Apparatus and method for generating a magnetic field

An apparatus for use with an inductor for generating a magnetic field for application to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• a capacitor arrangement comprising at least one capacitor for storing electrical energy;
• a terminal for connection to the inductor for generating the magnetic field for application to the body tissue;
• connecting circuitry between the capacitor arrangement and said terminal, wherein the connecting circuitry comprises at least a first branch and a second branch;
• a switch, wherein the switch forms part of the first branch, wherein the switch is configured to be changed from a substantially non-conductive state to a conductive state at a first point in time to form a first electrical connection between the capacitor arrangement and said terminal in a manner to enable electrical current to flow through the first branch and through the inductor via said terminal while the inductor is connected to the apparatus via said terminal, due to the electrical energy stored by means of the capacitor arrangement, and configured to cause the inductor to generate the magnetic field, wherein the switch is configured to be changed from the conductive state to the substantially non-conductive state at a second point in time to interrupt said first electrical connection between the capacitor arrangement and said terminal;
• at least one electrical circuit element, wherein the electrical circuit element forms part of the second branch, wherein the electrical circuit element is configured to be changed from a substantially non-conductive state to a conductive state to form a second electrical connection between the capacitor arrangement and said terminal in a manner to enable electrical current to flow through the second branch and through the inductor via said terminal while the inductor is connected to the apparatus via said terminal;
• wherein the second point in time is freely chosen independently from the first point in time during operation of the device by a user;
• wherein switching the switch from the substantially non-conductive state to the conductive state at the first point in time is configured to trigger an oscillation of current flow between the capacitor arrangement and the inductor, wherein the second point in time is selected to be during a first half wave of said oscillation not coinciding with a transition between a first half wave and a second half wave of said oscillation.