Probing Potential for Cellular Stimulation by Time-Varying Magnetic Fields

Membrane pore creation by applying voltage pulses has been used for various applications including gene electrotransfer, electrochemotherapy, and tissue ablation. Electric pulse stimulation, however, requires insertion of electrodes into tissue, which may not always be conducive or convenient. On the other hand, time-varying magnetic fields can also induce time-dependent electric fields based on Lenz’s law and Maxwell’s equations, and thus be an alternative to creating transmembrane voltages across membranes. Pulsed magnetic fields would be a contactless, noninvasive technique allowing clinicians to affect any target within the body. This chapter discusses the concept of magnetically induced voltages, presents model results, with further elaboration of electromagnetic bio-stimulation.