# US 10,500,408 B2 · Method and apparatus for providing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to a patient > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,408 B2 - Document ID: US10500408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/281,475 - Filed: 2016-09-30 - Published: 2017-05-18 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: The Methodist Hospital; Cornell University - Applicants: The Methodist Hospital; Cornell University - Inventors: Santosh A. Helekar; Henning U. Voss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500408B2 ## CPC - A61N 2/006: {for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue} - A42B 1/04: Soft caps; Hoods - A42B 1/242: Means for mounting detecting, signalling or lighting devices - A61B 5/0036: {including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating} - A61B 5/05: Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves (measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24) - A61B 5/245: specially adapted for magnetoencephalographic [MEG] signals - A61B 5/4064: {Evaluating the brain (for intracranial pressure A61B5/031; for cerebral blood gases A61B5/14553; using EEG A61B5/369)} - A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles} - A61N 2/12: using variable magnetic fields obtained by mechanical movement - A41D 2300/32: using hook and loop-type fasteners - A61B 2503/42: for laboratory research - A61N 2/06: using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets (A61N2/12 takes precedence) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## Abstract Apparatus for applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to a patient comprising a head mount for disposition on the head of a patient, and a plurality of magnet assemblies for releasable mounting on the head mount. The magnet assemblies comprises a magnet for selectively providing a rapidly changing magnetic field capable of inducing weak electric currents for modifying the natural electrical activity of the brain of the patient. The number of magnet assemblies mounted, their individual positioning, and their selective provision of a rapidly changing magnetic field is selected to allow spatial, strength and temporal characteristics of the magnetic field to be tailored for the patient, to provide patient-specific IMS therapy, assist in diagnosis, or map out brain function. The magnet assembles can comprise magnets for provide a rapidly changing magnetic field of at least 500-600 Tesla/second corresponding to a magnet movement speed of no less than 400 Hertz. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to a patient, wherein the apparatus comprises: a head mount for disposition on the head of the patient; and a plurality of magnet assemblies for releasable mounting on the head mount, wherein each of the magnet assemblies comprises a permanent magnet configured to selectively provide a rapidly changing magnetic field of 500-5000 Tesla/second, corresponding to a magnet movement speed of no less than 400 Hertz, capable of inducing electric currents in the brain of the patient so as to modify natural electrical activity of the brain of the patient, wherein the apparatus causes movement of the permanent magnets to effect the rapidly changing magnetic fields; and wherein the permanent magnets are each operated to provide a magnetic field having certain spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics; wherein the number of magnet assemblies mounted on the head mount, their individual positioning on the head mount, and their selective provision of the rapidly changing magnetic fields is selected so as to allow spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics of the magnetic field to be custom tailored for the patient, whereby to provide patient-specific TMS therapy, to assist in diagnosis or to map out brain function in neuroscience research. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head mount comprises a skull cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet assemblies are secured to the head mount using a hook-and-loop fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hook-and-loop fastener comprises a fastener base disposed on the head mount and a fastener connect disposed on each of the magnet assemblies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet assemblies comprise an apparatus for moving the permanent magnet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus for moving the permanent magnet comprises a motor, and further wherein the permanent magnet is attached to a drive shaft of the motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus for moving the permanent magnet comprises a solenoid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the permanent magnet comprises a rare earth magnet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the rare earth magnet comprises neodymium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a computerized controller for selectively causing selected ones of the magnet assemblies to provide a rapidly changing magnetic field. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrodes for monitoring the natural electrical activity of the brain. ### Claim 12 A method for providing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to a patient, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a head mount for disposition on the head of the patient; and a plurality of magnet assemblies for releasable mounting on the head mount, wherein each of the magnet assemblies comprises a permanent magnet configured to selectively provide a rapidly changing magnetic field of 500-5000 Tesla/second, corresponding to a magnet movement speed of no less than 400 Hertz, capable of inducing electric currents in the brain of the patient so as to modify natural electrical activity of the brain of the patient, positioning the head mount on the head of the patient, and positioning a selected number of magnet assemblies on the head mount at selected locations; and selectively moving at least some of the magnet assemblies to provide the rapidly changing magnetic fields, wherein the permanent magnets are each operated to provide a magnetic field having certain spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics; wherein the number of magnet assemblies mounted on the head mount, their individual positioning on the head mount, and their selective provision of the rapidly changing magnetic fields is selected so as to custom tailor the spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics of the magnetic field for the patient, whereby to provide patient-specific TMS therapy, to assist in diagnosis or to map out brain function in neuroscience research. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the head mount comprises a skull cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the magnet assemblies are secured to the head mount using a hook-and-loop fastener. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the hook-and-loop fastener comprises a fastener base disposed on the head mount and a fastener connect disposed on each of the magnet assemblies. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the magnet assemblies comprise an apparatus for moving the permanent magnet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus for moving the permanent magnet comprises a motor, and further wherein the permanent magnet is attached to a drive shaft of the motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus for moving the permanent magnet comprises a solenoid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the permanent magnet comprises a rare earth magnet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the rare earth magnet comprises neodymium. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising a computerized controller for selectively causing selected ones of the magnet assemblies to provide a rapidly changing magnetic field. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of electrodes for monitoring the natural electrical activity of the brain.