flux field over a superficial body site to potentially provide comfort or localized temporary relief of minor aches and pains (e.g., from muscle soreness/stiffness, arthritis). The magnet is typically applied directly to the skin with an adhesive.Q is for Quadrapolar for the exclusive four alternating magnetic poles within the one magnetic body. Each device is listed with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration as a Class I Medical Devicen ARTG 132324.Work with the first Quadrapolar magnets was pioneered by Dr Robert Holcomb MD PhD, who was an Associate Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University in 1989. Years of research were conducted at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Centre for Neuromagnetics. For a summary of this work, see the 5 minute Good Medicine video feature on our website.The next generation Quadrapolar magnet or Q Magnet was developed in 2007 by James & Dianne Hermans. 2009 saw the development of the Hexapolar magnet (6 alternating poles) and 2010 the launch of the Octapolar magnet (8 alternating poles) which increase the active areas of the magnet. Research and design is ongoing as new and improved features and applications are developed to make Q Magnets more user friendly and to improve their therapeutic effect.Dianne Hermans worked extensively with Dr Holcomb in the early 2000’s before he left the project. Dianne was the principal physiotherapist of Lifestyle Therapies, a clinic that specialised in the treatment of complex and chronic pain.Many scientific papers have been published by medical researchers including Associate Professor of Neurology, Dr Michael McLean and are available on the published research on magnetic therapy page. A weaker device with four bipolar magnets arranged in a Quadrapolar array, was sold under the trade mark Magna Bloc from 1997 to 2007.Neuromagnetics Australia Pty Ltd manufactures and distributes the Quadrapolar or Q Magnet.