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`US 20060187607Al
`
`c19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication
`Mo
`
`c10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0187607 Al
`Aug. 24, 2006
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING
`PULSE MAGNETIC STIMULATION HAVING
`MODULATION FUNCTION
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Seung-Kee Mo, Seoul (KR)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FINNEGAN,HENDERSON,FARABOW,
`GARRETT & DUNNER
`LLP
`901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
`WASHINGTON, DC 20001-4413 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/551,418
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`May 27, 2003
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT /KR03/0l 034
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 31, 2003
`
`(KR) ............................ 10-2003-0020084
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HOJH 47100
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 361/143
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation, hav(cid:173)
`ing a modulation function, according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion, comprises: a driving voltage supplying section for
`converting AC voltage input from a voltage source into DC
`voltage having a predetermined magnitude; a capacitor
`section for accumulating electric charge in accordance with
`the DC voltage; an input switch section for controlling the
`accumulation of electric charge in the capacitor section; a
`coil for generating magnetic flux in accordance with current
`generated by both-end voltage corresponding to the electric
`charge accumulated in the capacitor section; an output
`switch section for controlling discharge of the electric
`charge accumulated in the capacitor section through the coil;
`and a shunt switch section for lowering magnetic energy
`stored in the coil and voltage stored in the capacitor section
`into a ground level to obtain a pulse magnetic field. In this
`pulse-magnetic-stimulation creating apparatus having a
`modulation function according to the present invention, it is
`possible to efficiently transfer energy on the basis of current
`compliance of a patient and impedance of biologic tissue for
`therapeutic applications.
`
`185
`
`Control unit ~~=========;;;;;;;;;;;;;::::::::::::::::~------------::::7 ___________ ! Power monitor 175
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`
`coi I
`
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`-
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`Page 2
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`

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`150
`
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 3 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 2B
`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 4 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
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`FIG. 3
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 4A
`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 6 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 48
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`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 7 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 4C
`
`Spaced distance
`
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`
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`
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`
`Grip
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`
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`hose~
`
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`I ine
`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 8 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Main power
`
`line
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Cont ro I un i t
`(180)
`
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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 9 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 6A
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 10 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`Stimulation
`ramp-up
`
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`maintenance
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Aug. 24, 2006 Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`FIG. 7B
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`

`

`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`Aug. 24, 2006
`
`1
`
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING
`PULSE MAGNETIC STIMULATION HAVING
`MODULATION FUNCTION
`
`[0011] The power supply and charging section 10 per(cid:173)
`forms a function of boosting an input voltage into a high
`voltage.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and
`method for creating pulse magnetic stimulation with a
`modulation function, and specifically to an apparatus and
`method for creating pulse magnetic stimulation with a
`modulation function, capable of non-invasively stimulating
`a human body such as nerves, muscles, bones, blood vessels,
`etc. for therapeutic applications using a high-speed external
`time-varying magnetic field.
`
`[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0004] The electromagnetic induction law, in which elec(cid:173)
`tricity can be converted into magnetism or magnetism can be
`converted into electricity, has been widely used in power
`generators, transformers or the like. In addition, methods of
`medical treatment using such electromagnetic induction law
`have been developed continuously, and in recent, the elec(cid:173)
`tromagnetic induction law has been widely used up to
`neuromuscular treatments.
`
`[0005]
`In general, stimulation methods for treating a neu(cid:173)
`romuscular system of a human body can be classified into an
`electrical stimulation method and a magnetic stimulation
`method.
`
`[0006] The electrical stimulation method is a method in
`which stimulation is created by attaching pessary-shaped
`electrodes or patch-shaped electrodes to a human body and
`then allowing current to flow therein. On the other hand, the
`magnetic stimulation method is a method in which stimu(cid:173)
`lation is created by inducing magnetic energy into a skin or
`a body system to generate eddy current, the magnetic energy
`being generated by discharging electric energy stored in a
`capacitor to a magnet coil for generating an external time(cid:173)
`varying magnetic field.
`
`[0007] Basically, the principle of generating magnetic
`stimulation falls within a range of Faraday's Law of elec(cid:173)
`tromagnetic induction in which when flux <I> linking with a
`circuit varies, an electromotive force e proportional to a ratio
`at which the flux is decreased is induced into the circuit. A
`direction of the induced current flowing in the circuit due to
`the electromagnetic induction is against variation in linkage
`flux of the circuit in accordance with Lentz's Law.
`
`[0008] Such electromagnetic induction law is used in a
`variety of types for the therapeutic purposes of a human
`body, and hereinafter a case that the electromagnetic induc(cid:173)
`tion law applies to an apparatus for treating urinary incon(cid:173)
`tinence as one type will be described with reference to FIG.
`1.
`
`[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conven(cid:173)
`tional apparatus for treating urinary incontinence.
`
`[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a drive circuit of the conven(cid:173)
`tional apparatus for treating urinary incontinence comprises
`a power supply and charging section 10, a transferring
`section 20, a discharging section 30 and a stimulation coil
`40.
`
`[0012] The transferring section 20 comprises switching
`elements SCRl, SCR2, a pumping inductor Ll, a current
`control inductor L2 and a transfer capacitor Cl to transfer
`the voltage supplied from the power supply and charging
`section 10.
`
`[0013] The discharging section 30 performs a function of
`storing and discharging the voltage supplied from the trans(cid:173)
`ferring section 20, and current flows in the stimulation coil
`40 due to discharge of the discharging section 30.
`
`[0014]
`In the drive circuit of this conventional apparatus
`for treating urinary incontinence, a voltage from a high(cid:173)
`voltage generating section (not shown) is stored in a charg(cid:173)
`ing capacitor (not shown) of the power supply and charging
`section 10, and when the switching element SCRl of the
`transferring section 20 is switched on, the charge accumu(cid:173)
`lated in the charging capacitor of the power supply and
`charging section 10 is accumulated the transfer capacitor Cl
`of the transferring section 20 through the pumping inductor
`Ll. Then, when the switching element SCR2 is switched on,
`the charge accumulated in the transfer capacitor Cl is
`supplied to the discharging section 30 through the current
`control inductor L2. By repeating such processes multiple
`times, the necessary electric charge is supplied from the
`transferring section 20 to a discharging capacitor C2 of the
`discharging section 30. The discharging capacitor C2 of the
`discharging section 30 keeps accumulating the charge from
`the transferring section 20, and when a discharging switch
`SCR3 is switched on, the discharging capacitor C2 dis(cid:173)
`charges the charge at one time. Then, current flows in the
`stimulation coil 40 due to the discharged charge.
`
`[0015] However, the drive circuit of the conventional
`apparatus for treating urinary incontinence has some draw(cid:173)
`backs in that i) very high voltage exceeding a dielectric
`strength of a general switch is generated at both ends of the
`switch in discharging, ii) the unreasonable transferring sec(cid:173)
`tion 20 is provided, iii) the system is complicated due to the
`addition of the transferring section 20, iv) production cost is
`additionally increased, and v) operation sequences thereof
`are complicated. Further, the conventional apparatus is dis(cid:173)
`advantages in that the inductance of the stimulation coil 40
`is not considered.
`
`[0016] A variety of related arts exist in addition to the
`aforementioned conventional art, but since a human body is
`not a conductive coil as a necessary condition for accom(cid:173)
`plishing the therapeutic purpose of body stimulation accord(cid:173)
`ing to the conventional art, only a simple construction of
`electromagnetic induction apparatus cannot accomplish the
`therapeutic purpose.
`
`[0017] The conventional art has additional problems that
`an optimal system for obtaining a desired induced voltage
`cannot only be constructed, but also characteristics of switch
`circuits are not considered.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0018] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
`to provide an apparatus and method for creating pulse
`magnetic stimulation with a modulation function, in which
`
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`US 2006/0187607 Al
`
`Aug. 24, 2006
`
`2
`
`it is possible to efficiently transfer energy on the basis of
`current compliance of a patient and impedance of a biologic
`tissue.
`[0019]
`It is a further object of the present invention to
`provide an apparatus and method for creating pulse mag(cid:173)
`netic stimulation with a modulation function, in which
`separate means for storage into a high voltage or various
`auxiliary means such as a pumping coil or a current restric(cid:173)
`tion coil are not required as necessary elements when a
`magnetic stimulation apparatus is used for the purpose of
`medical treatment.
`[0020]
`It is a further object of the present invention to
`provide an apparatus and method for creating pulse mag(cid:173)
`netic stimulation with a modulation function, in which
`various modulation methods such as ramp modulation,
`phase modulation, duration modulation, timing modulation,
`amplitude modulation, frequency modulation and duty
`modulation may be performed.
`[0021] Additional object of the present invention is to
`provide a magnetic flux emitting unit which is a mobile type,
`not a fixed type, and which is incorporated into one body
`with or attachable to a magnetic flux focusing unit for
`focusing magnetic flux generated from a coil.
`[0022]
`In order to accomplish the above objects, according
`to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for
`creating pulse magnetic stimulation, in which pulse current
`is generated to create magnetic flux, is provided, the appa(cid:173)
`ratus comprising: a driving voltage supplying section for
`receiving AC voltage from a voltage source, converting the
`received AC voltage into DC voltage having a predeter(cid:173)
`mined magnitude, and then outputting the DC voltage; a
`capacitor section for accumulating electric charge in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the DC voltage; an input switch section provided
`between the driving voltage supplying section and the
`capacitor section, for controlling the accumulation of elec(cid:173)
`tric charge in the capacitor section; a coil connected in series
`to the capacitor section, for generating magnetic flux in
`accordance with current generated by both-end voltage
`corresponding to the electric charge accumulated in the
`capacitor section; an output switch section provided between
`the capacitor section and the coil, for controlling discharge
`of the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor section
`through the coil; and a shunt switch section connected in
`parallel between the coil and the output switch section, for
`lowering magnetic energy stored in the coil and voltage
`stored in the capacitor section into a ground level to obtain
`a pulse magnetic field.
`[0023] The driving voltage supplying section may com(cid:173)
`prise: a variable regulator for converting the AC voltage
`supplied from the voltage source into an AC voltage speci(cid:173)
`fied by a control section; a transformer for boosting the AC
`voltage outputted from the variable regulator into an AC
`voltage having a magnitude corresponding to a predeter(cid:173)
`mined transformation ratio; and a rectifying section for
`converting the AC voltage boosted by the transformer into
`the DC voltage. In addition, the variable regulator can adjust
`a magnitude of the output AC voltage.
`[0024] The driving voltage supplying section may further
`comprise a filtering section for smoothing the DC voltage
`full-wave rectified by the rectifying section.
`[0025] Furthermore, in the apparatus for creating pulse
`magnetic stimulation according to the present invention,
`
`when the magnetic energy and the voltage are lowered into
`the ground level in a state that the shunt switch section is
`switched on, the output switch section may be switched off.
`
`[0026] Furthermore, in the apparatus for creating pulse
`magnetic stimulation according to the present invention,
`when the electric charge has been completely accumulated
`in the capacitor section, the input switch section may be
`switched off and the output switch section may be switched
`on. In addition, it is determined by means of capacitance of
`the capacitor section whether the electric charge has been
`completely accumulated in the capacitor section or not.
`
`[0027] The apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimu(cid:173)
`lation according to the present invention may further com(cid:173)
`prise a power monitoring section for calculating a magnitude
`of the current using the magnetic flux generated due to the
`current flowing through the coil to detect an error of a large
`power signal.
`
`[0028] The capacitor section of the apparatus for creating
`pulse magnetic stimulation according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion may be connected in parallel to an additional capacitor
`group, the additional capacitor group may comprise one or
`more additional capacitor sections connected in parallel,
`respectively, and each of the additional capacitor sections
`may comprise one additional capacitor and one switching
`element connected in series.
`
`[0029] On or off state of the switching element of the
`additional capacitor section may be controlled to change a
`value of capacitance, and only when the switching element
`is switched on, the capacitor section and the additional
`capacitor section may be connected in parallel one another.
`
`[0030] Furthermore, in the apparatus for creating pulse
`magnetic stimulation according to the present invention,
`when the input switch section and the shunt switch section
`are switched off and the output switch section is switched
`on, the capacitor section and the coil may constitute an RLC
`serial resonant circuit, and each parameter value of the RLC
`serial resonant circuit may satisfy an under-damping condi(cid:173)
`tion.
`
`[0031] Furthermore, the output switch section of the appa(cid:173)
`ratus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation according to
`the present invention is switched on and off every one or a
`half period of the RLC serial resonant circuit, and a period
`in which the output switch section is switched on and off
`may be preferably set to be less than 1 khz and normally set
`to be less than 300 Hz.
`
`[0032] A waveform of the pulse current may be at least
`one of a sine wave, a square wave and a triangle wave.
`
`[0033] Furthermore, the input switch section, the output
`switch section and the shunt switch section of the apparatus
`for creating pulse magnetic stimulation according to the
`present invention may be any one of a relay, a thyristor and
`an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT).
`
`[0034] According to another preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, an apparatus for creating pulse magnetic
`stimulation, in which pulse current is generated to create
`magnetic flux, the apparatus having a resonant circuit com(cid:173)
`prising a coil, a resistor and a capacitor, is provided, the
`apparatus further comprising: a driving voltage supplying
`section connected in parallel to the capacitor, for accumu(cid:173)
`lating electric charge in the capacitor, by receiving AC
`
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`
`voltage from a voltage source, converting the received AC
`voltage into DC voltage having a predetermined magnitude,
`and then outputting the DC voltage; an input switch section
`provided between the driving voltage supplying section and
`the capacitor, for allowing the electric charge to be accu(cid:173)
`mulated in the capacitor only when the input switch section
`is switched on; an output switch section provided between
`the capacitor and the coil, for allowing the electric charge
`accumulated in the capacitor to be discharged through the
`coil only when the output switch section is switched on; and
`a shunt switch section connected in parallel between the coil
`and the output switch section, for lowering magnetic energy
`stored in the coil and voltage stored in the capacitor into a
`ground level to obtain a pulse magnetic field.
`
`[0035]
`In addition, the driving voltage supplying section
`may comprise: a variable regulator for converting the AC
`voltage supplied from the voltage source into an AC voltage
`specified by a control section; a transformer for boosting the
`AC voltage output from the variable regulator into an AC
`voltage having a magnitude corresponding to a predeter(cid:173)
`mined transformation ratio; and a rectifying section for
`converting the AC voltage boosted by the transformer into
`the DC voltage.
`
`[0036] The capacitor may be connected in parallel to an
`additional capacitor group, the additional capacitor group
`may comprise one or more additional capacitor sections
`connected in parallel, respectively, and each of the addi(cid:173)
`tional capacitor sections may comprise one additional
`capacitor and one switching element connected in series.
`
`[0037] According to another aspect of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion, a method of supplying a pulse current to generate
`magnetic stimulation is provided, the method comprising: a
`step of inputting an operation start instruction to an appa(cid:173)
`ratus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation; (a) a step in
`which a power supplying section receives an AC voltage
`from a voltage source and converts the received AC voltage
`into an output AC voltage having a predetermined magni(cid:173)
`tude; (b) a step in which a rectifying section converts the
`converted AC voltage into a DC voltage; ( c) a step in which
`when an input switch section is switched on, a capacitor
`section accumulates electric charge corresponding to the DC
`voltage; ( d) a step of switching off the input switch section
`and switching on an output switch section, when the capaci(cid:173)
`tor section has completely accumulated the electric charge;
`( e) a step of allowing a current to flow in a coil, the current
`being generated due to a both-end voltage corresponding to
`the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor section; (f)
`a step in which the coil generates magnetic flux on the basis
`of the current; (g) a step of switching on a shunt switch
`section after a predetermined period time; (h) a step of
`switching off the output switch section and switching on the
`input switch section, when magnetic energy stored in the
`coil and voltage accumulated in the capacitor section is
`lowered into a ground level; and a step of repeating the steps
`(a) to (h) until an operation end instruction is input to the
`apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation, or a
`predetermined burst on period expires. In addition, a system,
`an apparatus and a recording medium for enabling the above
`method of supplying a pulse current to be executed are
`provided.
`
`[0038] The method of supplying a pulse current according
`to the present invention may further comprise a step of
`
`determining a magnitude of voltage to be stored in the
`capacitor section after carrying out the steps (a) to (h). In
`addition, the magnitude of voltage to be stored in the
`capacitor section may be determined on the basis of a
`magnitude of an output AC voltage converted by a variable
`regulator of the power supplying section.
`[0039] Furthermore, the steps (a) to (d) may be carried out
`in a pulse off state where a current does not flow in the coil,
`and the steps (e) to (h) may be carried out in a pulse on state
`where a current flows in the coil.
`[0040] Furthermore, the burst on period is a period that the
`pulse on state and the pulse off state are alternately repeated
`and thus an induced voltage is generated to create a stimu(cid:173)
`lation, and the burst on period may comprise a stimulation
`ramp-up period, a stimulation maintenance period and a
`stimulation ramp-down period.
`[0041] During the stimulation ramp-up period, a magni(cid:173)
`tude of the output AC voltage converted by the variable
`regulator of the power supplying section becomes higher
`gradually, during the stimulation maintenance period, the
`magnitude of the output AC voltage of the power supplying
`section is maintained constantly, and during the stimulation
`ramp-down period, the magnitude of the output AC voltage
`converted by the variable regulator of the power supplying
`unit becomes lower gradually.
`[0042] The apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimu(cid:173)
`lation according to the present invention can vary a modu(cid:173)
`lation period corresponding to a period of the pulse on time
`and the pulse off time with varying the pulse off time.
`[0043] Furthermore, the apparatus for creating pulse mag(cid:173)
`netic stimulation according to the present invention may
`include at least one of a ramp modulation, a phase modu(cid:173)
`lation, a duration modulation, a timing modulation, an
`amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation and a duty
`modulation.
`[0044] Furthermore, the apparatus for creating pulse mag(cid:173)
`netic stimulation may include at least one chosen from a
`ramp modulation, a phase modulation, a duration modula(cid:173)
`tion, a timing modulation, an amplitude modulation, a
`frequency modulation and a duty modulation.
`[0045] According to another preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, a magnetic flux emitting unit for exter(cid:173)
`nally emitting magnetic flux generated from a coil in a
`stimulation apparatus having a resonant circuit comprising
`the coil, a resistor and a capacitor, the apparatus generating
`a pulse current to create the magnetic flux, is provided, the
`unit comprising: the coil; a case having an insulating feature
`and also having a disk shape surrounding the coil; a grip
`projected from a lower portion of the case; and a lead line
`coupled to the coil and penetrating through the case and the
`grip.
`[0046] The coil of the magnetic flux emitting unit may be
`formed to be a single-layer solenoid shape, and the case may
`have a plurality of air holes for cooling heat generated from
`the coil in an air cooling manner.
`[0047] Furthermore, a magnetic flux focusing unit for
`focusing the magnetic flux generated from the coil on one
`point using a boundary condition of magnetic field may be
`coupled to the case of the magnetic flux emitting unit, and
`a coolant and a stratiform iron core of the magnetic flux
`focusing unit may be sealed.
`
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`Aug. 24, 2006
`
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`
`[0048]
`In this case, the stratiform iron core of the magnetic
`flux focusing unit is disposed in parallel to the coil, the
`permeability of materials of the central stratiform iron core
`is larger than the permeability of material of the peripheral
`stratiform iron core, an end portion of the stratiform iron
`core from which the magnetic flux is emitted is formed to
`have a toy top shape, and the coolant is circulated through
`a hose connected to the magnetic flux focusing unit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0049] The aforementioned aspects and other features of
`the present invention will be explained in the following
`description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, wherein:
`
`[0050] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a drive circuit
`of a conventional apparatus for treating urinary inconti(cid:173)
`nence;
`
`[0051] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an apparatus for
`creating pulse magnetic stimulation according to one pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0052] FIG. 2B shows an external appearance of the
`apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation according
`to the one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0053] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed
`configuration of an RLC serial resonant circuit of the
`apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation according
`to the one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0054] FIG. 4A is a view illustrating an example of a
`magnet coil according to the one referred embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`[0055] FIG. 4B is a view illustrating a principle of focus(cid:173)
`ing magnetic flux;
`
`[0056] FIG. 4C is a view exemplifying a configuration of
`a probe of the apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimu(cid:173)
`lation according to the one preferred embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`[0057] FIG. 5 is a view exemplifying a method of cou(cid:173)
`pling an output monitor according to the one preferred
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0058] FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram illustrating in detail
`the apparatus for creating pulse magnetic stimulation
`according to the one preferred embodiment of the present
`invention;
`
`[0059] FIG. 6B is a view illustrating an output modulation
`characteristic of the apparatus for creating pulse magnetic
`stimulation according to the one preferred embodiment of
`the present invention;
`
`[0060] FIG. 7A is a block diagram of an apparatus for
`creating pulse magnetic stimulation according to another
`preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
`
`[0061] FIG. 7B is a circuit diagram illustrating in detail a
`square wave generating circuit according to the another
`preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0062]
`
`(Reference Numerals)
`
`[0063] 105: driving voltage supplying section
`
`[0064] 110: voltage input section
`
`[0065] 120: high-voltage transformer
`
`[0066] 130: rectifier
`
`[0067] 140: filtering section
`
`[0068] 145: i