The Effect of Pulse Configuration on the Compound Muscle Action Potentials (Cmaps) During Magnetic Stimulation

Abstract

Magnetic stimulation has proven to be effective in diagnostics and treatment in many clinical applications. In these applications, two types of pulse configurations are utilized: bi-phasic and mono-phasic. The former is mostly applied to nerves with high thresholds of depolarization or lying deep within tissue structures, while the latter is used to excite peripheral nerves.In this paper, the results of applying bi-phasic and mono-phasic pulses and their influences on the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) are discussed. The experimental variables are: coil current rate of change (di/dt), coil type (Figure 8 and circular coils), and coil current direction.