Enabling deep, focused transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): Key neurotechnology patent #34
– Illustrative image from U.S. Patent No. 7,520,848
Today we are sharing a key 2009 patent, assigned to Stanford University, that enables the stimulation of deeper structures of the brain without overwhelming superficial structures that are not the focus of treatment. (As mentioned, we are featuring a foundational Pervasive Neurotech patent a day, from older to newer by issue date)
U.S. Patent No. 7,520,848: Robotic apparatus for targeting and producing deep, focused transcranial magnetic stimulation
Assignee(s): Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
Inventor(s): M. Bret Schneider, David J. Mishelevich
Technology Category: Transcranial Stimulation
Issue Date: April 21, 2009
SharpBrains’ Take:
The ‘848 patent discloses techniques for stimulating deeper structures of the brain without overwhelming superficial structures that are not the focus of treatment. By providing stimulation (i.e., current) from more than one location, a deeper targeted structure may be stimulated to be depolarized with sufficient frequency (where stimulation is alternated from the various stimulation source locations) such that repolarization of the targeted areas never occurs but repeated stimulation of superficial structures is avoided. The specification, with 19 illustration sheets and nine pages of written material, appears to provide extensive support for the claimed inventions. While there may be other means of avoiding overstimulation to non-targeted are...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Technology brain data brain-stimulation EEG magnetic stimulation neuro-technology Neurotechnology patent Stanford Stanford-University transcranial stimulation Transcranial-Magnetic-Stimula Source Type: blogs