US 9,849,301 B2Granted

Magnetic stimulation coils and ferromagnetic components for reduced surface stimulation and improved treatment depth

AssigneeNeuronetics, Inc.

InventorsKenneth Marc Ghiron, Mark Edward Riehl, Ian Maxwell Shipway

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Abstract

A TMS device may include treatment coils and ferromagnetic components that are configured to be disposed proximate to corresponding ones of the treatment coils. The treatment coils and ferromagnetic components of the TMS device may cooperatively generate a magnetic field that exhibits one or more characteristics that differ from those of a magnetic field that is generated by the treatment coils alone. For example, the magnetic field may exhibit lower induced electrical stimulation intensity in the cranial nerves, while substantially maintaining a penetration depth into the subject's brain. In another example, the magnetic field may exhibit increased penetration depth into the subject's brain, while substantially maintaining induced electrical stimulation intensity in the cranial nerves. The TMS device may be configured to be adjustable and/or reconfigurable, for instance with respect to the anatomy of a subject (e.g., to the shape of the subject's head).

Claims21

Dependent claims

A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device comprising:

a treatment coil comprising:
a base portion that is configured to reside near a cranial surface of a human subject and is configured to substantially conform to the cranial surface of the human subject;
and
a protruding portion that is angularly offset from the base portion and extends outwardly from the base portion in a direction away from the surface of the human subject when the base portion is placed in conforming relation with the cranial surface of the human subject;
and
a ferromagnetic component covering at least a portion of the base portion;
wherein the treatment coil and the ferromagnetic component, in cooperative operation, are configured to generate a magnetic field in a target anatomy of the human subject, wherein the magnetic field is configured to induce a first electrical stimulation intensity at a first location in the human subject near an outer surface of the human subject, and induce a second electrical stimulation intensity at a second location in the human subject that is spaced inwardly from the first location;
and
wherein the magnetic field is further configured to induce return currents in the subject, and the ferromagnetic component is configured to spread the return currents generated by the magnetic field, such that the return currents cover a larger region in the subject as compared to the size of the region covered by the return currents induced by a magnetic field generated by the treatment coil without the inclusion of the ferromagnetic component.

6 more elements

A device that is configured to apply transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment to a human subject, the device comprising:

a treatment coil that is configured to partially enclose a region of the head of the subject, wherein the treatment coil comprises:
a base portion that is configured to reside near and substantially conforms to a cranial surface of a human subject;
and
a protruding portion that is angularly offset relative to the base portion and that extends outwardly from the base portion in a direction away from the cranial surface of the human subject when the base portion is placed in conforming relation with the cranial surface of the human subject;
and
a ferromagnetic component that at least partially encloses and extends beyond the base portion of the treatment coil, the ferromagnetic component shaped to conform to the subject's head,
wherein the treatment coil and the ferromagnetic component, in cooperative operation, are configured to generate a magnetic field in a target anatomy of the human subject, wherein the magnetic field is configured to induce a first electrical stimulation intensity at a first location in the human subject near an outer surface of the human subject, and induce a second electrical stimulation intensity at a second location in the human subject that is spaced inwardly from the first location;
wherein the inclusion of the ferromagnetic component is configured to cause the magnetic field to achieve a penetration depth into the target anatomy that is at least as deep a penetration depth that is achieved by the magnetic field when the treatment coil generates the magnetic field without the inclusion of the ferromagnetic component;
and
wherein the inclusion of the ferromagnetic component is further configured to reduce the first electrical stimulation intensity at the first location in the human subject caused by the magnetic field as compared to an electrical stimulation intensity at the first location caused by the magnetic field when the treatment coil generates the magnetic field without the inclusion of the ferromagnetic component.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.