Migraine zapper stops headaches before they start

The BBC reports that a group of researchers lead by Dr. Yousef Mohammad of Ohio State University Medical Center have developed a device that can stop migraine pain at the first signs of a headache -- and, no, it doesn't work by clobbering someone over the head with it. The device, called the TMS, actually works by creating a short-lived electromagnetic field that interrupts the "aura phase" of a migraine before it leads to a serious headache. The researchers also say that they device can be effective in treating nausea, and noise and light sensitivity, but that further study is necessary before the device gets put into widespread use. Still, the early results look fairly encouraging, with 69% of the patients treated with the TMS reporting mild or no pain, compared to 48% of those in the placebo group. Stranger still, however, is the 2% of the control group who experienced exploding-headitis when using this device. Eh, go figure.

[yonatron @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:26PM]

That's a strangely-worded article. TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a technique, not a specific device. It's been around about 20 years, and is thus far only approved for research in the U.S. Folks have done all kinds of crazy stuff with it, especially because it can temporarily and reversibly deactivate brain areas without opening any skulls, allowing for "virtual lesions". If you have institutional access to Google Scholar, try reading some articles on TMS; it's pretty cool.

And headaches are a common side effect (the machines make really loud clicks), so some control subjects getting them isn't actually surprising.

[Avid Reader @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:26PM]

"The researchers also say that they device can ..."

CORRECTION:
"The researchers also say that THEIR device can ..."

[Frank R @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:33PM]

Where is the Amazing Randy to add this to a long list of so called legit medical devices.. Lets ad this one to megnetic bands.

[rj @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:33PM]

I wonder if you could just use a bulk tape eraser?

[yonatron @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:55PM]

Frank R, this is nothing like the magnetic bands bullshit. This is a technique that's been used for 20 years to produce real effects. Again, if you search for "transcranial magnetic stimulation" in Google Scholar, you'll find thousands of hits. In TMS, the magnetism doesn't have a direct effect. It's just that an electrical current outside the head causes a magnetic field to pass through the skull, causing another electrical current in the cortex. The technique and its effects are absolutely real. But they're still being investigated in terms of their usefulness as therapy. The folks doing this are certainly not planning on selling devices to home users any time soon. But there are people working on developing open-source TMS equipment/software: http://open-rtms.sourceforge.net

[chasqui @ Jun 23rd 2006 6:11PM]

This is still so much better than the INSANE "Apply directly to the forehead" commercials. If you haven't seen this bizzare TV ad for "Head-on", don't say I didn't warn you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XAFCRT9L7A

[Jedix123 @ Jun 23rd 2006 6:33PM]

This is why those magnetic rings work.

[Rick Bowman @ Jun 23rd 2006 6:41PM]

So why not just put ceramic magnets in a baseball cap? Cuz if your tried traveling with that thing, your dead meat at the airport.

[cDub @ Jun 23rd 2006 6:47PM]

It looks like hes trying to scan a barcode on his neck.
lol at the head-on comercial

[yonatron @ Jun 23rd 2006 6:54PM]

Jedix123, I don't know if you're being serious, but this has nothing to do with the magnetic rings or bands or whatever. You can't do anything like TMS with a plain old magnet. You need an electrical device in order to create a quickly-changing high-intensity current. This initiates a phenomenon called electromagnetic induction, but the thing is, like I said before, it's the electricity that does the real work in the brain. If that Alex Chiu site is not a joke, then whoever's responsible for it is a fraud, and probably an idiot.

[Perrey Z. @ Jun 23rd 2006 8:13PM]

Hey First post loser., didn't you read the new policies few weeks ago. Engadget hates that first post crap along with Apple fanboys. That's one of the reason why the comments where turn off for an entire week., are you looking for that again, jackass?

[Nels @ Jun 23rd 2006 8:28PM]

...now if they could just make it smaller and more gun like, and make it so you have to point it directly at the temple...

:)

--Nels

[giveaphuk @ Jun 23rd 2006 9:39PM]

lol.. if i pulled this outta my bag in public i think i'd prob. get shot..

i'm also wondering if it has an attachment so i can put it on my keychain.. Then i'd also never have the headache of losing my keys ever again! *baddaboom*

[Pete Avila @ Jun 23rd 2006 11:12PM]

A gun to the head will stop any kind of pain! I could of told you that.

[Jedix123 @ Jun 23rd 2006 11:39PM]

This is why those magnetic rings work.

[donnie_darko @ Jun 24th 2006 12:14AM]

As a long time sufferer of migraines I welcome any advancements in the treatment of these debilitating headaches. Imagine waking up every morning and wondering if today will be the day that i am incapacitated and unable to do anything but lay in a cool dark room and hopefully get to sleep before the pounding starts and right after the blindness and throwing up has already started. Now imagine all of this while on tour in strange cities and having to go on stage at some point later in the evening and not being anywhere near my hotel room. It is something I think about every morning. Give me that gun damn it.

[TNash @ Jun 24th 2006 1:16AM]

Darn, I knew I should have done that trial...they had ads up for it for months in the dorm....ah well, my migraines aren't that bad.

[Migraine @ Jun 24th 2006 3:39AM]

Being a migraine suffer I welcome this advancement. I won't wish my worst enemy to suffer from these brutal, debilitating events.

[Terry Wilson @ Jun 24th 2006 1:18PM]

This article wrongly identifies the originator of this device. It was actually devloped some years ago by Dr. Adrianne Upton, neurologist from McMaster Universtiy in Hamilton, Canada. The University and Dr. Upton hold the patent rights.

[fanboy @ Jun 24th 2006 11:17PM]

omg its a flowbee!

[Wry Cooter @ Jun 24th 2006 11:51PM]

I for one welcome our first posting quack gun wielding cliche speaking overlords.

[Adrian @ Jun 25th 2006 11:36AM]

If only it was pocket size!!! LOL

[Keith L. Dick @ Jun 25th 2006 6:37PM]

I know alot of Females that use use one of those... hahaha

[TH @ Jun 26th 2006 5:07AM]

A minor correction to the otherwise excellent comments by yonatron: TMS is researched outside US, definitely at least in Australia and UK as well. The resarch is not only in the therapeutic uses of TMS, but it's been increasingly used in brain-mapping and cognitive neuroscience. You can, as yonatron explained, temporarily stall certain brain regions from functioning, and thus you can see what effect those regions have for certain cognitive processes etc. TMS can also stimulate and boost activity in these brain regions; the direction of the effect depends on the frequency of the magnetic pulsation.

The TMS-devices used in clinical research and hospital-based therapy consist of a coil that looks like a badminton racket and a larger unit, like a desktop computer - these guys have put the whole thing together to make a (barely) portable unit.

The biggest hindrance for TMS therapies is that relatively little is still known about the long-term effects of repeated magnetic stimulation. Problem of administering the TMS yourself is to get the location of the device right - not easy in general, not to mention when coming down with a migraine!

[J @ Jun 26th 2006 10:03AM]

I previously worked on a TMS study at Emory University where we used the technique as therapy for patients who had both Parkinsons and clinical depression, so there are quite a few novel ideas and approaches for a treatment like this. Very cool approach for migrane treament.

[John R Dixon @ Jul 8th 2006 12:00AM]

Is it possible to purchase one of the hand held units shown in the engadget article?

[mmmckinn @ Jul 31st 2007 12:34PM]

I welcome any kind of migraine stopper. My only concern is that people who suffer migraines are bedridden, so they could not get to a location to use this. It will only be effective if they can make one that is under $1,000 and is reasonably portable and resides in someone's home, not a local doctor's office.