Magnetic stimulation of peripheral nerves

The use of very strong pulsed magnetic fields to stimulate excitable tissue has been investigated. The advantage of this method as opposed to the conventional method, electrical stimulation, is that it is noninvasive and virtually painless. However, the drawbacks are that the site of stimulation is less well defined than for electrical stimulation and repetition rates for stimuli are often limited to 1 or 2 per second. In this study, various stimulation parameters for magnetic stimulation of the peripheral nerves in the arms were investigated. Systems were developed that would yield stimulation. The median nerve in the upper arm was stimulated and the results were plotted in a method similar to the strength-duration curve.<>