
The overlapping-center arrangement supports field modification using coil geometry and orientation differences between the first and second coil windings, while the coils remain within the rigid casing. The disclosure further relates these concepts to example overlapping arrangements, including cases with different orientations between coil axes and partially overlapping or stacked coil arrangements housed in a casing.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three aspects of the same concept: a multichannel mTMS coil device structure with overlapping center points and different-geometry windings, a method for controlling the electric field to target a location within the brain using separately controlled primary and secondary electric fields, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions to carry out the method. Across the independent claims, a total of 4 main inventive features are emphasized.
Rigid casing with overlapping center points of different-geometry coil windings
A rigid casing with a first coil winding and a second coil winding housed therein, where the second coil winding has a different geometry than the first coil winding, each winding has a center point, and the first and second coil windings are affixed such that the center points overlap.
Separately controlling currents to generate primary and secondary electric fields for targeting
Controlling a first current through a first power line of a first coil winding to generate a first, primary electric field, and modifying the position, direction and/or orientation of the primary electric field by separately controlling a second current through a second power line of a second coil winding to generate a second, secondary electric field such that the modified primary electric field targets the target location within the brain, with the second coil winding having a different geometry than the first.
Target location determination within the brain
Determining a target location within the brain of an individual.
Non-transitory computer readable instructions to carry out the electric-field targeting control
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions causing a processor to determine a target location within the brain, control a first current through a first power line to generate a first, primary electric field, and modify the primary electric field by separately controlling a second current through a second power line to generate a second, secondary electric field so that the modified primary electric field targets the target location, wherein the first and second coil windings have overlapping center points and the second coil winding has a different geometry.
Overall, the claim set covers a multichannel mTMS coil device defined by a rigid casing with first and second coil windings of different geometry whose center points overlap, and it further covers control instructions and methods that separately drive currents in the two windings to generate a primary electric field and a secondary electric field that modifies the primary field to target a target location within the brain.
Stated Advantages
Improved lead-field overlap for precise electronic correction.
Generally improved coupling/SNR for TMS and reciprocal applications.
Reduced power for TMS and reciprocal applications, including MEG and MRI-related coil arrays.
Documented Applications
Reciprocal applications including MEG.
MRI-related coil arrays, including discussion of MRI B1 and RF pulses and related coil arrays.
Use in navigated TMS targeting to modify induced electric fields without moving the device.
Use with reciprocal applications such as pickup loops and orthogonal/low mutual inductance coil arrays.
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