Method and apparatus for neuromagnetic stimulation
AssigneeZentralinstitut fur Biomedizinische Technik Universitat Ulm
InventorsJochen Edrich, Tongsheng Zhang
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Abstract
A method for neuromagnetic stimulation or functional neuromuscular stimulation comprises applying a magnetic field with a magnetic induction B to a subcutaneous nerve tissue to be stimulated, and simultaneously directing a focused beam of ultrasonic waves into the magnetic field region such that the ultrasonic waves vibrate orthogonally to the direction of the magnetic field, thereby producing a subcutaneous focus of stimulation having a focal diameter of approximately 1 cm, in order to confine the stimulation into a single nerve bundle or one single nerve region, and to avoid unintentional stimulation of adjoining nerve regions. An apparatus is described for carrying out such method.
Claims15
A method for neuromagnetic stimulation of a subcutaneous nerve tissue comprising the steps of:
- applying a magnetic field to a region with a magnetic induction B directed toward said subcutaneous nerve tissue for stimulation of said subcutaneous nerve tissue, and
- simultaneously directing a focused beam of ultrasonic waves at a selected frequency into the magnetic field region, said ultrasonic waves vibrating orthogonally to the direction of the magnetic field to produce a subcutaneous focus of stimulation on said subcutaneous nerve tissue, said subcutaneous focus having a focal diameter of approximately 1 cm.
An apparatus for neuromagnetic stimulation of subcutaneous nerve tissue comprising:
- means for applying a magnetic field to a region with a magnetic induction B directed toward said subcutaneous nerve tissue for stimulation of said subcutaneous nerve tissue, and
- ultrasonic emitter means for simultaneously directing .a focused beam of ultrasonic waves at a selected frequency into the magnetic field region, said ultrasonic waves vibrating orthogonally to the direction of the magnetic field to produce a subcutaneous focus of stimulation on said subcutaneous nerve tissue said subcutaneous focus having a focal diameter of approximately 1 cm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.