Magnetic stimulation device

US6123658A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Peter Schweighofer · Nuremberg, DE
• Michael Moritz · Brookfield, US
• Franz Schmitt · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 26, 2000
• Expiry date: May 14, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2/006
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magnetic stimulation device has at least one stimulation coil, which is connected with its terminals to the output of at least one controllable electronic power converter and which has an inductance and current and voltage carrying capability, so that the stimulation pulses it generates permeate at least one volume on the order of magnitude of limbs, head or trunk of a patient. The controllable electronic power converter contains at least one activatable and deactivatable power semiconductor switch with short switching times. The electronic power converter is connected with its input to a voltage intermediate circuit. The voltage intermediate circuit and the controllable electronic power converter have a layout for high output voltages and currents, so that action potentials can be triggered even in deeper neuromuscular tissue of a patient, and the magnetic stimulation device offers wide freedom in the selection of the stimulation pulse shapes.