Method and a system for optimizing the configuration of multisite transcranial current stimulation and a computer-readable medium
Inventors
Ruffini, Giulio • Ripolles Mateu, Oscar • Pascual-Leone, Alvaro • Fox, Michael D. • Cavaleiro Miranda, Pedro Michael
Assignees
BERESON-ALLEN CENTER FOR NONINVASIVE BRAIN STIMULATION • Neuroelectronics Barcelona SL • Neuroelectrics Barcelona SL • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc
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Publication Number
US-9694178-B2
Publication Date
2017-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and a method for optimizing the configuration of multisite transcranial current stimulation, including providing an electric field characteristic target map on the brain's cortex, the target map including multiple cortical targets, the multiple cortical targets are localized and/or continuously varying and spatially extended, providing a weight map on the cortical surface prioritizing the important of areas in the target map for the purposes of optimization; and calculating, based on the target and weight maps, optimal currents and optimal locations for a plurality of electrodes intended for providing transcranial current stimulation to globally stimulate at once the multiple cortical targets with excitatory, inhibitory or neutral stimulation.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to optimizing the configuration of multisite transcranial current stimulation by using an electric field characteristic target map of a brain's cortex. The target map comprises desired values for the electrical field on the cortex surface to modulate neuronal function and has either single or multiple cortical targets. A weight map of the cortical surface prioritizes important areas in said target map for the purposes of optimization, and both maps are obtained from brain activity data or neuroimaging data acquired by means of a brain monitoring technology.
Optimal currents and an optimal number and locations for a plurality of electrodes are calculated based on electric field modeling with the target and weight maps. The electric field modeling supports realistic cortex-focused electrical field characterization, and the optimization selects an electrode montage that is intended to hit the target map. In the optimization of optimal electrode number and locations, a genetic algorithm with cross-over and mutation functions is used, where a binary DNA string specifies a montage of electrode number and locations.
The configuration resulting from the calculation is then used to provide, via the plurality of electrodes having the optimal currents and optimal number and locations, transcranial current stimulation to a subject. The stimulation globally stimulates at once said targets in the target map with excitatory, inhibitory or neutral stimulation. The approach is thus directed to multisite and multitarget stimulation using target-map-driven electrical field modulation over the cortex surface.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00019, and clm-00020. Each independent claim centers on a shared core workflow: using an electric field characteristic target map and a weight map derived from brain activity/neuroimaging data, then computing optimal currents and an optimal electrode montage using electric field modeling and a genetic algorithm with a binary DNA string encoding, followed by delivering transcranial current stimulation to globally stimulate single or multiple cortical targets with excitatory, inhibitory, or neutral effects.
Electric field characteristic target map with single or multiple cortical targets
Providing an electric field characteristic target map of a brain's cortex that comprises desired values for the electrical field on the cortex surface to modulate neuronal function, said target map having either single or multiple cortical targets.
Weight map prioritizing important areas from brain activity or neuroimaging
Providing a weight map of the cortical surface prioritizing important areas in said target map for the purposes of optimization, said target map and said weight map being obtained from brain activity data or neuroimaging data acquired by means of a brain monitoring technology.
Electric field modeling with target and weight maps to compute optimal currents and electrode montage
Calculating, based on electric field modeling with the target and weight maps, optimal currents and optimal number and locations for a plurality of electrodes to hit said target map.
Genetic algorithm with cross-over and mutation encoded by binary DNA string montage
Performing said calculation of optimal electrode number and locations with a genetic algorithm with cross-over and mutation functions, where a binary DNA string specifies a montage of electrode number and locations.
Delivery of multisite transcranial stimulation with excitatory, inhibitory or neutral effects
Providing, via said plurality of electrodes having the optimal currents and optimal number and locations, transcranial current stimulation to a subject to globally stimulate at once said targets in the target map with excitatory, inhibitory or neutral stimulation.
Across clm-00001, clm-00019, and clm-00020, the claims collectively cover an optimization framework for multisite transcranial current stimulation driven by an electric field characteristic target map and a weight map from brain monitoring data, combined with electric field modeling and genetic-algorithm optimization of an electrode montage encoded by a binary DNA string, and culminate in providing transcranial current stimulation that globally stimulates the mapped cortical targets with excitatory, inhibitory or neutral stimulation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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