Coil-Integrated Alignment Sensor for Real-Time Feedback of Coil-Scalp Contact Point and Angle During Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Abstract

Whereas coil positioning in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reach a specific cortical target with modern focal stimulation coils has been intensively studied, the alignment and contact of a coil with the head is often ignored. Focal figure-of-eight coils have a point on the surface, where they generate the largest induced electric field. This point should touch the head first, and the coil should be approximately tangential to the head in this point. Previous research has demonstrated the large impact if the coil does not touch the head with the right point and that many operators struggle with establishing or maintaining the correct coil-scalp alignment. This paper presents a technological support technology that can monitor the exact position of the contact point and also pressure to provide feedback to users. As the system uses exclusively components from consumer electronics, the sensor is low-cost and affordable. Through proper design, we achieved sufficient robustness so that the sensor does neither reset during TMS pulses and also not show any detectable degradation.