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US 12,758,788 B2Granted
Devices and methods for application of a magnetic field to the nervous system
AssigneeBTL Medical Solutions A.S.
InventorsTomás Schwarz, Karel Nemecek, Radek Muzika, Barbora Nezpeváková, Jan Mánek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to devices and methods for applying a magnetic field on a body of a patient. The time-varying magnetic field may applied to a brain of the patient. The disclosure provides a method of finding the position suitable for application of the magnetic field to the brain. The devices and methods of the disclosure may be suitable for reducing of food craving.
Claims29
A device for generating a time-varying magnetic field, the device comprising:
- a main body comprising:
- an energy source;
- an energy storage device;
- a switching device;
- and
- a connecting tube connected to an applicator;
- the applicator comprising:
- a casing enclosing a magnetic field generating device,
- wherein the magnetic field generating device is configured to generate the time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.25 Tesla to 8 Tesla,
- wherein the casing comprises a lower side configured to be positioned proximate to a patient, and an upper side configured to be positioned less proximate to the patient than the lower side,
- wherein the casing comprises a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side is less proximate to the connecting tube than to the rear side,
- wherein the casing comprises a left side and a right side, wherein each of the left side and the right side are adjacent to each of the front side and the rear side;
- a handle forming a closed-loop opening formed through a body of the handle over at least a part of the casing,
- wherein the closed-loop opening extends beyond the casing in a direction from the connecting tube to the handle, and
- wherein the handle is connected to the casing at a first point on the left side and at a second point on the right side;
- an outlet proximate to the handle;
- an inlet less proximate to the handle than the outlet,
- wherein the magnetic field generating device is positioned between the inlet and the outlet;
- a fluid mover within a space between the upper side and the lower side,
- wherein the fluid mover is configured to direct a cooling media in a direction from the inlet to the outlet.
17 more elements
A device for generating a time-varying magnetic field, the device comprising:
- a main body comprising:
- an energy source;
- an energy storage device configured to be charged by the energy source;
- and
- a switching device configured to be switched to discharge energy from the energy storage device to a magnetic field generating device to generate an impulse of the time-varying magnetic field;
- a connecting tube;
- an applicator comprising:
- the magnetic field generating device;
- an inlet positioned proximate to the connecting tube;
- an outlet positioned less proximate to the connecting tube than the inlet,
- wherein the outlet is configured to provide unimpeded flow of a fluid cooling media out of the applicator;
- a fluid mover positioned between the inlet and the outlet,
- wherein the fluid mover is configured to direct the fluid cooling media from the inlet to the outlet over the magnetic field generating device to remove heat from the magnetic field generating device;
- a lower side;
- an upper side configured to be positioned farther from a patient than the lower side,
- wherein the applicator comprises a first visual element positioned proximate to the connecting tube and a second visual element positioned more proximate to the connecting tube than the first visual element,
- wherein the first visual element is configured to be positioned towards a first anatomical structure, and
- wherein the second visual element is configured to be positioned towards a second anatomical structure different from the first anatomical structure;
- and
- a handle configured to form a closed-loop opening at least partially above the outlet and the magnetic field generating device.
17 more elements
A device for generating a time-varying magnetic field, the device comprising:
- a main body;
- an energy source;
- an energy storage device configured to be charged by the energy source;
- a switching device configured to be switched to discharge a current pulse in a range of 100 A to 20 kA from the energy storage device to a magnetic field generating device to generate an impulse of the time-varying magnetic field;
- a connecting tube;
- and
- an applicator comprising:
- the magnetic field generating device comprising an upper surface and a lower surface,
- wherein the magnetic field generating device is a flat coil;
- a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side is less proximate to the connecting tube than to the rear side;
- a handle less proximate to the rear side than to the front side, wherein the handle comprises a gripping portion configured to be gripped by an operator, wherein the gripping portion is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction from the connecting tube to the front side;
- an upper side configured to be positioned away from a patient;
- a lower side configured to be positioned to the patient more proximate than the upper side, wherein the lower side is opposite the upper side,
- wherein the lower side comprises a first portion positioned proximate to the connecting tube, and a second portion positioned less proximate to the connecting tube than the first portion,
- wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is substantially flat,
- wherein the first portion is in a first plane and the second portion in a second plane,
- wherein the first portion is coupled to the second portion, and
- wherein the first portion and the second portion intersect at an angle in a range of 95° to 175°, wherein the angle is defined by the first plane and the second plane at an intersection,
- wherein the first portion extends from a first end to the intersection, wherein the first end is less proximate to the upper side than to the intersection,
- wherein the second portion extends from the intersection to a second end, wherein the second end is less proximate to the connecting tube than to the intersection;
- and
- a fluid mover configured to direct a cooling media in a direction from an inlet to an outlet and over at least one of:
- the upper surface of the magnetic field generating device or the lower surface of the magnetic field generating device,
- wherein the inlet is positioned proximate to the first portion of the lower side and proximate to the connecting tube.
21 more elements
A method for applying a time-varying magnetic field to a patient by a device comprising a main body, a connecting tube, and an applicator coupled to the connecting tube, wherein the applicator comprises a rear side, a front side less proximate to the connecting tube than to the rear side, a left side and a right side both adjacent to each of the front side and the rear side, the method comprising:
- positioning the applicator to the patient,
- wherein positioning of the applicator comprises:
- using a handle forming a closed-loop opening, wherein the handle is coupled to the applicator at a point on the left side and at a point on the right side such that the closed-loop opening extends in a direction from the left side to the right side and in a direction from the rear side to the front side,
- aligning a visual element with the patient's ear, wherein the visual element is proximate to the front side of the applicator and less proximate to the connecting tube,
- aligning a left visual element or a right visual element to the patient's nose, wherein the left visual element is less proximate to the right side than to the left side and the right visual element is less proximate to the left side than to the right side, wherein each of the left visual element and the right visual element is less proximate to the handle than the visual element, and
- finding a region to determine a motor threshold value of a magnetic flux density;
- charging an energy storage device by an energy source;
- switching a switching device to discharge the energy storage device to a magnetic field generating device to generate the time-varying magnetic field;
- directing a fluid cooling media by a fluid mover from an inlet to the magnetic field generating device, and from the magnetic field generating device to an outlet to remove heat from the magnetic field generating device;
- and
- applying the time-varying magnetic field to the patient's head,
- wherein applying the time-varying magnetic field comprises increasing the magnetic flux density of subsequent impulses of the time-varying magnetic field to determine the motor threshold value of the magnetic flux density.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.