Personalized TMS Brain Region Targeting for Schizophrenia Symptom Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication treatments for schizophrenia, such as antipsychotics, are ineffective in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, which are the most disabling aspects of the disorder, and are hampered by poor efficacy and tolerability.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using brain imaging analysis to identify specific treatment regions in the brain for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting, allowing for personalized therapy sessions based on individual patient anatomy and symptom-specific maps, thereby guiding TMS therapy to ameliorate psychotic, negative, and cognitive symptoms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional medication treatments (antipsychotics) are used to treat psychotic symptoms, then psychotic symptoms are reduced, but negative symptoms and cognitive deficits remain untreated and systemic side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment approach segments the schizophrenia symptom profile into distinct targetable brain circuits. Instead of using a single medication to address all symptoms, the invention identifies and targets specific neural circuits associated with different symptom types (psychotic, negative, and cognitive symptoms) using TMS, allowing each circuit to be treated independently based on individual patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by transitioning from systemic medication that affects the entire brain to focal TMS stimulation that targets specific brain circuits. The treatment is customized to each patient's unique brain anatomy and symptom profile, applying stimulation only to the specific circuits that are dysfunctional, rather than using a blanket approach that treats all symptoms uniformly.
2Ease of operation
If conventional medication treatments are used, then psychotic symptoms are addressed, but tolerability and efficacy for negative symptoms deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by conducting comprehensive brain imaging and circuit identification before treatment begins. This pre-treatment assessment maps the patient's specific brain anatomy and identifies which circuits are dysfunctional, allowing the treatment plan to be customized in advance. This preliminary mapping ensures that subsequent TMS sessions target the correct circuits for each patient's specific symptom profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment approach is dynamic rather than static. The TMS parameters, target circuits, and treatment protocols are adjusted based on individual patient responses and changes in symptom profiles over time. The treatment adapts to each patient's unique neural circuitry and evolves as treatment progresses, rather than following a fixed protocol for all patients.
3Reliability
If personalized TMS therapy targeting specific brain circuits is implemented, then symptom-specific treatment efficacy is improved, but treatment complexity and customization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by using the patient's own brain imaging data to automatically generate personalized treatment maps and identify target circuits. The computational algorithms process the structural and functional MRI data to autonomously determine which circuits are dysfunctional and should be targeted, reducing the need for manual clinical judgment and simplifying the customization process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual, mechanical treatment planning with computational automation. Instead of clinicians manually analyzing brain images and determining treatment targets, computer algorithms automatically process the imaging data, identify dysfunctional circuits, and generate personalized treatment protocols, thereby reducing treatment complexity despite the personalized nature of the intervention.
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 enables targeted and non-invasive intervention to restore brain circuit function, reducing specific symptoms of schizophrenia, including negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, without the systemic side effects of conventional medications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy session targeting the one or more treatment regions to be administered to a brain of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a computerized system for a method that includes: accessing brain images of a patient, e.g., a patient who has been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, or at high risk for developing the psychotic disorder, wherein the brain images comprise a first set of images depicting a brain structure of the patient and a second set of images encoding a brain function of the patient; generating masks based on morphing a symptom region of an atlas to the first set of images, wherein the atlas is based on a cohort of participants with the psychotic disorder; identifying treatment regions based on applying the one or more masks to the second set of images, wherein the treatment regions are specific to the patient and the symptom; and causing at least one transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy session targeting the one or more treatment regions to be administered.