Microcoil Micromagnetic Stimulation for Neural Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neurosurgical procedures face challenges with electrical and traditional magnetic stimulation techniques, as they either lack specificity, cause tissue damage, or result in poor spatial resolution and heating issues.
Innovation Solution
Micromagnetic stimulation using a microcoil of less than 10 millimeters in size is employed to generate a time-varying magnetic field, inducing a current flow in the central nervous system with high specificity and minimal energy, avoiding tissue penetration and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrical stimulation current amplitude is increased to increase current flow into tissue, then current flow into tissue is improved, but spatial resolution deteriorates due to activation of untargeted neurons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical stimulation with magnetic stimulation. Instead of applying electrical current directly through contacts that spread current between them, the system uses a magnet to induce currents in the tissue. This substitution allows current to be induced deeper in the tissue with better spatial resolution, as the magnetic field can be focused more precisely than electrical fields between surface contacts.
2Power
If traditional magnetic stimulation uses a large inductor coil to activate central nervous system, then activation capability is improved, but device complexity and heating risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the size parameter of the inductor coil from large (many centimeters) to small (less than 10 millimeters). This parameter change allows the microcoil to be positioned closer to the tissue, improving spatial resolution and reducing the need for large, complex instrumentation while maintaining effective activation capability through focused magnetic field generation.
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
This approach provides precise activation and mapping of neural tissue with improved spatial resolution and reduced risk of tissue damage or heating, enabling effective functional mapping during neurosurgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a microcoil (of a size less than or equal to 10 millimeters) coupled to the probe and configured to activate the portion of the central nervous system via electromagnetic induction
Implementation Method 2
producing, by the microcoil, a time-varying magnetic field and inducing a current flow to activate the portion of tissue
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present disclosure relates a system that can employ micromagnetic stimulation to activate or suppress one or more areas of the central nervous system. A portion of the central nervous system can be exposed. A probe can be configured to be located in proximity to the exposed portion of the nervous system. A microcoil (of a size less than or equal to 10 millimeters) can be coupled to the probe and configured to activate or suppress the portion of the central nervous system via electromagnetic induction.