The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1990
Harry A Eaton, Columbia, MD (US);
Robert S Fisher, Cockeysville, MD (US);
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
A magnetic nerve stimulator comprises a capacitor which is charged to a high voltage, then discharged through a coil placed near the head. The magnetic field produced induces eddy currents in the brain that stimulate neurons. When the capacitor is fully discharged, the discharge path is broken by opening a switch. The inductive action of the coil forces a diode to turn on and the energy from the collapsing magnetic field around the coil charges a second capacitor. The charge on the second capacitor is augmented by a power source to make up for any losses, and the process is repeated. The stimulator of the invention can pulse rapidly, does not cause excessive heating of the coil, and uses comparatively little energy. As a result, high level cognitive functions in the brain can be disrupted for diagnostic purposes.