Human Bioelectric is excited to announce that we have been developing a hand-held, cognitive enhancement device based on the TDCS technology. TDCS is slowly moving out of its early research stage, and brave early adopter stage where the psychonauts of today do a little research, build a device and become DIY TDCS experimenters. There is a sophisticated, complicated commercial device (somehow legally available) but we thought that it is important to make the TDCS device simpler, easier-to-use, have the important safety features, yet supply flexible TDCS requirements. Meet Plato (ok, this is just the PCB but the cover is cool too).
Plato provides three levels of regulated current (Low (1.0mA), Med (1.5mA), and High (2.0mA) through 2” x 2” sponge electrodes to minimize tingling and the slight burning that can occur with TDCS. Plato also has an over-current protection and a timeout that turns the current off 20min after you start a treatment.
But TDCS devices are not regulated in the US for commercial or even clinical use. Brain centers, researchers, and some DIY enthusiasts are using iontophoresis devices in an “off label” circumstance. But these devices are not made for TDCS use, the allowable levels of current and voltage are higher than a TDCS device, hence development of a simple TDCS device is important.
To develop a medical device, the first step is often a feasibility study. Hence we are very excited to announce that we will be undertaking a study:
The Safety of Anodal DLPFC direct current stimulation on the PTSD population, a feasibility study for the Plato TDCS device.
Surprisingly there has been little research into using TDCS for the clinical condition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In the research you can find TDCS benefitting depression, chronic pain, improving concentration, and even the down regulation of negative emotional conditions, all of these crucial symptoms in the battle of PTSD. For these conditions, many of the studies use Anodal Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). Hence we will be performing a small study, about 20 people, in the Portland ME area, receiving Anodal DLPFC over a four week period using Plato to provide the TDCS. The study outcomes will be questioning the safety and side effects of the TDCS treatments showing similar results to other TDCS safety studies. But any benefit to the study participants will occur. More details of the study to follow.
And lastly to fund the study we will be starting an Indiegogo campaign in April. More information about Plato and the Plato PTSD Safety study can be found at the website:
And you can stay in touch by following our Facebook or Google+ page.
Everybody’s help will allow us to open an important new tool in the treatment of PTSD and inch forward the regulation of TDCS through an inexpensive easy-to-use device.
