Axilum Robotics

Axilum Robotics

The first robot designed to assist in positioning a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation coil, featuring a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm and a computer-controlled patient seat.

Axilum Robotics TMS-Robot is the first robot specifically designed for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

Axilum Robotics TMS-Cobot is the second robot of the Company, based on collaborative robotic technology, i.e. robots designed to work « with » humans.

The idea to develop a robot assisted solution for TMS came from a need expressed in 2004 to Pr Michel de Mathelin, former head of the medical robotics research group of ICube (University of Strasbourg, France), by Dr Jack Foucher, from INSERM U666 research unit, one of the pioneers of TMS in France.

Facing the double challenge to ensure precision of stimulation and to reproduce identical procedures by patients who need sometimes up to 30 sessions, Dr Foucher was looking for a solution to automate the stimulation procedure. There was a real need with no robotic solution available.

The automated procedure, with the permanent control of the position, the orientation and the contact of the stimulation coil on the head, offers many advantages including accuracy, repeatability of TMS sessions, operator and patient safety and comfort.

Axilum Robotics offers with its partners different robotic solutions for TMS, adapted to various needs, from research to therapeutics.

Integration with MagVenture

The Axilum Robotics TMS Robot which MagVenture integrates with, it is the first robotic solution specifically designed to automate the precise and reproducible positioning of the TMS coil during research experiments and clinical treatment sessions. This robot, often used in conjunction with a neuronavigation system (like Localite, which MagVenture partners with), can automatically target user-defined brain regions, maintaining the correct coil orientation. Crucially, its head motion compensation actively monitors the coil’s position, orientation, and contact to the head at all times, ensuring it precisely follows any patient head movement during TMS. This capability guarantees a high level of repeatability between TMS sessions, significantly reduces operator strain, and enhances patient safety through integrated contact force sensors. Being seamlessly integrable with MagVenture stimulators and coils, and often piloted by a Localite neuronavigation system, the Axilum Robotics solution optimizes the efficiency, consistency, and safety of TMS therapy.

Features

• Maintain position, orientation, and tilt of the TMS coil during the session
• Compensate for potential head motion during the TMS session
• Maintain contact between coil and head (integrated contact sensor)
• Plan fully-automated image-guided TMS sessions when piloted by a compatible neuronavigation system
• Plan and execute predefined stimulation paths when piloted by a compatible neuronavigation system
• Ensure identical setups in multi-center studies
• Reduce inter-operator variability
• Double-blind study support
• Reduce interactions between operator and patient during the session (no need for coil adjustment)