Electrical And Magnetic Neurostimulation

Functional electrical stimulation is the most important application in the field of clinical treatment with currents or magnetism. This technique artificially generates neural activity in order to overcome lost functions of the paralized, incontinent or sensory handicapped patient. Electricity and magnetism is also used in many cases, e.g., to stimulate bone growth or wound healing. Nevertheless, the basic mechanism of the artificial excitation of nerve and muscle fibers has become known only in the last few years. Although many textbooks are concerned with the natural excitation process there is a lack of information on the influence of an applied electrical or magnetic field. This book, written for students and biomedical engineers, should close the gap and, furthermore, it should stimulate the design of new instrumentation using optimal strategies.

This open access book describes modern applications of computational human modeling with specific emphasis in the areas of neurology and neuroelectromagnetics, depression and cancer treatments, radio-frequency studies and wireless communications. Special consideration is also given to the use of human modeling to the computational assessment of relevant regulatory and safety requirements. Readers working on applications that may expose human subjects to electromagnetic radiation will benefit from this book’s coverage of the latest developments in computational modelling and human phantom development to assess a given technology’s safety and efficacy in a timely manner. Describes construction and application of computational human models including anatomically detailed and subject specific models; Explains new practices in computational human modeling for neuroelectromagnetics, electromagnetic safety, and exposure evaluations; Includes a survey of modern applications for which computational human models are critical; Describes cellular-level interactions between the human body and electromagnetic fields.

Based on advances in biotechnology and neuroscience, non-invasive neuromodulation devices are poised to gain clinical importance in the coming years and to be of increasing interest to patients, clinicians,health systems, payers, and industry. Evidence suggests that both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications of non-invasive neuromodulation will continue to expand in coming years, particularly for indications where treatments are currently insufficient, such as drug-resistant depression. Given the growing interest in non-invasive neuromodulation technologies, the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders convened a workshop, inviting a range of stakeholders - including developers of devices and new technologies, researchers, clinicians, ethicists, regulators, and payers - to explore the opportunities, challenges, and ethical questions surrounding the development, regulation, and reimbursement of these devices for the treatment of nervous system disorders as well as for non-therapeutic uses, including cognitive and functional enhancement. This report highlights the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

The International Symposium on Biomagnetic Stimulation was held on July 15, 1991 at the International Hall of the Hakozaki campus of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. It was a satellite symposium to the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engi neering in Kyoto, which was held July 7-11, 1991. Successful magnetic stimulation of the human brain was first reported by Dr. Anthony Barker and his group at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, in May, 1985. Of course, magnetic nerve stimulation had been studied and reported before then, but Dr. of successful stimulation of the brain made a strong impact on the scientific Barker's reports community. Since then, magnetic nerve stimulation has been widely and rapidly investigated by many groups throughout the world. This symposium focused mostly on magnetic brain stimulation. Magnetic resonance imaging has become an indispensable technique for clinical diagno sis and medical science. The most advanced MRI techniques, such as echo planar imaging, have the potential hazard of stimulating nerve tissues due to the rapid change of gradient mag netic fields. Potential risks of MRI, including problems with gradient magnetic fields, were discussed at the symposium. Magnetic stimulation of the heart was also discussed.

The cable model for nerve activation is based, among other things, on the assumption of cylindrical symmetry. For the externally applied field in the case of electrical or magnetic stimulation the implication is that the transverse component of the field should be negligible. The present theoretical work shows that for electrical stimulation this assumption is valid in most of the cases, but for magnetic stimulation the assumption is not generally valid, although, with the note that this is strongly dependent on the resistivity of the perineurium of the nerve.

The Clinical Guide serves as a reference tool for clinicians in the administration of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for neuropsychiatric disorders. The primary intent of this Guide is to focus on the clinical applications of TMS and to offer detailed information on the safe and effective administration of TMS with consideration of the neurophysiological effects particularly in relation to safety, targeting specific cortical areas and practical issues such as the length of treatment sessions and the durability of the TMS response. The Guide focuses on the evidenced based literature and utilizes this literature to inform specific recommendations on the use of rTMS in a clinical setting. The efficacy and safety of TMS for neuropsychiatric disorders, including its use in special populations, such as the elderly, will be reviewed to facilitate clinical decision-making. The Guide will also outline setting up a TMS service including practical issues such as considerations for the qualifications of the person administering the treatment, the use of concomitant medications, what equipment is necessary to have in the treatment room and monitoring the outcomes to treatment. The Guide is intended to be a practical reference for the practicing clinician in the safe and effective administration of TMS.

Since becoming commercially available in 1985, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as an important tool in several areas of neuroscience. Originally envisioned as a way to measure the responsiveness and conduction speed of neurons and synapses in the brain and spinal cord, TMS has also become an important tool for changing the activity of brain neurons and the functions they subserve and an important adjunct to brain imaging and mapping techniques. Along with transcranial electrical stimulation techniques, TMS has diffused far beyond the borders of clinical neurophysiology and into cognitive, perceptual, behavioural, and therapeutic investigation and attracted a highly diverse group of users and would-be users. This book provides an authoritative review of the scientific and technical background required to understand transcranial stimulation techniques and a wide-ranging survey of their burgeoning application in neurophysiology, perception, cognition, emotion, and clinical practice. Each of its six sections deals with a major area and is edited by an international authority therein. It will serve researchers, clinicians, students, and others as the definitive text in this area for years to come.