Method and apparatus for determining the proximity of a TMS coil to a subject's head
Inventors
Riehl, Mark Edward • Ghiron, Kenneth Marc • Miller, Stanford W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8177702-B2
Publication Date
2012-05-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A proximity sensor for a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system detects the proximity of a TMS coil assembly to a position at which the coil is to receive pulses during TMS treatment and provides feedback to the operator so that the operator may adjust the TMS coil assembly as necessary to maintain optimal positioning during treatment. A flexible substrate containing a sensor or sensor array is disposed between the TMS coil assembly and the position such that the coupling of the TMS coil assembly to the position may be detected by the sensor(s). Sensor outputs are processed by signal processing circuitry to provide an indication of whether the TMS coil assembly is properly disposed with respect to the position during TMS treatment. A display may be used to provide an indication of how to adjust the TMS coil assembly to improve the positioning of the TMS coil assembly. On the other hand, a sound generator may be used to generate a sound that indicates to an operator whether the TMS coil assembly is properly positioned at the position. Many different types of sensor devices may be used to detect proximity, including membrane switches, variable resistance sensors, resistive strips, touch screens, pickup loops, fluid displacement sensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors, inductive coupling sensors, capacitive coupling sensors, temperature sensors, and the like.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems that provide TMS treatment to a patient using a TMS coil and a pulse generating device. A sensor is disposed between the TMS coil and a position at which pulses are applied during TMS treatment, and the sensor detects contact between the TMS coil and the patient and detects a contact location of the TMS coil.
Signal processing circuitry processes an output of the sensor to provide an indication of whether the TMS coil is properly positioned based on the contact location with respect to the position during application of pulses to the TMS coil. The proximity detection device uses a flexible substrate disposed between the TMS coil and the position, with at least one sensor disposed on the substrate between the TMS coil and the position, so as to detect proximity of the TMS coil to the position.
In specific embodiments, the sensor comprises membrane switches that change state when depressed, with respective conductive films separated by a dielectric layer. The conductive films have a sufficient resistance so as to reduce eddy currents, non-conductive micro slides are applied to the flexible substrate to amplify compression of the membrane switches, and the membrane switches comprise resistive strips that provide an output voltage that varies with position of contact.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes five independent claims directed to a TMS system, proximity-detection devices, and a method. The independent claims implement flexible-substrate sensing between the TMS coil and the patient position, contact and contact-location detection, proximity and proper-position indication, and membrane-switch structures with conductive films separated by a dielectric layer and eddy-current reduction features.
Position-providing TMS system with between-coil contact location sensing
A TMS system comprising a TMS coil, a pulse generating device applying pulses to the TMS coil, a sensor disposed between the TMS coil and a position where pulses are applied, the sensor detecting contact between the TMS coil and the patient and detecting a contact location of the TMS coil, and signal processing circuitry processing an output of the sensor to provide an indication of whether the TMS coil is properly positioned based on the contact location with respect to the position during application of pulses to the TMS coil.
Flexible-substrate proximity detection using membrane switches with eddy-current reduction
A device detecting proximity of a TMS coil to a position of a patient during TMS treatment, comprising a flexible substrate disposed between the TMS coil and the position and at least one sensor disposed on the substrate between the TMS coil and the position, the sensor detecting contact between the TMS coil and the patient and detecting a contact location of the TMS coil so as to detect proximity of the TMS coil to said position, wherein the at least one sensor comprises membrane switches that change state when depressed, each membrane switch comprising respective conductive films separated by a dielectric layer and the conductive films having sufficient resistance so as to reduce eddy currents therein.
Compression-amplified membrane-switch proximity detection using non-conductive micro slides
A device detecting proximity of a TMS coil to a position of a patient during TMS treatment comprising a flexible substrate disposed between the TMS coil and the position, at least one sensor disposed on the substrate between the TMS coil and the position, the sensor detecting contact between the TMS coil and the patient and detecting a contact location of the TMS coil so as to detect proximity of said TMS coil to said position, wherein the at least one sensor comprises membrane switches that change state when depressed, each membrane switch comprising respective conductive films separated by a dielectric layer; and wherein non-conductive micro slides are applied to the flexible substrate so as to amplify compression of the membrane switches.
Resistive-strip membrane-switch proximity detection with contact-position-varying output
A device detecting proximity of a TMS coil to a position of a patient during TMS treatment comprising a flexible substrate disposed between the TMS coil and the position and at least one sensor disposed on the substrate between the TMS coil and the position, the sensor detecting contact between the TMS coil and the patient and detecting a contact location of the TMS coil so as to detect proximity of said TMS coil to said position, wherein the at least one sensor comprises membrane switches that change state when depressed, each membrane switch comprising respective conductive films separated by a dielectric layer; and wherein the membrane switches comprise resistive strips that provide an output voltage that varies with position of contact on said membrane switches.
Method of providing TMS treatment with proximity/contact-location-based proper-position indication
A method of providing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment to a patient using a magnetic field, comprising detecting proximity of a TMS coil to a position at which pulses are to be applied to the TMS coil during TMS treatment of a patient, detecting contact between the TMS coil and the patient, detecting a contact location of the TMS coil, and providing an indication of whether said TMS coil is properly positioned based on the contact location with respect to said position during application of pulses to said TMS coil.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the use of a flexible substrate between a TMS coil and a patient position, with sensors that detect contact and contact location to determine proximity and proper positioning. Additional claim coverage specifies membrane-switch sensor structures, including conductive films separated by a dielectric layer, sufficient resistance to reduce eddy currents, non-conductive micro slides to amplify compression, and resistive strips providing position-dependent output.
Stated Advantages
Provides an indication of whether the TMS coil is properly positioned during application of pulses based on contact location.
Reduces eddy currents in the conductive films of membrane switches.
Documented Applications
TMS treatment to a patient using a TMS coil and a pulse generating device, using a sensor between the TMS coil and a position to detect contact, detect a contact location, and provide an indication of proper positioning during pulse application.
Detecting proximity of a TMS coil to a position of a patient during TMS treatment for treating a patient using a magnetic field.
Providing a method of delivering TMS treatment in which proximity, contact, and contact-location are detected and an indication is provided whether the TMS coil is properly positioned during pulse application.
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