Magnetic stimulation of the spine: the role of tissues and their modelling

Numerical modelling of magnetic stimulation in the spine is a scarce subject in the literature, although it has been gaining clinical acceptance. In the present work we present the results from a simplified computational model of the spine. The results indicate that it is necessary to use a numerica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics in medicine & biology 2010-05, Vol.55 (9), p.2541-2553
Main Authors: Efthimiadis, K G, Samaras, T, Polyzoidis, K S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electric Conductivity
Humans
Magnetic Field Therapy - methods
Models, Biological
Reproducibility of Results
Spine - cytology
Spine - innervation
Time Factors
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Summary:Numerical modelling of magnetic stimulation in the spine is a scarce subject in the literature, although it has been gaining clinical acceptance. In the present work we present the results from a simplified computational model of the spine. The results indicate that it is necessary to use a numerical technique for solving the problem, which takes into account tissue dispersion and both dielectric properties (conductivity and permittivity), since a difference of 14% in the induced electric fields was found when displacement currents were included. With respect to the role of tissues in stimulation efficiency, it was confirmed that water-rich tissues lead to a shielding effect of the spinal cord. However, this effect becomes smaller at the height of the intervertebral discs, resulting in an increase of the field inside the spine.
ISSN:0031-9155
1361-6560
DOI:10.1088/0031-9155/55/9/008