Schedule a Consultation to Learn More

DIFFERENT TMS DEVICES

Patients Have a Choice

Currently five TMS systems are approved by the FDA for treating patients with depression who have not benefitted from antidepressant medication or who cannot tolerate them.

In 2013 the FDA cleared Brainsway Deep TMS system for the treatment of Depression. This system uses a revolutionary coil called the ‘H’ coil, invented at the National Institute of Health (NIH). The H-coil is able to directly stimulate deeper into the brain than the any of the TMS devices that use the figure-8 coil allowing it to reach ‘limbic’ areas of the brain that regulate mood and motivation. The H-coil is integrated into a ‘helmet’ that sits over patient’s scalp. A session of “Deep TMS” or “dTMS” the name given to TMS treatment using the H-coil is typically 20 minutes, which is about half the duration of a typical Neurostar (figure-8 coil) TMS session. Brainsway Deep TMS is considered the most advanced TMS system currently available.

Magnetic impulses from NeuroStar TMS do not descend deeper than 0.6 inch under the scull, and, therefore, have more superficial or “focal” impact.

In contrast, Brainsway’s Deep TMS device has an H-shaped coil, which produces magnetic waves reaching the deep brain structures at up to 1.6 inch below the skull surface and allows greater impulse distribution. That is almost three times deeper. To see why Deep TMS is a better alternative than regular TMS, click here.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

BrainsWay OCD – a non-invasive, innovative treatment – is transforming the lives of OCD patients. It offers an effective, safe and non-invasive treatment that uses Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to treat OCD. BrainsWay OCD is the only TMS treatment FDA-cleared to treat OCD.

The treatment delivers magnetic stimulation to the frontal brain structures and networks, targeting previously unreachable areas of the brain with its proprietary H7-coil. BrainsWay OCD has many advantages over other treatment options, as it is an outpatient procedure that is generally well-tolerated and has no systemic side effects.

BrainsWay OCD therapy can significantly improve OCD symptoms

BrainsWay OCD therapy can significantly improve OCD symptoms, as was demonstrated in the positive results of BrainsWay’s Deep-TMS study, the only multicenter trial in OCD patients ever conducted.The multicenter study demonstrated that after six weeks of treatment, there was a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint results for the active treatment group when compared to sham (p=0.0127).

The improvement was maintained one month after the end of treatment at week 10. The primary outcome measure of this study was the OCD Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the gold standard measure of OCD symptom severity. Importantly, 38.1% of patients in the active group achieved a response of more than 30% reduction in symptom severity as measured by Y-BOCS, compared with just 11.1% in the sham group (p=0.0033). Moreover, 54.8% of patients in the active group achieved a partial response of more than 20% reduction in symptom severity, versus just 26.7% in the sham group (p=0.0076).

DEEP TMS THERAPY

Frequently Asked Questions

What is deep TMS?

TMS uses a magnetic field to stimulate electrical activity in your brain. As TMS targets brain regions associated with psychiatric disorders, the magnetic pulses modify nerve activity, rebalancing brain function and improving symptoms caused by:

Treatment-resistant depression
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Dr. Prashad offers TMS treatment using the advanced technology found in the BrainsWay deep TMS (dTMS) system, along with the Brainsway OCD helmet as well.

BrainsWay has been tested in more than 60 clinical trials around the world. It has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance as a safe and effective therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

How does dTMS work?

The BrainsWay system creates a magnetic field by passing electricity through a coil of specialized wire. The field sends out magnetic pulses that safely pass through your skull to reach your brain.

The patented wire-coil design in the BrainsWay dTMS system penetrates more deeply and has a broader impact compared to other TMS devices. As a result, it consistently and effectively stimulates the targeted brain areas.

Dr. Prashad customizes each patient’s treatment, but most need daily sessions for about four to five weeks.

What happens during BrainsWay dTMS treatment?

When you come in for dTMS therapy, you’ll sit down in a comfortable chair, then a padded helmet is placed over the top of your head. The helmet contains the coils that emit the magnetic pulse, while the padding inside the helmet is custom-fitted to your head to ensure your comfort.

Treatment with the BrainsWay only lasts 20 minutes. During that time, you’ll feel a tapping sensation and hear a clicking sound, but earplugs help diminish the noise.

Some patients develop unpleasant scalp sensations or facial muscle twitching during the magnetic pulses. These issues typically go away during your treatment, but Dr. Prashad can adjust the coil positioning to help reduce the problem.

Will I have side effects after dTMS treatment?

Treatment with BrainsWay dTMS is very well-tolerated and causes few side effects. Mild headaches are the most common problem reported by patients, and they diminish over the course of your treatment.

TMS doesn’t affect your thinking or memory, so you can get back to your normal activities when your treatment is finished.

To learn whether TMS can help you find symptoms relief, call Houston Deep TMS Therapy or book an appointment online.

Watch our recorded webinar on-demand!