Multi-polar magnetic devices for treating patients and methods therefor

An octapolar magnetic device comprising:

• a set of four magnetic discs arranged in a square array, said four magnetic discs including two having negative magnetic poles lying in a first plane and two having positive magnetic poles lying in said first plane, wherein said two magnetic discs having negative magnetic poles extend along a first diagonal line and said two magnetic discs having positive magnetic poles extend along a second diagonal line that crosses said first diagonal line;
• a non-metallic housing containing said four magnetic discs for maintaining said magnetic discs in said square array arrangement, said housing including an alignment marker for aligning said octapolar magnetic device on a patient.

A method of treating a patient comprising:

• conducting muscle response testing on a patient for indentifying at least one location for treatment;
• placing a magnetic device over the at least one location identified, said magnetic device including a set of four magnetic discs arranged in a square array, said four magnetic discs including two having negative magnetic poles lying in a first plane and two having positive magnetic poles lying in said first plane, wherein said two magnetic discs having negative magnetic poles extend along a first diagonal line and said two magnetic discs having positive magnetic poles extend along a second diagonal line that crosses said first diagonal line, and a housing containing said four magnetic discs for maintaining said magnetic discs in said square array arrangement, said housing including an alignment marker for aligning said magnetic device on the patient;
• using said alignment marker on said housing for aligning said magnetic device over said at least one location on the patient for influencing energy flow in the patient.