US 5,312,321 A · Method and apparatus for suppressing neuron action potential firings

Abstract

A device and a method for suppressing nerve cell action potentials is provided. An octapolar magnetic device is disposed near a mammalian sensory neuron so that the magnetic field generated by one quadrapolar face of the device is symmetrically disposed about the neuron. The magnetic device is comprised of four magnetic bodies, each having two opposite magnetic poles. Two positive and two negative magnetic poles are disposed substantially in a single plane and to define the four vertices of a quadrilateral shape, the two positive poles defining two diagonal vertices, and the two negative poles defining the opposite two diagonal vertices of the quadrilateral shape. A housing is provided to hold the magnetic bodies in a fixed relative position and thus maintain the quadrilateral orientation of the poles.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of suppressing action potentials of a neuron, comprising the steps of:

assembling an octapolar group of magnetic bodies having two positive circular magnetic poles and two negative circular magnetic poles of approximately equal strength substantially in a first plane;
orienting said two positive poles and said two negative poles of said group of magnetic bodies in said first plane to define the four vertices of a rectangular shape with said two positive poles defining two diagonal vertices and said two negative poles defining opposite vertices of said rectangular shape;
fixing said orientation of said group of magnetic bodies in a housing such that the magnetic bodies are sufficiently close that the magnetic induction produced by each of said poles has a significant magnitude at the location of each of the other of said poles;
and
selectively placing said housing at a distance from the neuron such that said group of magnetic bodies generates a biologically effective magnetic field at the neuron.

2 more elements

A device for generating a magnetic flux against a neuron, consisting essentially of:

an octapolar group of four magnetic bodies having two positive circular magnetic poles and two negative circular magnetic poles of approximately equal strength and lying substantially in a first plane, said magnetic bodies being disposed in an orientation such that said two positive poles and said two negative poles lying in said first plane define the four vertices of a rectangular shape with said two positive poles defining two diagonal vertices and said two negative poles defining opposite vertices of said rectangular shape, such that said magnetic bodies are sufficiently close that the magnetic induction produced by each of said poles has a significant magnitude at the location of each of the other of said poles, and such that said magnetic bodies are sufficiently distant from other sources of magnetic induction that the magnetic induction field generated by said magnetic bodies is not substantially distorted;
and
a housing maintaining said magnetic bodies in said orientation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for suppressing neuron action potential firings

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for suppressing neuron action potential firings

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14