Project number
27004
Organization
UA Brain Imaging & TMS Laboratory
Offering
ENGR498-F2026-S2027
This project will design and prototype a modular transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil positioning system for supervised research use. The system should begin as a high-stability analog/mechanical arm that can hold a TMS coil in place after positioning with minimal or no drift, while providing approximately 270-degree placement coverage around the participant’s head. The device should be compatible with MagVenture TMS coils and, if feasible, designed with a modular interface to accommodate additional common coil form factors in the future. The system should support either a freestanding base or a stable mounting interface to an existing preamp/cooling cart or related equipment stand.
The longer-term purpose of the platform is to support closed-loop and reinforcement-learning-based neuromodulation experiments in which software can command coil position changes between predefined stimulation sites. Therefore, the prototype should also include a digital upgrade path: neuronavigation-compatible infrared optical tracking, software/computer communication capability, and a modular path toward robotic or motor-assisted repositioning. A technician manual-override mode is required so that small corrections can be made without the operator having to fully support the coil weight. The capstone deliverable is a supervised laboratory prototype and engineering platform, not a clinical or unsupervised medical device.
The longer-term purpose of the platform is to support closed-loop and reinforcement-learning-based neuromodulation experiments in which software can command coil position changes between predefined stimulation sites. Therefore, the prototype should also include a digital upgrade path: neuronavigation-compatible infrared optical tracking, software/computer communication capability, and a modular path toward robotic or motor-assisted repositioning. A technician manual-override mode is required so that small corrections can be made without the operator having to fully support the coil weight. The capstone deliverable is a supervised laboratory prototype and engineering platform, not a clinical or unsupervised medical device.