Ferrofluidic cooling and acoustical noise reduction in magnetic stimulators
AssigneeNeuronetics, Inc.
InventorsMark Edward Riehl, Kenneth Ghiron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ferrofluid chamber has a housing that is adapted to be coupled to a component that generates a magnetic field. The housing may be disposed around the component so as to insulate a noise-producing region of the component. The magnetic field may be of sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue. In addition, a ferrofluid may be disposed within the housing for cooling the component.
Claims36
A magnetic stimulation system providing acoustical noise reduction, the magnetic stimulation system comprising:
- a component for generating a magnetic field having a sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue;
- and
- a chamber coupled to and substantially surrounding the component;
- and
- a heat exchanger coupled to the chamber,
- wherein the magnetic stimulation system is adapted to induce convection of a ferrofluid in the chamber, and
- wherein the chamber is disposed around the component so as to substantially enclose an acoustic noise-producing region of the component
A ferrofluid chamber, comprising:
- a housing adapted to be coupled to a component that generates a magnetic field having a sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue;
- and
- a ferrofluid disposed within the housing that experiences convection when exposed to the magnetic field,
- wherein the housing is disposed around the component so as to substantially enclose an acoustic noise-producing region of the component.
A method of reducing acoustical noise while cooling a magnetic stimulation device, comprising:
- creating a magnetic field with the magnetic stimulation device, wherein the magnetic field is of sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue;
- circulating a ferrofluid by inducing convection with the magnetic field, wherein the circulating ferrofluid cools the magnetic stimulation device;
- and
- reducing noise produced by the magnetic stimulation device, wherein the noise is reduced by a housing disposed around a noise-producing region of the magnetic stimulation device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.