Barker A T
Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
J Clin Neurophysiol. 1991 Jan;8(1):26-37. doi: 10.1097/00004691-199101000-00005.
Magnetic nerve stimulation is a new method for the noninvasive stimulation of neuromuscular tissue. The technique, developed at the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, is being increasingly used for both clinical studies and basic research, with some 500 stimulators presently in use worldwide. This paper looks at the development of magnetic stimulation as a clinical tool. The basic physics principles of the technique are outlined, and the different magnetic field waveforms, coil geometrics, and orientations that can be used are discussed. The depth of penetration of magnetic stimulation is compared to that of conventional electrical stimulation using surface electrodes. It is shown that the former generates lower electric fields at the surface of the body, resulting in greater penetration and the ability to stimulate deep nerves without pain. Magnetic stimulation has several other advantages over electrical stimulation, including being able to stimulate the human brain without discomfort due to the magnetic fields passing through the skull without attenuation. These advantages, along with the limitations of the technique, are discussed. Finally, data relating to the safety of brain stimulation are summarised in terms of the electromagnetic parameters used. It is concluded that the present generation of magnetic stimulators do not cause acute hazards, provided their electrical and mechanical design meets the relevant electromedical safety standards.
磁神经刺激是一种用于非侵入性刺激神经肌肉组织的新方法。该技术由英国谢菲尔德大学研发，目前在临床研究和基础研究中越来越多地被使用，全球约有500台刺激器正在投入使用。本文探讨了磁刺激作为一种临床工具的发展情况。概述了该技术的基本物理原理，并讨论了可使用的不同磁场波形、线圈几何形状和方向。将磁刺激的穿透深度与使用表面电极的传统电刺激的穿透深度进行了比较。结果表明，前者在身体表面产生的电场较低，从而具有更大的穿透能力，能够在无疼痛的情况下刺激深部神经。与电刺激相比，磁刺激还有其他几个优点，包括能够在磁场穿过颅骨而不衰减的情况下无不适地刺激人脑。本文讨论了这些优点以及该技术的局限性。最后，根据所使用的电磁参数总结了与脑刺激安全性相关的数据。得出的结论是，只要其电气和机械设计符合相关的电子医疗安全标准，目前一代的磁刺激器不会造成急性危害。
