Abstract:
The invention provides a device, system and method for placing a treatment component on a patient&#39;s head. The inventive device includes an attachment frame that attaches the treatment component to the patient&#39;s head. The attachment frame also includes a window. A receiving mechanism holds the treatment component to the attachment frame, and an alignment structure permits the treatment component to be positioned at a desired location on the patient&#39;s head. The inventive device also may include an isolator component capable of reducing sound to the patient&#39;s ears and/or reducing vibration of the attachment frame. The inventive may also include an electrical connector to send and receive data based on the treatment, and an adjustment structure that is capable of adjusting the device to each patient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/452,477, filed on Mar. 7, 2003, entitled “Device, Method, and System for the Reduction of Discomfort Associated with and Facilitating Treatment via Magnetic Stimulation,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/657,296 (NNI-0002) filed Sep. 8, 2003 entitled “Reducing Discomfort Caused by Electrical Stimulation;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/672,833 (NNI-0005) filed Sep. 26, 2003 entitled “Reducing Discomfort Caused by Electrical Stimulation;” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/729,243 (NNI-0006) filed Dec. 5, 2003 entitled “Reducing Discomfort Caused by Electrical Stimulation;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (NNI-0015) filed Mar. 4, 2004 entitled “Reducing Discomfort Caused by Electrical Stimulation;” all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to the field of magnetic stimulation. More specifically, the invention relates to facilitating the administration of transcutaneous magnetic stimulation.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A number of medical ailments are treated or treatable through the application of a magnetic field to an afflicted portion of a patient&#39;s body. Neurons and muscle cells are a form of biological circuitry that carry electrical signals and respond to electromagnetic stimuli. When an ordinary conductive wire is passed through a magnetic field, an electric current is induced in the wire. The same principle holds true for biological tissue. When a strong magnetic field is applied to a portion of the body, neurons are depolarized and stimulated. Muscles associated with the stimulated neurons contract as though the neurons were firing normally.  
           [0004]    The use of magnetic stimulation is thus very effective in rehabilitating injured or paralyzed muscle groups. Further, the process is non-invasive, since magnetic fields easily pass through the skin of a patient. Apart from stimulation of large muscle groups such as the thigh or the abdomen, experimentation has been performed in cardiac stimulation as well. In this context, magnetic stimulation of the heart may prove to be superior to CPR or electrical stimulation, because both of those methods apply gross stimulation to the entire heart all at once. A magnetic stimulator can be used as an external pacer to stimulate each chamber of the heart separately in the proper sequence. Another area in which magnetic stimulation is proving effective is treatment of the spine. The spinal cord is difficult to access directly because vertebrae surround it. Magnetic stimulation may be used to block the transmission of pain via nerves in the back, e.g., those responsible for lower back pain.  
           [0005]    Magnetic stimulation also has proven effective in stimulating regions of the brain, which is composed predominantly of neurological tissue. One area of particular interest is the treatment of depression. It is believed that more than 28 million Americans suffer from some type of neuropsychiatric disorder. These include conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders, and others. Depression is the “common cold” of psychiatric disorders, believed to affect 19 million Americans and possibly 340 million people worldwide. Modern medicine offers depression patients a number of treatment options, including several classes of anti-depressant medications (Sari&#39;s, MAI&#39;s and tricyclics), lithium, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Yet many patients remain without satisfactory relief from the symptoms of depression. To date, ECT remains the “gold standard” for depression; however, many patients will not undergo the procedure because of its severe side effects.  
           [0006]    Recently, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to have significant anti-depressant effects for patients that do not respond to the traditional methods. The principle behind rTMS is to apply a subconvulsive stimulation to the prefrontal cortex in a repetitive manner, causing a depolarization of cortical neuron membranes. The membranes are depolarized by the induction of small electric fields in excess of 1 V/cm that are the result of a rapidly changing magnetic field applied non-invasively.  
           [0007]    It is now well established that both the left and right prefrontal cortex regions of the brain have strong communication links to Limbic System structures, which contain the “circuits” controlling mood and general behavior. The objective of rTMS is to provide stimulation to these circuits through a non-invasive, sub-convulsive technique, relieving the symptoms of depression without many of the negative side effects of ECT or medications. The principal reported side effect of rTMS is discomfort at the site of stimulation. This is caused by the depolarization of neuron membranes in the scalp and resulting scalp muscle contractions, which occur at the frequency of said stimulation. About 25% of patients report this problem to be at a level that is very uncomfortable. In general, the higher the power and the higher the frequency of stimulation, the more discomfort is reported. Higher power, however, has been shown to be necessary to stimulate deeper midbrain structures directly. High frequencies, (e.g. greater than 1 Hertz) have been shown to have an anti-depressant effect.  
           [0008]    A considerable amount of study has been devoted to rTMS, yet the problem of scalp discomfort remains unexamined. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,198,958 and 6,571,123 are directed to methods of monitoring a patient&#39;s brain function during TMS. These references discloses a method for recording an EEG during TMS and for monitoring an MRI scan during TMS. The references also discuss the eddy currents induced in the metal electrodes by the TMS pulses which can cause burning of the patient&#39;s scalp by heating of the metal electrodes.  
           [0009]    Another area for potential discomfort involved in magnetic stimulation (e.g. rTMS) concerns accurate placement of the coil on the proper location of a patient&#39;s head in a quick, easy, and repeatable fashion. The first time a patient receives rTMS treatment, the patient is subjected to a dosing and testing procedure to determine how strong a field is required and permissible and precisely where on the patient&#39;s head a physician and/or technician must locate the stimulator coil. Subsequently, it is desired to avoid blindly hunting for the same correct location, so a mark is made on the patient&#39;s head. Typically, the patient is provided with a swimming cap that is written on to indicate the correct location of the stimulator coil. However, from treatment to next treatment, the patient may not put the swimming cap on his head in precisely the same location or configuration. Another option practitioners have used is to mark the patient&#39;s head directly with a pen. Because this may require shaving the person&#39;s head in part or entirely, the patient may feel unhappy with this procedure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0010]    The invention provides a device, system and method for placing a treatment component on a patient&#39;s head. The inventive device includes an attachment frame that attaches the treatment component to the patient&#39;s head. The attachment frame also includes a window. A receiving mechanism holds the treatment component to the attachment frame, and an alignment structure permits the treatment component to be positioned at a desired location on the patient&#39;s head. The inventive device also may include an isolator component capable of reducing sound to the patient&#39;s ears and/or reducing vibration of the attachment frame. The inventive device may also include an electrical connector to send and receive data based on the treatment, and an adjustment structure that is capable of adjusting the device to each patient. The adjustment structure may be made of a malleable material that helps mold the device to the contours of the patient&#39;s head. Also, the malleable material may be made to harden by using a predetermined wavelength of light, heat, and/or an ultrasonic signal. The alignment structure permits the treatment component to be placed in substantially the same location for each patient treatment, and may spans the patient&#39;s nose. The inventive device also may include a securing structure including a nose bridge component, a chin strap component, and/or a rear strap component. In addition, the attachment frame may be constructed such that it is reusable or rendered unusable at the conclusion of each patient treatment by modifying the attachment frame, the electrical connector, the alignment structure, receiving mechanism, and/or the malleable material, for example.  
           [0011]    The inventive system includes a treatment component, a head-frame component, a flexible circuit capable of being attached to the head-frame component, and an electrical connector in communication with the flexible circuit that communicates data as a function of the treatment component. The head-frame component facilitates placing the treatment component on a patient&#39;s head. The flexible circuit may includes a magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field being provided to the patient. The treatment component may be, for example, a magnetic stimulation device used for transcutaneous magnetic stimulation treatment of the patient. In this case, the magnetic stimulation device may include an arc-shaped core spanning an angle of less than three hundred sixty degrees, where the core includes a highly saturable magnetic material having a magnetic saturation of at least 0.5 Tesla.  
           [0012]    In addition, the invention contemplates a novel method of placing a treatment device on a patient that includes placing a head-frame component on the patient&#39;s head, aligning the head-frame component to the patient&#39;s head, securing the head-frame component to the patient, and attaching a treatment device to the head-frame component. The inventive method also may include connecting the head-frame component to a computing device. The method also contemplates adjusting the head-frame device to the patient, for example, by causing a malleable portion of the adjustment structure to mold to the patient&#39;s head. Such hardening of the malleable portion may be accomplished with the use of a predetermined wavelength of light, heat, and/or an ultrasonic signal, for example.  
           [0013]    The invention further includes a system for insuring that the device of the invention is properly placed. Should the wafer circuit be misaligned, the e-fields may not entirely cancel. In the preferred rTMS embodiment, a frame is provided that is repeatedly securable to the head of an rTMS patient that allows for the consistent placement of the magnetic stimulator coil or core and the wafer in the same exact location on the patient&#39;s head.  
           [0014]    The treatment frame may be provided with a memory circuit for receiving and storing the identity and dosing/treatment information of a given patient.  
           [0015]    A wafer circuit may or may not further include a specially designed wire loop to detect the presence of a time varying magnetic field so that the field generated by the rTMS device can be monitored. Additionally, the wafer circuit may or may not also include a specially designed location system, optical or otherwise, to insure correct alignment of the opposing electric field.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device for reducing scalp nerve membrane depolarization during rTMS in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 for reducing scalp nerve membrane depolarization in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Description will now be given with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be understood that these drawings are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flexible circuit or wafer  10  may be made of a polymer or plastic substrate  12  with copper runs imbedded therein. The copper runs may extend out into lead  14  which allows wafer circuit  10  to communicate electrical signals from an external source, like a computer device, for example. Substrate  12  may include an alignment projection  16  for insuring that the wafer circuit is properly oriented. A magnetic field sensor and/or other sensors may be provided within the substrate to measure the magnetic field being provided to the patient (e.g., for calibration or fault detection) and/or take biological readings of the patient. Substrate  12  may further include attachment holes  15  for securing wafer circuit  10  to a specific location with respect to the treatment head and the patient&#39;s body.  
         [0020]    Wafer circuit  10  may be a single-use and disposable item and is placed over the skin of the patient with a small quantity of conducting gel. Each wafer circuit  10  may be provided with its own small quantity of conducting gel (not shown) and a removable paper or plastic seal (not shown). Upon removal of the paper or plastic seal, the gel may be exposed, and wafer circuit  10  may be affixed to a patient.  
         [0021]    As noted above, the invention facilitates the placement of the wafer circuit and the magnetic stimulator device in precisely the proper location on the patient in a repeatable fashion. As such, an inventive locator system  5  includes a treatment frame  30  that may be worn securely on the patient. In the example embodiment shown, frame  30  may be worn on the patient&#39;s head for rTMS therapy. Ear protectors  37  may be provided on opposite sides of treatment frame  30  to muffle the sound generated by the rTMS device  100  and/or the dampen vibration caused by the rTMS device  100 . The patient&#39;s ears are placed inside the hollow ear protectors  37 . Frame  30  may include a treatment window  31  onto which wafer circuit  10  may be disposed. Surrounding window  31  may be a series of attachment holes  35  for receiving attachment pegs  55 . These pegs  55  may extend above and below the sub-frame  40  and may be passed through attachment holes  15  of wafer circuit  10  to enable the secure attachment of wafer circuit  10  to treatment frame  30 . In addition, a series of attachment holes  35  may be provided around window  31  so that wafer circuit  10  may be secured in any of a number of different locations with respect to the frame  30 . Attachment holes  35  may be provided in a recess  33 . Window  31  may include cutout  36  for accommodating projection  16  of wafer circuit  10 .  
         [0022]    Treatment frame  30  may further include a securing means  32  for insuring that the frame is placed in the substantially the same manner and substantially the same location on the patient&#39;s head. Securing means  32  may include a nose bridge section  32 A, a chin strap  32 B, and a rear strap  32 C. Straps  32 B and  32 C may be provided with conventional size adjusting structure, e.g., a buckle, frictional fasteners such as VELCRO,-elastic, etc. The straps may each be a single piece of material or be two pieces each attached at opposite sides of the treatment frame which are tied or otherwise fastened together.  
         [0023]    Treatment frame  30  may be reusable from patient to patient, or it may be made in a single patient embodiment. For example, a malleable substance may be provided within the main body of frame  30  to enable the healthcare provider to mold the frame to the specific contours of the patient&#39;s head more permanently. As a further means of securing the frame to the patient, a portion or all of the frame may be provided with a curable resin that is malleable but will harden when exposed to a certain condition, e.g., a specific wavelength of light, heat, ultrasonics, and the like. A particularly ideal portion of treatment frame  30  to be provided with such curable resin is the nose bridge section  32 A, because the nose and bridge section of a person&#39;s face is considered very topologically distinctive and easily molded prior to curing the resin.  
         [0024]    An additional component, the alignment sub-frame  40 , may be provided. Sub-frame  40  is substantially the same shape (but may be smaller in at least one direction) as treatment window  31  and fits within recess  33 . Sub-frame  40  is preferably provided with holes  45  for pegs  55 . In this embodiment, wafer circuit  10  may be secured to sub-frame  45  and sub-frame  45  may be positioned on treatment frame  30  via pegs  55 . The provision of sub-frame  45  is particularly advantageous for the two-step process of dosing and treating an rTMS patient. That is, wafer circuit  30  is first applied to the patient&#39;s skull over his motor center to determine the minimum amount of current required to affect his neurons. The motor center is chosen as a preferred dose indicator since the results are extremely easy to spot (i.e., a portion of the body will move). Once the proper dose is determined, wafer circuit  10  may be moved to the treatment location to affect the neurons involved in the patient&#39;s depression. By providing system  5  with sub-frame  40 , it is easier to move the wafer circuit from one location to the other without disturbing the main treatment frame. An additional support device may be used to aid in maintaining alignment during a therapeutic session.  
         [0025]    In operation, treatment frame  30  is secured to the patient&#39;s head, and wafer circuit  10  is secured to frame  30  (either with or without sub-frame  40 ). Support arm  104  (carrying the electrical and any other conduits) of rTMS device  100  is moved so as to position treatment head  102  directly over treatment window  31 . When an electric signal is supplied to wafer circuit  10  via lead  14  inserted into outlet  34  of connection  39  (having an electrical lead back to the power supply), circuit  10  may produce an electric field. Wafer circuit  10  is supplied an electrical signal from a waveform generator that is gated by the signal that gates the discharge of the storage capacitor in the rTMS device  100  for the creation of the pulsed magnetic field (from the coil) that induces the undesirable electric fields in the scalp. In this way, the fields (from the rTMS and from wafer circuit  10 ) are present in the scalp at the substantially the same time. The amplitude of the signal supplied to the wafer circuit may be made to track the amplitude of the signal supplied to the coil such that the electric field produced by wafer circuit  10  is matched yet substantially opposite in polarity to that of the coil.  
         [0026]    Wafer circuit  10  makes electrical contact with the scalp through the use of a conducting gel type material. The material in the path of the magnetic field may made to not substantially distort or reduce the induced electric fields produced by the rTMS device in the cerebral cortex of the patient.  
         [0027]    The invention is not limited to the above description. Modifications that would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. For example, although the invention is described as particularly useful for rTMS for the treatment of depression, it is also useful in treatment of epilepsy, specifically temporal lobe epilepsy, because the jaw muscles would be stimulated very uncomfortably during treatment. Other possible conditions that may be treated include the following: epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson&#39;s Disease, Tourette&#39;s Syndrome, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer&#39;s Disease, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Obesity, Bipolar disorder/mania, Anxiety disorders (Panic Disorder w and w/o agoraphobia, Social Phobia AKA Social Anxiety Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder), Post-traumatic stress disorder (one of the Anxiety Disorders in DSM), Obsessive compulsive disorder (one of the Anxiety Disorders in DSM), Pain (migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, Chronic pain disorders including neuropathic pain (e.g., pain due to diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia), idiopathic pain disorders (e.g., fibromyalgia, regional myofascial pain syndromes), Rehabilitation following stroke (neuro plasticity induction), Tinnitus, Stimulation of implanted neurons to facilitate integration, Substance-related disorders (dependence and abuse and withdrawal diagnoses for alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, caffeine, nicotine, cannabis), Spinal cord injury &amp; regeneration/rehabilitation, Head injury, Sleep deprivation reversal (DARPA), Primary sleep disorders (Primary insomnia, primary hypersomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorder), Cognitive enhancements, Dementias, Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS), Drug delivery systems (changing the cell membrane permeability to a drug), Induction of protein synthesis (induction of transcription and translation), Stuttering, Aphasia, Dysphagia, Essential tremor, and Eating Disorders (Bulimia, Anorexia, Binge Eating).  
         [0028]    Indeed, a frame of the type disclosed above for the patient&#39;s head is equally adaptable for other parts of the body, with geometric changes to account for the varying topography of the human body. Also, the invention is described as applying a current or e-field of substantially equal strength to that of the induced current to cancel the e-field in the skin. It is also contemplated that an applied current of less than the induced current (or more than the induced current, if convenient to do so) so as to merely reduce the e-field in the skin and thus reduce the discomfort. The invention is also contemplated to be useful with other monitoring, therapeutic, or imaging devices such as an EEG.