*Result*: Development of a Robot-Assisted TMS Localization System Using Dual Capacitive Sensors for Coil Tilt Detection.

Title:
Development of a Robot-Assisted TMS Localization System Using Dual Capacitive Sensors for Coil Tilt Detection.
Authors:
Ompico CDS; Systems and Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Maebashi 371-0816, Gunma, Japan., Banayo JN; Evelyn D. Ang-Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines., Mashio Y; Systems and Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Maebashi 371-0816, Gunma, Japan., Odagaki M; Systems and Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Maebashi 371-0816, Gunma, Japan., Kikuchi Y; Institute of Brain and Blood Vessels, Mihara Memorial Hospital, Isesaki 372-0006, Gunma, Japan., Sy AC; Evelyn D. Ang-Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines.; Manufacturing Engineering and Management Department, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines., Kurosaki H; Gunma Industrial Technology Center, Maebashi 379-2147, Gunma, Japan.
Source:
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) [Sensors (Basel)] 2026 Jan 20; Vol. 26 (2). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 20.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101204366 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1424-8220 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14248220 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sensors (Basel) Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI, c2000-
References:
Front Neurosci. 2020 Oct 22;14:592343. (PMID: 33192278)
J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2015 May 17;12:47. (PMID: 25981522)
Front Neurosci. 2021 Aug 19;15:709368. (PMID: 34489629)
Front Psychiatry. 2019 Mar 29;10:170. (PMID: 30984044)
Front Neurosci. 2018 Nov 13;12:683. (PMID: 30483044)
BMC Psychiatry. 2019 May 7;19(1):139. (PMID: 31064328)
Neuroimage. 2025 Nov 15;322:121543. (PMID: 41173439)
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: 3D camera; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; capacitive sensors; coil localization; robotic-assisted TMS; tilt detection
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260128 Date Completed: 20260128 Latest Revision: 20260131
Update Code:
20260131
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12845610
DOI:
10.3390/s26020693
PMID:
41600488
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique for neurological research and therapy, but its effectiveness depends on accurate and stable coil placement. Manual localization based on anatomical landmarks is time-consuming and operator-dependent, while state-of-the-art robotic and neuronavigation systems achieve high accuracy using optical tracking with head-mounted markers and infrared cameras, at the cost of increased system complexity and setup burden. This study presents a cost-effective, markerless robotic-assisted TMS system that combines a 3D depth camera and textile capacitive sensors to assist coil localization and contact control. Facial landmarks detected by the depth camera are used to estimate the motor cortex (C3) location without external tracking markers, while a dual textile-sensor suspension provides compliant "soft-landing" behavior, contact confirmation, and coil-tilt estimation. Experimental evaluation with five participants showed reliable C3 targeting with valid motor evoked potentials (MEPs) obtained in most trials after initial calibration, and tilt-verification experiments revealed that peak MEP amplitudes occurred near balanced sensor readings in 12 of 15 trials (80%). The system employs a collaborative robot designed in accordance with international human-robot interaction safety standards, including force-limited actuation and monitored stopping. These results suggest that the proposed approach can improve the accessibility, safety, and consistency of TMS procedures while avoiding the complexity of conventional optical tracking systems.*