GB2549466A

GB2549466A - Headrest

Info

Publication number: GB2549466A
Application number: GB1606385.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rowe Laurie
Original assignee: Magstim Co Ltd
Current assignee: Magstim Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-04-13
Filing date: 2016-04-13
Publication date: 2017-10-25

Abstract

A headrest 100 comprising a headpad 102, an adjustable strap 104 coupled to the headpad 102 and an adjustable jaw bracket coupled to the head-pad 102. Headrest 100 may also comprise an adjustable temple rest 110 coupled to the headpad 102, where the temple-rest 110 may be coupled to an end of an articulated arm 128. The adjustable strap 104 may comprise first and second parts 116a,116b, each coupled to the headpad 102, where first and second parts 116a,116b comprise respective first and second complimentary coupling mechanisms allowing first and second parts to come into engagement forming the adjustable strap 104. The adjustable strap 104 may be coupled at a first end to the headpad 102 through first buckle 118a and at a second end to the headpad 102 through second buckle 118b. Headpad 102 may comprise an aperture 114. The jaw bracket may comprise first and second adjustable arms 106,108, each arm coupled at a respective first end to the headpad 102, where the adjustable arms 106,108 may comprises jaw engagement portions 122a,122b at a respective second end. The head-rest 100 may comprise a chair mounting bracket 112. Also a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) apparatus comprising the headrest 100.

Description

HEADREST

FIELD

This invention relates generally to a headrest. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a headrest for use during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

BACKGROUND

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a form of treatment that is used to treat depression and is particularly useful in situations where a patient has not responded to pharmaceutical-based therapy.

During transcranial magnetic stimulation an electromagnetic coil is placed over a targeted region of a patient’s scalp. It is necessary to identify this region in order to optimise the treatment.

Aspects and embodiments were conceived with the foregoing in mind.

SUMMARY

Viewed from a first aspect, there is provided a headrest comprising: a headpad; an adjustable strap coupled to the headpad; and an adjustable jaw bracket coupled to the headpad. A headrest according to the first aspect comprises an adjustable strap which can be used to couple the headrest to the head of a patient and an adjustable jaw bracket to provide support to the jaws of a patient. The headrest serves to maintain the position of the head of a patient during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The headrest may further comprise an adjustable temple rest coupled to the headpad. The temple rest allows a practitioner to manoeuvre the head of a patient during treatment whilst still providing support to the head.

The temple rest also provides support to the forehead of a patient during treatment in the event the head jerks away or moves during treatment.

The headrest may further comprise an arm comprising first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the headrest and the second end is coupled to the temple rest.

The arm may be coupled to the headrest at the first end in such a way that the arm can be moved to enable the position of the temple rest to be adjusted.

The arm may be articulated.

The adjustable strap may comprise first and second parts each respectively coupled to first and second parts of the headpad.

The first and second parts may comprise respective first and second complimentary coupling mechanisms to enable the first and second parts to come into engagement to form the adjustable strap.

The coupling mechanisms may comprise Velcro straps or any other suitable mechanism which enables a first part and a second part to be coupled to one another.

The adjustable strap may be coupled at a first end to the headpad through a first buckle and at a second end to the headpad through a second buckle.

The effect of using a buckle at each end is that adjustments to the strap can be made at the point at which the strap is coupled to the headpad, thereby increasing the configurability of the headrest.

The first and second ends of the adjustable strap may further comprise respective coupling mechanisms to enable adjustments to the strap to be maintained at the first and second ends using the respective first and second buckles. Suitable coupling mechanisms may comprise Velcro straps.

The headpad may comprise an aperture. The effect of providing an aperture in the headpad is that the rear of the patient’s head may be accessed during transcranial magnetic stimulation. This enables a practitioner to register the patient with a stylus during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The jaw bracket may comprise first and second adjustable arms, each arm coupled at a respective first end to the headpad.

The adjustable arms of the jaw bracket enable the jaw bracket to be adjusted according to the requirements of the transcranial magnetic stimulation. Each of the first and second adjustable arms may comprise a jaw engagement portion at a respective second end.

The jaw engagement portion may be enlarged relative to the respective adjustable arm. A strap may be coupled to at least one of the respective jaw engagement portions to maintain the jaw bracket in position.

The headrest may further comprise a chair mounting bracket. This enables the headrest to be mounted to a chair.

The headrest may form part of an apparatus which is to be used in transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment.

DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure la illustrates a headset according to the embodiment;

Figure lb illustrates a headset according to the embodiment; and

Figure 2 illustrates the use of a headset according to the embodiment.

We now describe, with reference to Figures la and lb, a headset 100 according to the embodiment.

Headset 100 comprises a headpad 102, strap 104, first arm 106, second arm 108, temple support 110 and mount 112.

Headpad 102 comprises an aperture 114 in the centre of the headpad 102. The aperture 114 may be narrower, i.e. to form a slot, or may be formed from a cut-out from the exterior of the headpad 102. The aperture is provided to enable access to the inion, the most prominent projection in the lower rear part of the human skull. Access to the inion is beneficial for mapping the head in order to accurately position a magnetic stimulation coil for use. The headpad 102 is formed from two parts. The headrest is non-metallic or stainless steel as other metallic parts will interfere with the positioning system used to position the transcranial magnetic stimulation coil.

Strap 104 is formed from first 116a and second 116b parts. First part 116a is coupled to the headpad 102 at a first buckle 118a and second part 116b is coupled to the headpad 102 at a second buckle 118b. A portion of the first part 116a is threaded through the first buckle 118a and pressed against the remaining portion of the first part 116a where an engagement is formed between the threaded portion of the first part 116a and the remainder of the first part 116a due to Velcro straps disposed on the first part 116a. A portion of the second part 116b is threaded through the second buckle 118b and pressed against the remaining portion of the second part 11b where an engagement is formed between the threaded portion of the second part 116b and the remainder of the second part 116b due to Velcro strips (not shown) disposed on the first part 116b.

Velcro strips (not shown) are also provided at the free, unattached ends of the first part 116a and the second part 116b to enable the free unattached ends to be coupled together.

The first arm 106 and the second arm 108 form a jaw bracket for the headrest 100. The first arm 106 and the second arm 108 are respectively coupled to the headpad 102 using a screw 120 and a shaft comprising a threaded aperture which receives the screw 120. The shaft and the threaded aperture form an adjustable engagement which enable the respective first arm 106 and second arm 108 to be independently adjusted according to their desired use.

The first arm 106 and the second arm 108 also comprise a jaw engaging portion, respectively enumerated as 122a and 122b, which is large compared to the remainder of the respective arm but which provides a support surface for the jaw of a patient. The adjustability using the screw 120 means that the first arm 106 and the second arm 108 can be tightened to hold the head of a user in a desired position whilst transcranial magnetic stimulation takes place.

The jaw engaging portions, 122a and 122b, comprise a substantially flat contact surface 124 which distributes the pressure applied by the respective first arm 106 and second arm 108 to the jaw of the patient more evenly. A strap (not shown) may extend between the jaw engaging portions 122a and 122b to assist in maintaining the position of the jaw engaging portions 122a and 122b around the patient’s head.

Temple support 110 comprises a temple pad 126 attached to an articulated arm 128. The articulated arm 128 comprises first 130a, second 130b and third 130c parts. The first part 130a is articulated to the second part 130b. The second part 130b is articulated to the third part 130c.

The articulation between the parts of the articulated arm 128 enables the arm 128 to be manipulated according to the needs of the treatment and the patient.

The attachment between the temple pad 126 and the articulated arm 128 is by way of a coupling between the temple pad 126 and third part 130c. A screw 132 is also provided on third part 130c which enables adjustment in the position of the temple pad 126. A screw 134 is also provided on first part 130a which enables adjustment in the orientation of the first part 130a.

Mount 112 comprises a bracket (not shown) and first 136a and second 136b engagement members. The mount enables the headrest 100 to be mounted to a chair.

The headrest 100 may be used during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

We will now describe, with reference to Figure 2, how the headrest 100 is used during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The head 200 of patient is placed against the headrest 102 and first part 116a is engaged with second part 116b to form the strap 104 around the head 200 of the patient. The buckles 118a and 118b can be used to adjust the strap according to the dimensions of the patient’s head 200.

The first arm 106 and the second arm 108 are positioned around the jaw of the patient and are fixed together using strap 202 to hold the first and second arms, respectively enumerated as 106 and 108, in position. This supports the forehead in position and maintains the head 200 in that position during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, “comprises” means “includes or consists of’ and “comprising” means “including or consisting of’. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa.

Claims

1. Headrest comprising: a headpad; an adjustable strap coupled to the headpad; and an adjustable jaw bracket coupled to the headpad.

2. Headrest according to Claim 1 further comprising an adjustable temple rest coupled to the headpad.

3. Headrest according to Claim 2 wherein the headrest further comprises an arm comprising first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the headrest and the second end is coupled to the temple rest.

4. Headrest according to Claim 3 wherein the arm is articulated.

5. Headrest according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the adjustable strap comprises first and second parts each respectively coupled to first and second parts of the headpad.

6. Headrest according to Claim 5 wherein the first and second parts comprise respective first and second complimentary coupling mechanisms to enable the first and second parts to come into engagement to form the adjustable strap.

7. Headrest according to any preceding claim wherein the adjustable strap is coupled at a first end to the headpad through a first buckle and at a second end to the headpad through a second buckle.

8. Headrest according to Claim 7 wherein the first and second ends of the adjustable strap comprise respective coupling mechanisms to enable adjustments to the strap to be maintained at the first and second ends using the respective first and second buckles.

9. Headrest according to any preceding claim wherein the headpad comprises an aperture.

10. Headrest according to any preceding claim wherein the jaw bracket comprises first and second adjustable arms, each arm coupled at a respective first end to the headpad.

11. Headpad according to Claim 10 wherein each of the first and second adjustable arms comprises a jaw engagement portion at a respective second end.

12. Headrest according to Claim 11 further comprising a strap coupled to at least one of the respective jaw engagement portions to maintain the jaw bracket in position.

13. Headrest according to any preceding claim wherein the headrest further comprises a chair mounting bracket.

14. Apparatus comprising a headrest according to any of Claims 1 to 13.

15. Chair comprising a headrest according to any of Claims 1 to 13.

16. Transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus comprising a headrest according to any of Claims 1 to 13.

17. A headrest as substantially hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

18. An apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

19. A transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2.