DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND TESTING OF NEW DEVICES FOR MAGNETOMOTIVE NERVE-FIBER STIMULATION

Over the past few years, magnetomotive nerve stimulation - an almost p ainless procedure - has become increasingly important for both diagnos is and therapy. However, the actual efficiency of this method is highl y dependent on the technology available. For this reason, current rese arch programmes are focussed on the development of new devices. Indivi dual components can be optimized only with respect to a particular app lication. As a means of stimulating deeper-lying nerve fibres, a power ful air coil was developed. A second, optimally focussed, air coil per mits the selective stimulation of closely defined areas. For the opera tion of the two coils, a power source has been specially designed to p rovide particularly high-energy pulses, as well as an option for repet itive stimulation. This unit was designed to comply with relevant regu lations, and incorporates effective safety functions, same employing r edundancy backup. Within the performance limits of the device, the con figuration of the stimulation pulses is to a large extent freely progr ammable. In addition to standard applications, this power supply unit opens up new fields of application for magnetomotive stimulation. The first series of tests carried out with this new stimulation system con firmed - among other things - the achievement of the desired depth eff ect of the air coil. By virtue of its highly focussed effect, the seco nd coil has proved to be particularly suitable for stimulating the mot or cortex.