Where Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is headed to: The modular extended magnetic stimulator

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) already suffered, even though first presented in 1985, a technical stagnation. Even though applications of stimulation patterns were optimized for treatment and research objectives, the technical buildup of transcranial magnetic stimulators only advances in terms of a reduced energy consumption, but never concerning the aspect of adjustable pulse shapes. This paper reviews prior technical advances of magnetic stimulators and their medical applications. Moreover, a novel multilevel stimulator is presented and it is analyzed how it could finally overcome the restriction of predefined pulse shapes. Finally,it is discussed how freely selectable pulse shapes might fundamentally change the way TMS is applied.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Datorseende och robotik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Computer Vision and Robotics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Magnetic circuits

Power conversion

Modular multilevel converters

Pulse inverters

Multilevel systems

Coils

MOSFET

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

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