| This thesis examined the development and application of a programmable pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) generation system for use in osteoarthritis research. The use of electric and magnetic fields is an active area of research involving the exposure of many cell types. Application towards treatments for osteoarthritis involves the exposure of chondrocytes to regenerate cartilage tissue. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the potential for PEMF exposure to alter the morphology of in vitro cultured human chondrocytes. To assist the future laboratory research, a programmable PEMF generation system has been designed, built and tested to produce a user-specified ramp magnetic field. An electromagnetic model of a coil set was developed to provide a theoretical basis for this proposed system. Lastly, the programmable PEMF generation system was applied to the testing of calcium ion resonance in transmembrane channels and its regulation of chondrocyte morphology. |
