QUADRAPOLAR MAGNETIC TECHNOLOGY
A Quadrapolar magnetic device is made up of four alternating magnetic bodies, + and —.
Image 1 –Picture of 4 magnets in a Quadrapolar array showing the + - + -.
Image 2 – The Qmagnet family, the Quadrapolar array has been enclosed in special hypo-allergenic plastic casings.
Quadrapolar magnets are much more than a single static magnet; they are magnetic flux generators.
Magnetic flux is the form of energy emitted by magnets. The pair of positive magnetic bodies and pair of negative magnetic bodies repel across the middle in an “X” fashion. The positive and negative pair of magnetic bodies attract and repel each other creating a magnetic void in the center where there is no magnetic attraction.
Image 3 – A comparison of two magnetic arrays with iron filings
The image above shows iron filings over a concentric circle magnet (on the left) and a Quadrapolar array (on the right) taken in the lab at Vanderbilt University.
Image 4 – Is a 3D picture of very fine iron filings sprinkled over the Quadrapolar magnetic array.
These pictures with iron filings illustrate the flux lines around the Quadrapolar magnetic array.
Notice in the middle of the quadrapolar array there is a magnetic void.
This is where the filed gradient is at its steepest and where the Quadrapolar magnet has its physiologic effect of blocking the firing of the action potentials. The images also demonstrate that all magnetic arrays are not the same.
The energy produced from the Quadrapolar magnetic array's four poles attracting and repelling focuses the energy in such a way to produce steep gradients. The steep field gradients are essential for the effectiveness of the Quadrapolar magnet.
Image 5 – A graphical view of the field gradients produced by the Quadrapolar magnet. Mclean, MJ; Holcomb RR et al.
Image 5 – Computer generated rated magnetic field map of the Quadrapolar array. Static Magnetic Fields for the treatment of Pain. McLean MJ et al.
Notice the steep field gradient in the centre of the four magnetic poles.
Extensive laboratory testing has shown that it's not the magnetic field strength, but the field gradient (steepness of the slope of the magnetic field) that is the determining factor in alleviating pain. This unique steep field gradient generated by the Quadrapolar array is what blocks the pain signal.
This is why the centre of a Qmagnet needs to be placed over the irritated nerve in order to get the full pain relieving effect of the device. Over a decade of cell research was done at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville Tennessee and clinical data was collected at various Medical Centres and Universities around the world. The research repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of this device.
Image 6 - Picture of the Quadrapolar magnet in the laboratory as used on a sensory neuron in vitro in which to test the biological effects of magnetic fields in a controlled environment. Division of Neuromagnetics, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. McLean MJ, Holcomb RR, et al
The following images have been extracted from published laboratory research experiments using magnetic fields and in particular comparing magnetic fields produced by a Quadrapolar magnet with different types of magnetic fields.
Image 7 – Effect of Quadrapolar magnetic field on the firing of action potentials by LD neurons. McLean, M.J., Holcomb, R.R., Wamil, A.W., Pickett, J.D.: Effect of steady magnetic fields on action potentials and sodium currents of sensory neurons in vitro. Environmental Medicine, 8: 36-45, 1991
This cell study was one of thousands of experiments using sensory neurons performed in the lab at Vanderbilt University. Identical stimuli began to fail to elicit action potentials after two minutes exposure to the Quadrapolar array positioned above the neuron being studied. By three minutes 30 seconds, all action potentials were blocked. Action potentials began to reappear about two minutes after the removal of the array and all stimuli, elicited action potentials after 3 minutes 20 seconds.
Image 8 – Comparison of five different magnetic field arrays on dorsal root ganglion neuron. McLean, M.J., Holcomb, R.R., Wamil, A.W., Pickett, J.D.: Effect of steady magnetic fields on action potentials and sodium currents of sensory neurons in vitro. Environmental Medicine, 8: 36-45, 1991.
This image shows the results of the effects that magnetic fields produced by different arrays of permanent magnets have on the same dorsal root ganglion neuron. The magnetic arrays are schematized to the left of the respective rows. Intensity was set to elicit an action potential with each stimulus (PRE). After exposure to the Quadrapolar array, the firing of action potentials was blocked completely in 4 minutes 30 seconds (first row), despite increased stimulus intensity. After removal of the array (POST), action potentials reappeared and the rate increased gradually over five minutes 40 seconds.
An array of four magnets with positive poles aided limited firing completely within four minutes 30 seconds (second row) and an array of four negative poles blocked about 50% of action potentials in ten minutes (third row). Recovery occurred within seconds after removal of these arrays (POST). Two magnets of alternating polarity (fourth row) and a single magnet of positive polarity (fifth row) did not block action potentials after ten minutes.
Image 9 – Effects of different static magnetic fields on action potentials. McLean, MJ; Holcomb RR et al.
This illustration depicts the effectiveness of different types of magnetic fields in blocking the firing of action potentials in dorsal root ganglion neurons. The graphs above show the relative effectiveness of the magnetic devices at blocking action potentials. The graphical representations below illustrate the different field gradients relating to the magnetic array above it.
It is clear to see that there is a strong relationship between the steepness of the field gradient and its effectiveness at blocking action potentials.
Vanderbilt’s data suggests that the most likely mechanism is that the Quadrapolar magnetic field is altering nerve excitability as a result of changes in membrane permeability to sodium and calcium ions (McLean et al., 1997; McLean et al., 1995 Cavopol et al., 1995)
The steep field gradient generated by the Quadrapolar magnetic array closes leaking ion gates at the nerve cell membrane and returns abnormally firing nerves to a resting state. The field only seems to affect nerves that are firing abnormally - If the abnormal nerve signal does not reach the brain, then the brain does not perceive the pain.
Chronic pain is usually caused by an original injury that affects the nerves, or conditions such as arthritis. Often chronic pain behaves like a smoke alarm that continues to sound long after the fire has been put out. So too, an initial injury may have long past, but the pain signals keep firing and the sensation of strong pain persists.
Sufferers of chronic pain can have the added problem of having their pain remain undiagnosed.
They experience severe pain because the nerve cells that are responsible for pain transmission are overactive. This is primarily due to the abnormal activity of "voltage-gated sodium channels" in these nerve cells. Conventional drugs, such as local anaesthetics, block all types of sodium channels, causing numbness and severe side-effects.
Studies show that Quadrapolar magnets have a strong physiologic effect on abnormally firing C-fiber nerves. C-fibers are unmyelinated nerves with slow conduction and are associated with the chronic, dull ache type of pain. Quadrapolar magnets are less effective at blocking action potentials on A[Delta] fiber nerves. A[Delta] fibers are myelinated nerves with fast conduction and are associated with sharp, acute pain. As such A[Delta] fibers carry the reflex action that results in pulling away from noxious stimuli.
This means that patients using Quadrapolar magnets are not at any greater risk of further injury due to performing more energetic tasks than they would normally undertake. Since the reflex action and the bodies natural warning signals are still operating.
Since Quadrapolar magnets work by blocking the pain signal, it is important to find where these signals originate and place them over the offending nerve(s). This is in contrast to the many theories on how to use single static magnets. Single static magnets are usually recommended to be placed on acupressure points or somewhere over the pain and are said to somehow reduce pain by increasing circulation and flushing away chemicals that are the cause of the abnormal nerve firing. The mechanism of action and effectiveness of single pole magnets is the subject of much debate.
Quadrapolar magnets offer a far more targeted and scientifically validated form of pain relief.
Used correctly, Quadrapolar magnets can provide strong pain relief without the side-effects. Since around one in five people suffer from chronic pain at some point in their life, the potential role these magnets can play in improving the quality of patient’s lives is enormous.
The possibilities to treat acute and chronic pain are endless.
One such treatment is using Quadrapolar magnets for an acute injury, e.g. whiplash or painful stiff neck. For this treatment, place the devices at approximately the 4th cervical vertebrae and between the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae.