MAGNETIC STIMULATION COILS AND FERROMAGNETIC COMPONENTS FOR REDUCED SURFACE STIMULATION AND IMPROVED TREATMENT DEPTH

摘要

A TMS device may include treatment coils and ferromagnetic components that are configured to be disposed proximate to corresponding ones of the treatment coils. The treatment coils and ferromagnetic components of the TMS device may cooperatively generate a magnetic field that exhibits one or more characteristics that differ from those of a magnetic field that is generated by the treatment coils alone. For example, the magnetic field may exhibit lower induced electrical stimulation intensity in the cranial nerves, while substantially maintaining a penetration depth into the subject's brain. In another example, the magnetic field may exhibit increased penetration depth into the subject's brain, while substantially maintaining induced electrical stimulation intensity in the cranial nerves. The TMS device may be configured to be adjustable and/or reconfigurable, for instance with respect to the anatomy of a subject (e.g., to the shape of the subject's head).

主权项

1. A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device comprising:
a treatment coil that is configured to generate a first magnetic field in a target anatomy of a human subject, wherein the first magnetic field induces a first electrical stimulation intensity at a first location in the subject near an outer surface of the subject, and induces a second electrical stimulation intensity at a second location in the subject that is spaced inwardly from the first location; and a ferromagnetic component that is positioned near a portion of the treatment coil and that is configured to cooperate with the treatment coil to generate a second magnetic field in the target anatomy, wherein the second magnetic field induces a third electrical stimulation intensity at the first location and induces a fourth electrical stimulation intensity at the second location, wherein the first magnetic field exhibits a first gradient of magnetic field strength that corresponds to a ratio of the first and second electrical stimulation intensities and the second magnetic field exhibits a second gradient of magnetic field strength that corresponds to a ratio of the third and fourth electrical stimulation intensities, and wherein the ferromagnetic component is configured such that cooperative operation of the ferromagnetic component and the treatment coil causes the second gradient of magnetic field strength to differ from the first gradient of magnetic field strength.