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Abstract:
Background
Field calculations for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are increasingly implemented online in neuronavigation systems and in more realistic offline approaches based on finite-element methods. They are often based on simplified and/or non-validated models of the magnetic vector potential of the TMS coils.
Objective
To develop an approach to reconstruct the magnetic vector potential based on automated measurements.
Methods
We implemented a setup that simultaneously measures the three components of the magnetic field with high spatial resolution. This is complemented by a novel approach to determine the magnetic vector potential via volume integration of the measured field.
Results
The integration approach reproduces the vector potential with very good accuracy. The vector potential distribution of a standard figure-of-eight shaped coil determined with our setup corresponds well with that calculated using a model reconstructed from x-ray images.
Conclusion
The setup can supply validated models for existing and newly appearing TMS coils.
