Magnetic core for medical procedures

Inventors

Ghiron, Kenneth Marc • Riehl, Mark Edward

Assignees

Neuronetics Inc

Abstract

The inventive technique include a system, method and device for treating a patient. The inventive system includes a magnetic core having a highly saturable magnetic material and a conductor wound around at least a portion of the magnetic core. The magnetic core has a first section with a first end and a second end, a second section with a first end and a second end. The first end of the second section is connected at an angle to the first end of the first section. The magnetic core also has a third section with a first end and a second end. The first end of the third section is connected at an angle to the second end of the second section.

Core Innovation

The invention describes a medical device for treating a patient using transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The device includes a magnetic core made of a highly saturable magnetic material and a distributed gap core structure that includes a matrix of non-conductive gaps. A conductor is wound around at least a portion of the magnetic core.

The magnetic core geometry includes first, second, and third magnetic core sections, each having a first end and a second end. The first end of the second magnetic core section is connected at a first angle to the first end of the first magnetic core section, and the first end of the third magnetic core section is connected at a second angle to the second end of the second magnetic core section. The core-section end connections enable configurable core geometries including right-angle embodiments and other angled configurations.

The distributed gap concept is presented as reducing eddy-current losses and heating compared with laminated or sintered ferromagnetic cores. By reducing heating, the description indicates enabling higher power and duty cycles and potentially more intense therapy without sophisticated cooling. Manufacturing concepts are described in terms of forming a powdered or distributed-gap core using an insulating matrix with non-conductive gaps under non-sintered conditions to maintain distributed gaps.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides two independent claims: one directed to a device for treating a patient and one directed to a system for treating a patient. Across these independent claims, there are four main inventive elements: a highly saturable magnetic material core, a distributed gap core structure with non-conductive gaps, a multi-section core with angle-connected ends, and a conductor wound around at least a portion of the core, with the system adding a power source to power the core via the conductor.

Together, the independent claims cover a transcranial magnetic stimulation patient-treatment device and system using a highly saturable distributed-gap magnetic core with a matrix of non-conductive gaps, an angle-connected three-section core geometry, and a conductor wound around the core, with the system further including a power source that provides power to the core via the conductor.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications