Evaluation of the range of magnetic fields in deep brain stimulation by transcranial magnetic stimulation using the finite element method

• Grant number: 10/18307-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Marco Antonio Marcolin
• Grantee: Marco Antonio Marcolin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Erich Talamoni Fonoff ; Fábio Ruiz Daró ; Francisco de Assis Ferreira Tejo

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently performed by invasive methods. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), in turn, is a noninvasive methdo and allows focus on its effect on specific brain areas (as opposed to Electroconvulsive Therapy - ECT - that stimulates the brain non-invasively but diffusely), but its use to stimulate deep brain areas faces a number of technical limitations. We intend to evaluate the range of magnetic fields of a new configuration of TMS equipment designed in this research project through a computer simulation using a mathematical numerical model , the Finite Element Method (FEM). The results will be used to design and develop a new type of TMS equipment which allows the ECP perform effectively, efficiently and non-invasive. Will be used in biological tissue samples taken from cadavers to measure the physical properties of the tissues considered in this study and thus calibrate the mathematical model. The research will be done in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (IPq-HCFMUSP) with the Neurology Department of the same university and the Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande (DEE-UFCG). In the mathematical model, the settings will be compared to existing TMS configuration with the new configuration designed in this project. (AU)