TMS Coil Winding Positioning and Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil devices face inaccuracies in coil winding placement and orientation, leading to inaccuracies in induced electric field computation and increased heat generation, which limits the number of sequential pulses and complicates device design, making them bulky and difficult to maneuver.
Innovation Solution
The TMS coil device features coil windings of predetermined size and shape, precisely positioned and oriented within a casing, with a casting and fasteners to maintain accuracy and a gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer, along with a phase transition material for controlled heat absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If coil windings are positioned relatively freely within the casing, then manufacturing is easier, but navigation accuracy and E-field computation accuracy deteriorate due to placement variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the coil windings at exact predetermined locations within the casing during manufacturing, and pre-creating a digital model of the coil winding geometry. This ensures that the actual coil placement matches the modeled placement, eliminating navigation accuracy errors without complicating the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical positioning adjustments with a digital model-based approach. Instead of relying on physical alignment during use, the system uses a computationally generated model of the coil windings that precisely represents their actual position and orientation, substituting mechanical precision requirements with digital accuracy.
2Power
If coil windings are positioned closer to the casing surface to maximize E-field, then stimulation effectiveness improves, but heat generation increases leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing thermal insulation specifically at the location where the coil windings are positioned near the casing surface. The insulating material is placed locally between the coil windings and the casing, allowing the coil to maintain its optimal position for maximum E-field strength while locally managing heat transfer to prevent overheating.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional X-ray imaging is used to obtain coil winding location, then manufacturing process is simple, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to tolerance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces X-ray imaging with a computational method for generating the coil winding model. The model is created through calculations based on the known geometry and positioning of the coil windings, eliminating the need for X-ray imaging and its associated tolerance variations, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Temperature
If thermal insulation is added between coil windings and casing, then heat transfer is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing thermal insulation specifically at the critical interface between the coil windings and the casing, rather than throughout the entire device. This localized approach controls heat transfer where it matters most while minimizing the addition of structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal insulating material between the coil windings and the casing. This intermediary layer facilitates heat management by reducing direct thermal conduction, allowing the device to maintain simpler overall structure while effectively controlling temperature.
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 solution enhances navigation accuracy, increases the number of sequential pulses without overheating, and simplifies device design, making the TMS coil device more precise, efficient, and easier to maneuver.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer
Implementation Method 2
a phase transition material for controlled heat absorption
Implementation Method 3
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses an induction coil to induce an electric field (E-field) within the brain
Data Source
AI summary
A transcranial magnetic stimulation induction coil device (“TMS coil device”) is manufactured to contain coil windings of a predetermined size and shape and fixedly positioned at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to a casing of the TMS coil device. In one embodiment, the coil windings are encased in a casting at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to the casting, and the casting is fixedly positioned at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to the casing. The size and shape of the coil windings and the casing within, and the location and orientation of the coil windings in relation to each other and the casing of, the TMS coil device are known with a high level of precision, such that navigated brain stimulation can be performed with the TMS coil device with a high degree of accuracy. In another embodiment, the TMS coil device defines a space interposed between the coil windings and the casing and containing a gas which absorbs heat energy generated at the coil windings, thereby reducing the rate of transfer of heat energy from the coil windings to the casing during operation of the TMS coil device.