MeRTsm is the name given to a pioneering form of neuromodulation. The therapy is based on the information obtained from patient’s individual EEG/ECG data to create an individualised program of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to deliver targeted and personalised treatment with improved outcomes.
While rTMS utilises stimulation at fixed settings, MeRTsm treatment is patient-guided by computational analysis of fixed and dynamic factors. Further, MeRTsm therapy is:
Neurometric analysis is performed on EEG data and leveraged to individualise Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) protocols for each patient. The growing database of EEG images allows us to finely tune precision treatment protocols.
We analyse brainwave activities and their relationship to the heart which provides insight into the strengths and opportunities for improvement of each brain that we monitor.
Different neurological issues warrant different treatment parameters, and this evaluation process allows us to determine precision settings for neuromodulation based on each patient’s brain.
MeRTsm has been applied to a range of developmental and sensory processing challenges.These are often labelled under the following diagnosis:
It may also be used for people looking to improve sports and corporate performance.
*MeRTsm will not cure the underlying condition but can assist with treating the symptoms of the condition
There are some contraindications to the treatment which means that it would not be advisable to commence treatment. Some of these include ANY implanted devices in your head, schizophrenia, high risk seizure or active substance abuse.
There may be exceptions, but you will need to discuss your situation with a clinician.
Below is a comprehensive list of absolute contraindications to our treatment for cortical MeRTsm treatment:
Relative contraindications (requiring closer protocol attention, but not disqualifying someone from receiving cortical MeRTsm treatment):
Absolute contraindications for peripheral MeRT, Include all cortical MeRT treatment contraindications:
The brain is a very unique organ, and everyone responds differently. This is why we commence all programs with a 2-week Assessment period.
The Assessment period begins with an orientation appointment to welcome you to our clinic. It is followed by a clinical evaluation. From this point we will record an EEG to evaluate brain activity that enables us to set a personalised protocol for the individual.
The MeRTsm treatment is generally 40-minutes in duration. Treatment begins on Day 2 and runs every day thereafter. On Day 10, after 9 treatments, we record another EEG and clinical evaluation. The comparison between baseline and follow-up EEGs, as well as clinical evaluations, are what will determine whether or not the person is a responder.
We have found that in our 2-week Assessment period we are able to determine whether or not the person would be a candidate to continue MeRTsm treatment’s personalised and targeted approach to non-invasive brain stimulation.
The reason we do the 2-week assessment is to test whether the individual would be a responder. It is how we minimise the time and costs associated with a whole month of treatment as we are able to accurately evaluate in the two-week assessment period whether the individual would be a responder to the treatment. Unfortunately, a refund on this initial period is not possible.
The cost of the therapy will depend on the required frequency and duration. We offer fixed pricing and packages to ensure that no surprise costs ensue.
MeRTsm treatment is EEG guided brain stimulation tailored to each individual. We record EEGs so that we can monitor your brain activity. Initial EEG measures baseline EEG activity and enables us to set a protocol based on this. Each EEG thereafter allows for us to adjust the stimulation parameters for our personalised treatment process and compare results / response to your baseline.
We have our own proprietary software that uses an algorithm based on an EEG that we acquire from the individual. Because our method is unique and personalised, we also require that the recording meets our independent standards.
In the 2-week Assessment period it is essential to get treatment every weekday so that we can evaluate whether the individual is a responder to the treatment without leaving out any variables.
When proceeding with the full month of treatment or length of which is suggested by your medical provider, missing a day or two has not been seen to affect results.
We highly recommend at least one month of treatment (20 MeRTsm treatment sessions) after the 2-week Assessment Period for the most positive effect for patients who are responsive to the therapy. However, overall duration of treatment is based on the individual’s response rate. Length of treatment will be decided by the clinician and client after reviewing clinical and EEG changes. The optimum responses are seen in patients who typically stay for 2-4 months.
Functional recovery is the primary objective of treatment. Results are individual in nature, depending on the initial presenting symptoms.
Common benefits of functional recovery include:
Results vary with every individual. In general, the longer the length of treatment, the longer the changes remain, especially if receiving treatment for longer than a month. If a reduction is positive and gains are reported after leaving the program, patients may return for another treatment period. Some individual’s return on an annual/bi-annual basis to ensure that the positive changes are sustained.
The device that we use is a TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) device, which is a non-invasive brain stimulation technology that delivers therapy at 1 frequency, at 1 location on the skull and at a set intensity. Our approach to treatment is different and unique in that it is personalised and targeted to the individual. The parameters for treatment stimulation are determined by the brain mapping (EEG) we do initially in the treatment process. This determines the protocol we set for each patient and this means that each protocol is unique to the individual.
MeRTsm is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation therapy that stimulates the brain while neurofeedback is a type of brain training activity that focuses on the brain’s plasticity (without the use of external stimulation). Neurofeedback focuses on the brain’s ability to heal itself naturally vs the need for external magnetic stimulation, which is what we do to address brain function for cognitive restoration.
The treatment is not covered by insurance. However, on occasion families have been successful at getting insurance reimbursements for the EEGs in the USA, clinical visits and other elements dependent on the individual’s coverage. Your clinic can provide you with codes/billing breakdowns if requested after your treatment.
We don’t process claims or bill insurance. If requested, we can send a superbill for potential reimbursement. Any insurance reimbursement that you can submit depends on the individual’s insurance coverage and the patient. Elements of the treatment have been recovered on occasion by families, especially for the EEGs and clinical visits but this is far from the norm.
Although the device that we use has been TGA approved for treatment of major depression, at this stage we are using it off-label and it is still considered experimental for the indications that we treat.
In the USA, our parent company Brain Treatment Center has treated over 1,000 ASD patients and over 5,000 patients in total across the board.
There are also a number of double-blinded studies taking place around the world for our treatment focus areas, including Australia.
Currently, we do not have a payment plan program in place. We are, however, actively exploring options for patients and look forward to offering opportunities as soon as possible.
We do not claim to cure Autism. We have, however, been able to help facilitate brain function in children across the autism spectrum, which may lead to improvements in the symptoms of ASD.
We have seen patients improve in areas of social cues, sleep, awareness, focus, attention, eye contact, use of language, increased sense of calm, and decreased hyperactivity.
Results from the effectiveness of MeRTsm on PTSD have been positive. A recent double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study using MeRTsm over a four-week timeframe, found that PTSD symptoms reduced, including improved sleep quality.
As the brain accounts for 2% of body weight, it consumes more than 20% of available glucose, making it the most energy expensive organ in the body by a large margin. With this in mind, any optimisation of efficiency in the brain makes energy available for the rest of the body for performance. Conversely, an imbalance in efficiency, which can be brought on by a head injury or prolonged sleep deprivation, can limit the accessibility of energy for the rest of the body and thereby hinder performance.
With MeRTsm, we can reliably assess brain glucose-metabolism; then using an individualised protocol for neuromodulation, restore balance and performance to the athlete. In addition, MeRTsm restores proper nocturnal sleeping rhythms which leads to the reduction of blood pressure, regulation of body temperature and the release of growth hormone.
