| dc.description.abstract | The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in maintaining human health, and dysautonomia can lead to various diseases. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has emerged as a promising approach for regulating ANS balance. However, existing PEMF devices are typically bulky due to the large size of the magnetic coil required to generate sufficient magnetic strength for stimulation. In this study, we propose a multi-layer PEMF device fabricated using flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) technology. The stimulation coil of our device offers advantages such as flexibility, thinness, lightweight, and high magnetic field intensity.
This study applied our PEMF system to regulate ANS balance by conducting tilt-table tests to induce posture-induced sympathetic/parasympathetic changes. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in ANS balance with PEMF stimulation. When comparing the PEMF and non-PEMF conditions, the spectral heart rate variability (HRV) indices, including LF (low frequency), HF (high frequency), and LF/HF ratio, showed significant changes. Specifically, LF values were 62.02 ± 19.35 vs. 71.17 ± 14.34, HF values were 37.98 ± 19.35 vs. 28.83 ± 14.34, and LF/HF ratio values were 2.62 ± 2.41 vs. 4.03 ± 3.96, respectively. These results highlight the effectiveness of PEMF stimulation in regulating ANS activity.
The proposed wearable PEMF device offers excellent wearability and can be seamlessly integrated with clothing, which enables the long-term stimulation in future human studies. | en_US |