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Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zeng, Z; Koponen, LM; Hamdan, R; Li, Z; Goetz, SM; Peterchev, AV
Published in: J Neural Eng
March 17, 2022

Objective.This article presents a novel transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulse generator with a wide range of pulse shape, amplitude, and width.Approach.Based on a modular multilevel TMS (MM-TMS) topology we had proposed previously, we realized the first such device operating at full TMS energy levels. It consists of ten cascaded H-bridge modules, each implemented with insulated-gate bipolar transistors, enabling both novel high-amplitude ultrabrief pulses as well as pulses with conventional amplitude and duration. The MM-TMS device can output pulses including up to 21 voltage levels with a step size of up to 1100 V, allowing relatively flexible generation of various pulse waveforms and sequences. The circuit further allows charging the energy storage capacitor on each of the ten cascaded modules with a conventional TMS power supply.Main results. The MM-TMS device can output peak coil voltages and currents of 11 kV and 10 kA, respectively, enabling suprathreshold ultrabrief pulses (>8.25μs active electric field phase). Further, the MM-TMS device can generate a wide range of near-rectangular monophasic and biphasic pulses, as well as more complex staircase-approximated sinusoidal, polyphasic, and amplitude-modulated pulses. At matched estimated stimulation strength, briefer pulses emit less sound, which could enable quieter TMS. Finally, the MM-TMS device can instantaneously increase or decrease the amplitude from one pulse to the next in discrete steps by adding or removing modules in series, which enables rapid pulse sequences and paired-pulse protocols with variable pulse shapes and amplitudes.Significance.The MM-TMS device allows unprecedented control of the pulse characteristics which could enable novel protocols and quieter pulses.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Neural Eng

DOI

EISSN

1741-2552

Publication Date

March 17, 2022

Volume

19

Issue

2

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Sound
  • Heart Rate
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Data Collection
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1109 Neurosciences
 

Citation

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Zeng, Z., Koponen, L. M., Hamdan, R., Li, Z., Goetz, S. M., & Peterchev, A. V. (2022). Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction. J Neural Eng, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac572c
Zeng, Zhiyong, Lari M. Koponen, Rena Hamdan, Zhongxi Li, Stefan M. Goetz, and Angel V. Peterchev. “Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction.J Neural Eng 19, no. 2 (March 17, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac572c.
Zeng Z, Koponen LM, Hamdan R, Li Z, Goetz SM, Peterchev AV. Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction. J Neural Eng. 2022 Mar 17;19(2).
Zeng, Zhiyong, et al. “Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction.J Neural Eng, vol. 19, no. 2, Mar. 2022. Pubmed, doi:10.1088/1741-2552/ac572c.
Zeng Z, Koponen LM, Hamdan R, Li Z, Goetz SM, Peterchev AV. Modular multilevel TMS device with wide output range and ultrabrief pulse capability for sound reduction. J Neural Eng. 2022 Mar 17;19(2).
Journal cover image

Published In

J Neural Eng

DOI

EISSN

1741-2552

Publication Date

March 17, 2022

Volume

19

Issue

2

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Sound
  • Heart Rate
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor
  • Electric Power Supplies
  • Data Collection
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1109 Neurosciences