Objectively Better Results for Patients*
Many symptoms, syndromes and conditions defy current best-practice interventions, leaving patients and their doctors disappointed and frustrated.
This is why innovation is so important.
Innovation is at the forefront and leading edge of medicine, and we must responsibly balance the pursuit of innovation with an evidence-based approach.
Ultimately, the aim is for our patients to experience objectively better health, as this is the value we provide and that they expect from us.
Examples include:
The medical model presents it's own challenges
Limted Time
General Practitioners are under significant pressure, with increasing case-loads and increasing complexity.
Those that bulk bill patients might use extremely short consultation times, making complex conditions difficult to manage as effectively as they'd like.
Those who charge a gap often run their appoinment times at 15 minutes for a standard consultation and 30 minutes for a long consultation, costing patients $100, $200 and even $300 per consultation, and yet they still have to rush through the history, physical examination, and management plan to stay on time.
While many GPs thrive in this environment, many others feel dissatisfied with this model of care, and would prefer to take longer with each person to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality care.
They desire to practice to the standard of care espoused by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners where "GP's are specialists in life". ~ RACGP
Limted Remuneration
Despite being under such intense pressure and long work hours, even the more experienced GP's only take home around $250,000 a year in Australia, with some earning as low as $150,000 and the highest paid only reaching $400,000.
This is despite all their intensive years of training, debt, expertise, and the significant role they play in society.
Survey data reveals that GPs (highlight the stress they feel, the burnout, etc)
Non-invasive brain stimulation can provide a treatment option for doctors and other health professionals to use with patients suffering from a wide range of chronic, disabling conditions that up until now have only been managed with "best practice" approaches that yield only average, or poorer, outcomes.
*Better results means measurable results using validated, objective outcome measures.
The Human Electrome and Neuromodulation
Bioelectricity
Since Galvani first discovered biolectricity in 1790, the field of bioelectric medicine has steadily grown and changed the face of diagnosis and treatment forever.
From the first electrocardiogram to the cardiac pace maker, electroencephalogram, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and now non-invasive brain stimulation, medicine would not be where it is today without understanding and harnessing bioelectricity.
Further research helped us understand and diagnose epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, cystic fibrosis, brugada syndrome, and long QT syndrome.
Today, we understand that every cell has a bioelectric fingerprint, a resting membrane potential that is associated with cell health.
Research on bioelectric fields has shown potential in controlling cancer cell growth and metastasis (Journal of Membrane Biology, 2024).
Early evidence
Early reseach on transcranial magnetic stimulation proved effective in the treatment of depression and chronic pain, leading to it's inclusion in the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) in Australia.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in chronic pain, and recently the Australian government awarded the NeurA Institute 5.7 million dollar grant to study the effectiveness of tDCS in spinal cord injury. (UNSW News Room)
In the United States, neuromodulation for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia was approved by the FDA in 2024 and in 2024 neuromodulation was approved for use by the FDA for treatment of tinnitus.
Dosage and Duration
Much of the research on neuromodulation was of low dose and duration. For examples numerous studies used only 4-6 sessions as an intervention, where treatment effect sizes would be expected to be small.
Subsequent research was typically of around 30 minuts of brain stimulation per session, with only 10-15 sessions over 2-4 weeks for tDCS, or 30-40 sessions for TMS over 4 to 6 weeks.
Site of Stimulation
In most studies, the site of stimuation was standardised so that each participant recieved stimulation at the same location. Despite this clinical inferior 'one-size-fits-all' approach, positive and statistically significant results were still found.
Anyone involved in the clinical assessment of patients would udnerstand that an intervention should be ideally designed to address clinical findings, instead of a 'paint-by-numbers' approach.
Indeed, independent clinical research has found that targeting brain regions based on clinical neurological findings is associated with better outcomes in individual patients.
International Neuromodulation Society (INS)
The INS is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of neuromodulation.
Their peer-reviewed journal, Neuromodulation, publishes research on neuromodulation therapies, and the society members include clinicians, neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and biomedical engineers. (Neuromodulation Journal)
Types of Devices (Invasive and Non Invasive)
Neuromodulation devices include surgically implanted devices such as deep brain stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, sacral nerve stimulators and others. Under the right indications, these devices can provide positive outcomes, considering also that they are invasive and come with the associated risk of surgery, including the need to remove devices or modify their position.
Non-invasive neuromodulation devices include:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- Transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS)
- Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS)
These devices can stimiulate the brain superficially and deeply, and fMRI shows extensive activity that spreads through neural networks beyond those underneath the stimulation site.
Non-invasive neuromodulation is being used off-label in Europe and the US to help patiens with chronic pain, neuromotor disorders, mood disorders, learning difficulties, gut disorders, post stroke and TBI, spinal cord injury, tinnitus and cognitve decline.
[Disclaimer: The use of neuromodulation techniques, such as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), for off-label purposes is experimental and not yet approved by regulatory authorities.
While these interventions are widely used in Europe and the US, their safety and efficacy for off-label applications require further research. Always consult with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before considering off-label neuromodulation therapies.]
Background
The SOZO Brain Center is a part of the AIMIS Healthcare Group in Cyprus. (AIMIS)
Dr. Petros Kattou, who leads SOZO Brain Center, is a member of AIMIS, and the center focuses on neuromodulation treatments for various neurological and mental health conditions. (SOZO Brain Center)
This collaboration allows SOZO to benefit from AIMIS's resources and reputation while providing cutting-edge neuromodulation therapies.
The AIMIS Healthcare Group was founded in 2009 in Cyprus, and has grown to become a world-class healthcare provider, offering a range of specialized medical services, including minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic surgeries, and multidisciplinary clinics.
AIMIS is known for its commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care with American medical standards.
Diagnostic and Brain Stimulation Protocols
Diagnosis: The diagnosistic and assessment protocols development at SOZO Brain Center are world class and evidence-based. These protocols include standard functional neurologic testing, EEG, MRI and validated outcome measures, all of which combine to form a unique clinical picture for each patient.
Brain Stimulation: From this clinical picture the brain stimulation protocols are prescribed, specifically the dose, duration and type of brain stimulation. Patients and/or their family or careers are trained by qualified neuromodulation nurses in the use and applicaiton of the brain stimulation.
Over the course of the stimulation period, the patient undergoes regular clincial examination and completes validated outcome measures to document progress and track results. All data is entered into a central clinical database and anonymised for use in data analysis and research.
Fellows of SOZO Neuromodulation
Live Patient Workshop with Certification
In 2025, and for the first time in Australia, the SOZO Neuromodulation Certification course is being offered to local doctors and primary care health professionals.
The workshop will be hosted by the Centre for Musculoskeletal Medicine, in Melbourne, Australia with cases drawn from the patient base.
The workshop will take place over two days, with presentations and case examinations with real patients throughout the two days.
Under the guidance of Dr Petros Kattau, attendees will learn the hands-on diagnostic protocols and applications of neuromodulation for a number of different conditions.
After the workshop, attendees will be able to begin using neuromodulation with their patients.
For those who want to advance in neuromodulation, they will be able to apply for the Fellowship in Neuromodulation. Details will be provided at the event.
Date and Time
July 4th and 5th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Potential and Future of Neuromodulation
Current Market Share, Future Market Share
