Optimizing magnetic stimulator design

Optimal magnetic stimulation depends on application and design. The best design generates the desired depolarization current in the desired area with acceptable current speed. Power and cooling requirements, electrical and mechanical safety, stimulus rate, reliability, and ease of use are additional considerations. By understanding the interactions among these requirements, suitable choices are made. Magnetic stimulation requires moving enough charge through an electrically sensitive tissue to depolarize it reliably. Usually there is a need to depolarize a delimited volume of tissue and to repeat the depolarization at convenient intervals. A good design achieves the focality and speed needed for the application. Since the applications for magnetic stimulation are varied, however, the designs for the stimulators also will be different, and defining the application (or applications) is, therefore, a requirement for optimization.