Optical Alignment for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcranial magnetic stimulation systems lack cost-effective methods to ensure the patient's head is properly positioned for optimal treatment, leading to suboptimal treatment effects due to the high cost of infrared stereo cameras and robotic devices.
Innovation Solution
A transcranial magnetic stimulation system utilizing an optical device to project a light spot, detect its reflection, and calculate an overlap ratio with a marking on the patient's head, displaying this ratio to assist in positioning and providing warnings if the head is not optimally aligned, along with a magnetic stimulation coil and head support mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared stereo camera and robotic device are used to detect head position and automatically move the coil assembly, then positioning precision and treatment effectiveness are improved, but system cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the patient's head and creates a two-dimensional image copy that is processed to determine head position. This replaces the need for expensive three-dimensional infrared stereo camera systems while achieving sufficient positioning accuracy through image processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex robotic mechanical systems with a simpler setup consisting of a camera, processor, and display device. The automated robotic movement of coil assemblies is substituted with visual feedback to operators, who manually adjust positioning based on displayed images and overlap ratio calculations.
2Reliability
If infrared stereo camera and robotic device are used to detect head position and automatically move the coil assembly, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available camera equipment instead of expensive specialized infrared stereo cameras. The system uses standard imaging technology that can be easily replaced or upgraded, significantly reducing system cost while maintaining sufficient treatment effectiveness through proper image processing and analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
By using standard camera imaging to create visual copies of the patient's head position, the system avoids the need for expensive specialized sensing equipment. The image processing and overlap ratio calculations provide reliable treatment guidance at a fraction of the cost of robotic automated systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If head support mechanism is used to hold patient's head, then positioning stability is improved, but ability to detect and inform improper position is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the camera continuously monitors the patient's head position, calculates the overlap ratio between the light spot and marking, and displays this information to the operator. This allows the head support mechanism to maintain stability while the system provides continuous feedback about positioning accuracy, enabling real-time corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and image processing system serve as an intermediary between the head support mechanism and the operator. Instead of the support mechanism directly detecting position, the camera captures images that are processed to determine overlap ratios, providing indirect but accurate position information to guide proper head positioning.
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
Enables easy determination and maintenance of the optimal head position during treatment, reducing the need for expensive positioning technologies and ensuring effective magnetic stimulation by using a cost-effective optical alignment system.
Implementation Method 1
an optical device (502) for projecting a light spot (805) to a head of a patient and detecting a reflection light of the light spot (805)
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic stimulation coil; and... in which brain neurons are stimulated by the change in magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the invention is to provide a transcranial magnetic stimulation system capable of guiding a patient into an optimum posture for treatment. The system 1 of the invention includes an optical device 502 for projecting a light spot 805 to a head of a patient and detecting a reflection light of the light spot; a memory means 71 for memorizing information included in the reflection light detected by the optical device as a reference information when the projected light spot on the patient overlaps a marking (800) provided on the patient; a calculation means 72 for using the reference information memorized in the memory means and a comparison information included in the reflection light of the light spot to calculate an overlap ratio between the marking and the light spot corresponding to the comparison information; and a display means 504 for displaying the overlap ratio.