Houston Methodist Neurological Institute researchers shrunk a glioblastoma tumor by 31% over five weeks with a helmet.
The helmet generated an oscillating magnetic field and administered the therapy to a 53-year-old patient.
Treatment took place in a clinic and at home, began at two hours per day and was increased to up to six hours per day.
To generate the oscillating magnetic field, permanent magnets rotated in a specific frequency profile and timing pattern.
The helmet’s design involved three oncoscillators connected to a microprocessor-based electronic controller operated by a rechargeable battery.
The treatment served as the first non-invasive therapy for glioblastoma.
The patient died from an unrelated injury about a month into the treatment.
