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Medical Uses for Electromagnets

When an electric current is run through a wire, a magnetic field is created, known as an electromagnet. Electromagnets have many applications, including uses in medical science. They also are used to remove magnetic metal particles stuck inside the eyes during an accident.

  1. MRI

    • The most important use of the electromagnet in hospitals is in magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as the MRI. It is used for getting a detailed image of the inside of the body, which helps diagnose a number of diseases. MRI can be used for diagnosis of brain tumors, bleeding, nerve injury and stroke injury. MRI can also detect if the heart or lungs are damaged. It can be used for diagnosis of breast and lung cancer. To find problems of the arteries and veins, MRI is used to look at the blood vessels. It can also be used to check problems for bones and joints, such as arthritis and bone marrow problems. It can also check the disc and nerves of the spines for spinal stenosis and spinal tumors.

    Pain Management

    • In 1979, FDA approved electromagnets for use in treating pain, as in cases of unhealed bone fractures. Research is also being done to find out the use of electromagnets for the treatment of knee pain from osteoarthritis, migraine headaches and pelvic pain.

    Transcranial Magnetic Simulation

    • Transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS) is a type of electromagnetic therapy that is used as a diagnostic tool. Studies are also running to understand the usefulness of this therapy in treating chronic pain, facial pain, headache and fibromyalgia pain.

    Psychiatric Disorders

    • Researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, have been experimenting with electromagnets in psychiatric disorders. This involves placing a powerful electromagnet on the head of the patient. The electromagnet passes a current through the scalp to the underlying neurons. Patients treated with this have shown improvement from depression, mania, Parkinson’s disease and such disorders. TMS is considered a diagnostic tool with high potential, but more studies need to be done before ensuring its safety.

    Post-Polio Pain

    • In 1997, a study was conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston to understand the use of static magnets for use in treatment of post-polio pain. It was found that if the device delivered static magnetic fields of 300 to 500 Gauss over a pain trigger point, the application of the electromagnet provided immediate relief for the post-polio subjects.

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