Wearable magnetic brain stimulation for treating epilepsy in children

Repeated Oscillatory Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy of the Epileptogenic Cortical Area in Children With Focal Continuous-Spike and Wave During Sleep

Not applicable Interventional Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · NCT04034030

This study tests if a new wearable brain stimulation device can help children with a severe form of epilepsy feel better and improve their brain function when other treatments haven't worked.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment10 (estimated)
Ages3 Years to 21 Years
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Mercy Hospital Kansas City Academic / other
Locations1 site (Overland Park, Kansas)
Trial IDNCT04034030 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of a wearable multisite transcranial magnetic stimulation (mTMS) device designed to deliver stimuli to multiple cortical sites simultaneously or sequentially. It targets children aged 3 to 21 diagnosed with focal continuous spike and wave during sleep (CSWS), a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy. The study aims to assess whether this non-invasive treatment can improve brain function and cognitive outcomes in patients resistant to standard drug therapies. Participants will be monitored for changes in their electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns following treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 3 to 21 with a confirmed diagnosis of focal CSWS and specific EEG findings.

Not a fit: Patients with generalized CSWS or those with contraindications such as metal implants in the head will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new, non-invasive option for improving cognitive function in children suffering from a debilitating form of epilepsy.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation has been explored in various neurological conditions, this specific application in children with focal CSWS is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients between the ages of 3 and 21 years old,
* An electroclinical diagnosis of focal CSWS as defined by ILAE
* SWI of ≥ 85% in sleep on EEG's performed on previous or most recent EEG study.
* No change in antiepileptic drugs (AED) in last 2 week, or patients not on any AED

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of metal implants or metallic devices in the head
* Any history of drug or alcohol abuse
* Presence of cardiac pacemaker
* Generalized CSWS

All study patients will be enrolled for treatment with TMS to see if this modality of treatment has any effect on SWI on CSWS.

Additional exclusions are:

* Adults unable to consent
* Pregnant women
* Prisoners
* Wards of the state
* Non English speaking subjects and families

Where this trial is running

Overland Park, Kansas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions CSWSmagnetic brain stimulation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.