Patient Semi-specific Computational Modeling of Electromagnetic Stimulation Applied to Neuroprotective Treatments in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Neuroprotective effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, preliminary clinical studies have been conducted and suggested PEMFs as a possible alternative therapy to treat acute ischemic stroke. In this work, we show that it's possible to build-up a patient semi-specific head model, where the 3D reconstruction of the ischemic lesion of the patient under treatment is inserted in the head of the human body model "Duke" (v.1.0, Zurich MedTech AG). The semi-specific model will be used in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study currently ongoing. Three patients were modelled and simulated, and results showed that each ischemic lesion experiences a magnetic flux density field comparable to the one for which biological effects have been attested. Such a kind of dosimetric analysis reveals a reliable tool to assess the correlation between levels of exposure and the beneficial effect. Thus, once the on-going double blind study is complete it will prove if PEMFs treatment triggers a clinical effect, and we will then be able to characterize a dose-response curve with the methodology arranged in this study.