Supercapacitor-based pulse generator with waveform adjustment capability for small animal transcranial magnetic...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) requires high-power stimulators.
• Existing TMS pulse generators for small animals are underexplored, lacking dedicated circuits and simulation models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a new design for a high-power TMS pulse generator specifically for small animal applications.
• To develop a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional high-voltage TMS stimulators.

Main Methods:

• A supercapacitor (SC) based TMS pulse generator design was developed.
• The circuit utilizes a MOSFET as a dynamically varying resistor for pulse shaping.
• Experimental validation of the proposed circuit was conducted.

Main Results:

• The supercapacitor-based generator can produce repeated TMS pulses from a single charge.
• The novel circuit eliminates the need for expensive high-voltage components and power supplies.
• The circuit demonstrated versatility in pulse parameter control.

Conclusions:

• The proposed supercapacitor-based TMS pulse generator is effective for small animal applications.
• This design offers a simplified, potentially lower-cost solution for TMS research.
• The pulse-shaping capability enhances the versatility of the device.