Angled TMS Ring Coil Layout for Deep Multisite Brain Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coils have a large footprint and high field divergence, making it difficult to target deep brain regions and achieve focused stimulation, particularly for multisite treatments, as they struggle to provide sufficient field intensity and precision for deeper cortical regions.
Innovation Solution
The development of an angled-tuned (AT) TMS coil device with a non-metal coil holder and multiple winding layers arranged at angles from 0° to 80° relative to a horizontal plane, reducing the footprint and enhancing depth-spread characteristics by modifying the geometric distribution of the magnetic field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional circular or figure-8 TMS coils are used, then the coil structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the footprint is large and field divergence is high, making it difficult to target deep brain regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by tilting the coil plane at angles between 10-80 degrees relative to the scalp surface, rather than keeping it flat. This angular orientation creates a more concentrated magnetic field distribution that penetrates deeper into brain tissue while reducing the lateral footprint of the coil on the scalp.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the coil by changing its orientation angle and incorporating a tilted winding structure. These parameter changes transform the magnetic field distribution characteristics, achieving deeper penetration and reduced footprint simultaneously.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional TMS coils are used, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but the field intensity at deep cortical regions is insufficient for effective stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
By tilting the coil at an angle rather than keeping it parallel to the scalp, the magnetic field is directed more effectively toward deeper brain structures. This dimensional change in coil orientation increases field intensity at depth without requiring higher input power or complex manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilted coil configuration creates an asymmetric magnetic field distribution that concentrates flux lines toward the deeper cortical regions. This asymmetric geometry naturally directs more field intensity to the target depth compared to symmetric flat coils.
3Area of stationary object
If coil size is reduced to accommodate space constraints for multisite stimulation, then the footprint decreases, but field divergence increases, preventing sufficient field intensity for deep stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The angular tilt introduces a vertical component to the magnetic field that compensates for the size reduction. Even though the coil is smaller, the tilted orientation directs the field more efficiently toward deep targets, maintaining intensity while reducing divergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple nested winding layers within the tilted coil structure, where inner and outer windings are arranged at different radii but the same tilt angle. This nested configuration concentrates the magnetic field while maintaining the beneficial angular orientation effects.
4Device complexity
If conventional flat coils are used for multisite stimulation, then the setup is simple, but the ability to reach multiple deep brain locations with flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tilted coil design provides dynamic adaptability by allowing the magnetic field to penetrate at an angle, enabling access to different deep brain regions by adjusting the coil's angular orientation and position on the scalp surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled coil configuration serves multiple functions: it reduces footprint, increases depth penetration, and improves versatility for targeting different brain regions, all while maintaining a relatively simple single-coil design that can be used for multisite stimulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The AT coil design achieves improved depth-spread performance with a smaller footprint, allowing for more precise and effective stimulation of both inter- and intra-hemispheric brain regions, including deeper cortical areas, and is suitable for multisite stimulations with reduced electric field divergence.
Implementation Method 1
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a rapidly evolving non-invasive neuromodulation technique
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to angle-tuned (AT) ring coil devices to reduce the individual coil footprint and improve depth-spread characteristics of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems. The AT coil device includes multiple stacked coils, which enhances field strength, reduces the footprint, and increases the field penetration depth by modifying its geometric distribution. Moreover, the AT coil devices demonstrated superior performance for multisite stimulation due to their smaller footprint, making them suitable for multisite stimulations of inter and intra-hemispheric brain regions with an improved spread and less electric field divergence.