title: Iron-core coils for transcranial magnetic stimulation.
abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation requires a great deal of power, which mandates bulky power supplies and produces rapid coil heating. The authors describe the construction, modeling, and testing of an iron-core TMS coil that reduces power requirements and heat generation substantially, while improving the penetration of the magnetic field. Experimental measurements and numeric boundary element analysis show that the iron-core stimulation coil induces much stronger electrical fields, allows greater charge recovery, and generates less heat than air-core counterparts when excited on a constant-energy basis. These advantages are magnified in constant-effect comparisons. Examples are given in which the iron-core coil allows more effective operation in research and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Kent R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Davey
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011786:Quality Control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007501:Iron