Systems and methods for providing treatment to the brain using magnetic field therapy

Abstract

Described are methods, devices, and systems for a novel, inexpensive, easy to use therapy for providing treatment to the brain. Described are methods and devices to provide treatment to the brain that involves no medication. Methods and devices described herein use alternating magnetic fields to provide treatment to the brain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of rotatable magnetic sources in proximity to a head of the subject, each rotatable magnetic source being configured to provide a pulsed magnetic field;   selecting a rotation frequency for each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources;   selecting a timing pattern for the pulsed magnetic field provided by each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources;   operating the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources with the selected rotation frequencies and timing patterns; and   applying the pulsed magnetic fields provided by the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources to the head of the subject to influence cellular behavior in at least one application area of the head.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one application area of the head corresponds to a location of a tumor in the subject's brain. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one application area of the head corresponds to a location of an abnormality in at least one blood vessel of the subject's brain. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one application area of the head corresponds to an area of the subject's brain affected by a tumor or blood vessel abnormality in a different area of the subject's brain. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources in proximity to the head of the subject includes positioning the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources around the head of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources in proximity to the head of the subject includes positioning the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources adjacent to the at least one application area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation frequency of each rotatable magnetic source corresponds to a rate of change of the pulsed magnetic field provided by the rotatable magnetic source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the timing pattern of each rotatable magnetic source corresponds to a time series arrangement of pulses in the pulsed magnetic field provided by the rotatable magnetic source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the rotation frequency for each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources includes selecting a rotation frequency over 50 Hz. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources is configured to provide a pulsed magnetic field having a maximum field strength of at least 1 Tesla. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collecting, via at least one biological sensor, feedback data in response to the application of the pulsed magnetic fields provided by the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources; and   adjusting the rotation frequency and/or the timing pattern of at least one rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources based on the feedback data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one biological sensor includes one or more electrodes positioned on the head of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the timing pattern for the pulsed magnetic field provided by each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources includes selecting a rotation pattern for each rotatable magnetic source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected rotation pattern is one of a full-waveform pattern or a half-waveform pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the timing pattern for the pulsed magnetic field provided by each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources includes selecting a first timing pattern for a first rotatable magnetic source and a second timing pattern for a second rotatable magnetic source such that the pulsed magnetic field provided by the first rotatable magnetic source is active while the pulsed magnetic field provided by the second rotatable magnetic source is inactive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second timing pattern is out of phase relative to the first timing pattern. 
     
     
         17 . A system for providing treatment to a subject, comprising:
 a plurality of rotatable magnetic sources configured to positioned in proximity to a head of the subject, each rotatable magnetic source being configured to provide a pulsed magnetic field;   at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and   at least one processor for executing the instructions stored on the memory, wherein execution of the instructions programs the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 selecting a rotation frequency for each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources; 
 selecting a timing pattern for the pulsed magnetic field provided by each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources; 
 operating the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources with the selected rotation frequencies and timing patterns; and 
 applying the pulsed magnetic fields provided by the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources to the head of the subject to influence an energy level in at least one application area of the head. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one application area of the head corresponds to a location of a tumor in the subject's brain. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one application area of the head corresponds to a location of an abnormality in at least one blood vessel of the subject's brain. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the rotation frequency of each rotatable magnetic source corresponds to a rate of change of the pulsed magnetic field provided by the rotatable magnetic source. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the timing pattern of each rotatable magnetic source corresponds to a time series arrangement of pulses in the pulsed magnetic field provided by the rotatable magnetic source. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein selecting the rotation frequency for each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources includes selecting a rotation frequency over 50 Hz. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each rotatable magnetic source of the plurality of rotatable magnetic sources is configured to provide a pulsed magnetic field having a maximum field strength of at least 1 Tesla. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to a patient, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a head mount for disposition on the head of the patient; and   a plurality of magnet assemblies attached to the head mount, wherein each of the magnet assemblies comprises a permanent magnet configured to selectively provide a rapidly changing magnetic field capable of inducing electric currents in the brain of the patient so as to modify natural electrical activity of the brain of the patient, wherein the apparatus causes movement of the permanent magnets to effect the rapidly changing magnetic fields; and wherein the permanent magnets are each operated to provide a magnetic field having certain spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics;   wherein the number of magnet assemblies attached to the head mount, their individual positioning on or within the head mount, and their selective provision of the rapidly changing magnetic fields is selected so as to allow spatial, strength, and temporal characteristics of the magnetic field to be custom tailored for the patient, whereby to provide patient-specific TMS therapy or to assist in diagnosis.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the magnet assemblies comprise an apparatus for moving the permanent magnet. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus for moving the permanent magnet comprises a motor, and further wherein the permanent magnet is attached to a drive shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a computerized controller for selectively causing selected ones of the magnet assemblies to provide a rapidly changing magnetic field. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of electrodes for monitoring the natural electrical activity of the brain. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the each of the magnet assemblies is operated with a magnet movement speed no less than 50 Hz. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the rapidly changing magnetic field provided by each of the magnet assemblies has a maximum field strength of at least 1 Tesla.