Magnetic core for medical procedures
The inventive technique include a system, method and device for treating a patient. The inventive system includes a magnetic field generating device created using a powdered ferromagnetic. The system further includes a circuit in electrical communication with the magnetic core, and a power source in electrical communication with the circuit. The ferromagnetic powder core may be manufactured by at least one of the following: machining, pressing, molding, gluing, and extruding. Also, the ferromagnetic powder core may have a distributed gap structure, where the gap structure operates to focus the magnetic field between pole faces of the magnetic device.
1. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
creating a magnetic field using a magnetic device having a distributed gap core structure that is adapted for use in connection with transcutaneous magnetic stimulation, wherein the distributed gap core structure comprises a matrix of non-conductive gaps;
applying the magnetic field to the patient; and
treating the patient as a function of the magnetic field.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating the distributed gap core structure by at least one of the following: machining, pressing, molding, gluing, and extruding.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating the distributed gap core structure by at least one of the following processes: gluing and attaching individual core structures.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining motor threshold.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining a stimulation point as a function of the determined motor threshold.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the patient with respect to the magnetic device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the magnetic device with respect to the patient.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a pulse train of stimulation signals.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distributed gap core structure comprises a powder of ferromagnetic particles coated with an insulative substance.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ferromagnetic particles comprises at least one of the following: a ferromagnetic electrically conductive material, iron, copper, brass and aluminum.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the patient with respect to the magnetic device.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the patient via diagnosis.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the magnetic device in proximity to the patient's head and treating depression.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stimulating a portion of the patient's brain and treating depression.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic device provides the transcutaneous magnetic stimulation.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic device comprises a magnetic core that saturates at 0.5 Tesla or greater.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic device comprises a magnetic core with a non-toroidal geometry.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the magnetic device proximate to a cutaneous surface.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising stimulating at least one of the following relatively proximate to the cutaneous surface: tissue, nerves and muscle.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the tissue is brain tissue.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locating a conductor on a treatment area relative to a first location.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising reducing stimulation of a cutaneous-proximate area on the patient.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the reducing comprises modifying an electric field created by the transcutaneous magnetic stimulation.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the modification of the electric field occurs through modification of a magnetic flux created by the transcutaneous magnetic stimulation.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the reducing comprises modifying the magnetic field created by the transcutaneous magnetic stimulation.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core has a non-linear shape.
27. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the patients' peripheral nervous system.
28. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating incontinence.
29. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the patient for weight control.
30. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rehabilitating the patient's muscle.
31. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the magnetic field in cycles intermittently.
32. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a temperature of the magnetic device at or below 41.5 degrees Celsius.