TMS Coil with Embedded Imaging for Precise Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) neuronavigation methods are imprecise, lack direct visual confirmation of coil placement, and require complex and costly equipment, limiting accessibility and accuracy in targeting specific brain regions for treatment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating imaging devices and contact sensors into the TMS coil for direct visualization and real-time feedback, along with a simplified cap design and AI-assisted positioning, to ensure precise and consistent coil placement without external markers or bulky equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fabric cap with markers and manual positioning is used, then the system is simple and accessible, but positioning accuracy and visual confirmation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the imaging device, contact sensors, and coil positioning system into an integrated unit that directly attaches to the coil. This merging eliminates the need for separate external marker systems and complex optical tracking equipment, achieving high positioning accuracy while maintaining system simplicity and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning methods with automated imaging and sensor-based detection. The imaging device captures visual data of scalp landmarks, and contact sensors provide real-time feedback on coil-head contact, substituting subjective manual alignment with objective automated measurement systems.
2Measurement precision
If complex frameless stereotaxic positioning system with external markers is used, then positioning accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential functions (imaging, sensing, positioning) and integrates them directly into the coil assembly, eliminating the need for external marker systems, separate cameras, and complex optical tracking infrastructure. This extraction reduces system complexity while preserving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated coil assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates magnetic stimulation, provides visual imaging of scalp landmarks, detects contact with the head surface, and tracks positioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each function, reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If manual positioning without visual feedback is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but operator skill requirement and training time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates real-time visual feedback through the imaging device that displays scalp landmarks and coil position relationship, along with contact sensor feedback that confirms proper head contact. This immediate feedback allows operators to self-correct positioning errors without extensive training, significantly reducing the learning curve and improving ease of operation.
4Reliability
If no contact detection is provided, then system simplicity is maintained, but confirmation of proper coil-head contact is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The coil assembly performs self-diagnosis of its own positioning status through integrated contact sensors that detect whether the coil is properly contacting the patient's head. This self-service capability provides automatic confirmation of proper setup, ensuring treatment reliability without requiring additional external monitoring equipment.
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
Enhances the accuracy and consistency of TMS coil placement, reduces training time for technicians, and increases accessibility of TMS treatment to a broader range of settings by eliminating the need for expensive and cumbersome equipment.
Implementation Method 1
one or more imaging devices incorporated into the coil and configured to permit direct visualization of the TMS coil on the patient's head
Implementation Method 2
a TMS system configured to generate a magnetic field to be applied to a patient's brain region, the TMS system comprising a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulse generator as well as an inductor coil
Data Source
AI summary
A transcranial magnetic stimulation system includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to be applied to a patient's head, the magnetic field generator comprising one or more magnetic induction coils, a housing for the coils, and a Phase Change Material (PCM) in contact with the coils contained in the housing. One or more imaging devices configured to permit direct visualization of the coils on the patient's head are embedded in the housing. The one or more imaging device(s) may include one or more cameras, preferably one or more visible light imaging cameras, one or more ultraviolet light imaging cameras, or one or more infrared imaging cameras.