Design and Validation of Miniaturized Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Head Coils.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a rapidly developing therapeutic modality for the safe and effective treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, clinical rTMS driving systems and head coils are large, heavy, and expensive, so miniaturized, affordable rTMS devices may facilitate treatment access for patients at home, in underserved areas, in field and mobile hospitals, on ships and submarines, and in space. The central component of a portable rTMS system is a miniaturized, lightweight coil.

A Compact Circuit for Boosting Electric Field Intensity in Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).

The concept of a portable, wearable system for repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) has attracted widespread attention, but significant power and field intensity requirements remain a key challenge. Here, a circuit topology is described that significantly increases induced electric field intensity over that attainable with similar current levels and coils in conventional rTMS systems. The resultant electric field is essentially monophasic, and has a controllable, shortened duration.

Practical microcircuits for handheld acoustofluidics.

Acoustofluidics has promised to enable lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care devices in ways difficult to achieve using other methods. Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers-as small as the chips they actuate-provide rapid fluid and suspended object transport. Acoustofluidic lab-on-chip devices offer a vast range of benefits in early disease identification and noninvasive drug delivery.