Flexible Figure-of-Eight tMS Coil for Portable Pain Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic stimulators for pain management are bulky, expensive, require cooling units, and need special training, limiting their accessibility and usability outside healthcare facilities.
Innovation Solution
A portable transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (tMS) device with a flexible figure-of-eight coil, control module, and wireless communication for easy use, providing variable pulse and magnetic field strengths, and integrated sensors for precise targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional magnetic stimulators are used for pain management, then effective pain relief is achieved, but the device becomes bulky, expensive, and requires cooling units and special training
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a handheld stimulator unit with coil assembly, a base unit with power supply and control electronics, and optional wireless communication components. This segmentation allows the stimulator head to be lightweight and portable while the bulkier components remain in the base unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system, power supply, and complex control electronics are extracted from the handheld stimulator and placed in the base unit. This extraction enables the handheld portion to be simple, lightweight, and portable while maintaining effective magnetic stimulation capability through the separated functional components.
2Reliability
If traditional magnetic stimulators are used, then clinical-grade pain management is provided, but special training and healthcare facility requirements limit accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates automated treatment protocols, pre-programmed stimulation parameters, and user-friendly controls that enable patients to self-administer therapy without requiring specialized training. The system automatically manages treatment delivery, timing, and intensity based on preset clinical protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes sensors and monitoring systems that provide real-time feedback on treatment delivery, patient response, and device status. This feedback mechanism ensures clinically effective treatment while allowing users to monitor progress and adjust settings within safe parameters without requiring expert intervention.
3Temperature
If cooling units are integrated into magnetic stimulators, then overheating is prevented, but device portability and simplicity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is completely extracted from the handheld stimulator and relocated to the base unit. The handheld coil assembly requires no active cooling components, maintaining lightweight portability while the base unit provides passive or active cooling for the power electronics and magnetic field generation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses pulsed magnetic field delivery with intermittent duty cycles that allow heat dissipation between stimulation bursts. This periodic operation pattern prevents overheating of the coil and electronic components without requiring continuous active cooling systems in the handheld unit.
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 tMS device offers effective, non-invasive pain management with 80% long-term pain reduction for peripheral nerve injuries, allowing self-administration and reducing the need for clinical visits.
Implementation Method 1
TMS is based on the principle of electromagnetic inductions. If a pulse of current passing through a coil placed over a person's head has sufficient strength and short enough duration, rapidly changing magnetic pulses are generated that penetrate scalp and skull to reach the brain with negligible attenuation.
Data Source
AI summary
A transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (tMS) device is provided for modulating nerve function and chronic pain management, and includes a tMS stimulator, a control module in wired and powered communication with the tMS stimulator, and a portable electronic device in wireless communication with the control module to receive, generate and transmit feedback and control settings relating to a treatment session. The tMS stimulator may be a flexible figure-of-eight coil configured in different sizes and shapes to provide varying pulse and magnetic field strengths for mobile, home, or clinical uses, and also include guidance tools and measurement sensors to aid in positioning and directing the tMS stimulator to a target area for treatment.