TMS #7

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can improve the lives of people suffering from untreatable depression. Recent clinical trials of TMS on cocaine addicts also show promising results. These maladies are very personal. Letting sufferers "save face" will be critical to the widespread acceptance of TMS. Onerous FDA regulatory requirements will tend to limit TMS availability. Addicts often go uninsured, so profiteering won't work either, nor would it be ethical. As a community service, I developed some TMS designs for the maker space. Here we have a TMS unit that is compact and inconspicuous. It roughly replicates the treatment protocol used for treating depression and addiction. Further improvement for this product will be welcome.

What is addiction? In 2013 scientists cured cocaine-addicted lab rats by injecting waking-state brainwaves into the rat's prefrontal lobes. Rats quit self dosing. Scientists could also inject sleep-state brainwaves, and the rats would begin self-dosing again. Addiction apparently functions like a hypnotic trance. It's funny to imagine a rat losing self control. When rat's prefrontal lobes were awake, their self control worked fine. Their common sense doesn't want more coke. This also gives us insight into an addict's curse. Their self control is asleep. They really can't stop partying.

Study authors suggested Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) might revive human prefrontal brain activity. TMS uses a high power pulse generator to drive an applicator coil. Magnetic field from the applicator coil fires nearby neurons. Being a high-power pulse generator engineer who makes prototypes, I began work immediately. My objective was to develop a simple TMS package for other makers to improve upon. Here we have a TMS system buildable from cheap parts.

Meanwhile clinical TMS trials showed promise in treating humans with cocaine use disorder (CocUD).

I delivered this unit to opiate users in 2019. These particular users live far from me. We don't communicate regularly. They may keep partying for cultural reasons, and they will be physically ill if they try to quit. Opiate addiction is probably harder to beat than CocUD.

TMS can be dangerous. It functions somewhat like Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT), which is known to impair memory. CocUD sufferers might get permanent relief from TMS. Side effects could be permanent too. People with Epilepsy or metal plates in their heads cannot be treated. Seizures occur in about .01% of TMS treatments. Someone with basic life support training should be present whenever TMS is applied. Red Cross offers courses. High voltage inside each TMS unit is dangerous. Only competent makers should build TMS systems. As makers, we need to apply TMS responsibly. Healthy skepticism is good: TMS releases dopamine, so it might also be addictive.

High power electronics hang into the debris collection chamber.