What is it about?
Focal coils are essential for accurate stimulation of cortical regions in the brain using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). High focality is desirable to avoid unwanted overstimulation of non targeted areas. We have developed a patented quintuple AISI 1010 carbon steel core coil for TMS with high focality in areas as small as 1mm^2. The novel device also introduces an innovative technique called "oriented path of highest current density", which allows to address the electric field in a straight line towards the target.
Featured Image
Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash
Why is it important?
For the first time to our knowledge, it has been obtained a high focality in areas as narrow as 1mm^2, whereas current technology for TMS devices (tested in animals) reaches areas of about a few cm^2. In addition, the novel technique of "oriented path of highest current density and electric field" introduces a new controllability in neurostimulation sessions with TMS. Both the coil and the technique are under study to be implemented in humans for novel and more focalized treatments.
Perspectives
I feel really excited about the idea that we have contributed with what has been a problem in the area for several years, which is to achieve high focality in narrow targets in small experimental animals. I am hopeful that the progress in this particular area, based on this design, will be significantly high in a near future, seeking more and better devices for accurate neurostimulation in human subjects.
Ivan C. Carmona
Virginia Commonwealth University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Quintuple AISI 1010 carbon steel core coil for highly focused transcranial magnetic stimulation in small animals, AIP Advances, February 2021, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/9.0000219.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
