Transcranial magnetic stimulation system and methods

摘要

A system and methods for transcranial magnetic stimulation, the system including a helmet, a positioning portion, a stimulator and a cooling system, are disclosed. The helmet includes a coil for deep brain magnetic stimulation. The coil has a base portion, and return portions, which may include a protruding return portion and a contacting return portion. The coil is designed to minimize unintended stimulation of portions of the brain, while reducing accumulation of surface charges. The coil is stimulated at several locations and/or at different times so as to focus the electrical field on a specific deep neuronal structure. In some embodiments, a multi-channel system is used, and in other embodiments, a control unit is used with a single-channel system. The present invention provides methods for stimulating individual coil members and/or multiple coils non-simultaneously to enable focal stimulation of deep brain regions while minimizing stimulation of cortical regions of the brain.