Devices and methods for application of a magnetic field to the nervous system

A system for generating a time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 Tesla and 10 Tesla, and a different energy, wherein the different energy is different from the time-varying magnetic field, the system comprising:

• a main body comprising:
• a control unit;
• an energy storage device;
• an energy source configured to charge the energy storage device;
• and
• a switching device configured to discharge energy from the energy storage device to a magnetic field generating device to generate an impulse of the time-varying magnetic field,
• wherein a plurality of impulses of the time-varying magnetic field are configured to be applied to a brain of a patient to induce electric current in the brain;
• a human machine interface comprising a display, wherein the display is configured to show a plurality of screens,
• wherein at least one screen of the plurality of screens comprises a plurality of icons configured to send instruction to the control unit to adjust a magnetic flux density of the time-varying magnetic field;
• a connecting tube configured to be connected to an applicator;
• and
• the applicator comprising:
• the magnetic field generating device;
• a lower side configured to be positioned to the patient, and an upper side configured to be positioned away from the patient and less proximate to the patient than the lower side;
• a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side is less proximate to the connecting tube than the rear side, and wherein each of the front side and the rear side is adjacent to each of the upper side and the lower side;
• a handle comprising a gripping portion, wherein the gripping portion is positioned less proximate to the connecting tube than to the rear side, and wherein the gripping portion is oriented such that the gripping portion is positioned in a direction perpendicular to a direction from the rear side to the front side;
• and
• a source of the different energy [is] configured to generate the different energy, wherein the different energy is configured to be applied to the patient.

A method for providing a time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 Tesla and 10 Tesla and a different energy to a patient using a system comprising a main body, a connecting tube coupling an applicator to the main body, and the applicator comprising a magnetic field generating device and a source of the different energy, wherein the different energy is different from the time-varying magnetic field, the method comprising:

• charging an energy storage device by an energy source within the main body;
• switching a switching device to discharge the energy storage device to the magnetic field generating device;
• positioning the applicator to the patient's head, the applicator further comprising:
• a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side is less proximate to the connecting tube than to the rear side, and
• a handle forming an orifice extending over the front side of the applicator less proximate to the connecting tube than to the front side;
• aligning a visual element with the patient's anatomical structure, wherein the visual element is less proximate to the rear side than to the front side, and wherein the front side is less proximate to the rear side than to the visual element;
• coupling the applicator to the patient's head by a belt, wherein the belt is inserted through the orifice;
• selecting a treatment protocol via a human machine interface, wherein the treatment protocol comprises a plurality of impulses of the time-varying magnetic field;
• determining a motor threshold value of the magnetic flux density;
• generating the plurality of impulses of the time-varying magnetic field by the magnetic field generating device;
• applying the plurality of impulses of the time-varying magnetic field to the patient's head to induce electric current in the patient's brain;
• generating the different energy by the source of the different energy within the applicator;
• and
• applying the different energy to the patient.

A system for generating a time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 Tesla and 10 Tesla, and a different energy wherein the different energy is different from the time-varying magnetic field, the system comprising:

• a main body comprising:
• an energy storage device;
• an energy source configured to charge the energy storage device;
• 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 configured to couple an applicator to the main body, the applicator comprising:
• a magnetic field generating device, and
• a handle comprising a gripping portion, wherein the gripping portion is less proximate to the connecting tube than to a front side;
• a lower side configured to face the patient, and an upper side configured to be positioned away from the patient, wherein each of the lower side and the upper side is positioned adjacent to each of the front side and the rear side;
• a positioning arm configured to be operatively coupled to the applicator more proximate to the rear side than to the front side;
• a belt configured to be coupled to the gripping portion such that the applicator is maintained to the patient by the belt and the positioning arm;
• a different energy generating device configured to generate a radiofrequency field, a light, or mechanical waves,
• wherein the different energy generating device is within the applicator;
• wherein the different energy is configured to be applied to the patient;
• and
• wherein the time-varying magnetic field is applied to the patient's head to induce an electric current in a target location within the brain.

A method for applying a time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 Tesla and 10 Tesla, and a different energy to a patient, wherein the different energy is different from the time-varying magnetic field, the method comprising:

• positioning the patient's head onto a positioning pillow;
• positioning an applicator comprising a magnetic field generating device to the patient's head;
• coupling the applicator by a belt to the positioning pillow to maintain the applicator to the patient's head, wherein the belt is coupled to a handle of the applicator;
• generating an impulse of the time-varying magnetic field by the magnetic field generating device, the first energy having a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.1 Tesla and 10 Tesla and a repetition rate in a range of 0.1 Hz to 1000 Hz;
• generating the different energy by the different energy generating device;
• applying a plurality of impulses of the time-varying magnetic field to the patient's brain to induce electric current in the brain;
• and
• applying the different energy to the patient.