Get to Know Our Partners in TMS Therapy
The transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) services available at Active Path Mental Health wouldn’t be possible without our manufacturing partners at Neuronetics, Inc. and BrainsWay. Get to know our partners and how their devices use TMS differently to treat depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
NeuroStar® TMS Therapy From Neuronetics
Neuronetics was founded in 2003 and soon began the development of the NeuroStar system. By 2008, NeuroStar received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration and was put into use by clinics. Today, NeuroStar TMS Therapy is considered one of the leading TMS devices for major depressive disorder and is backed by the largest clinical data set of any TMS system.
As with other TMS treatments, NeuroStar uses short pulses of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is an outpatient procedure. The typical treatment course consists of at least 5 treatments per week over a four-to-six-week period for 20-30 treatments. Each depression treatment session lasts approximately 19-37 minutes, depending on what the doctor determines is the correct protocol.
Here’s what to expect during a NeuroStar treatment:
- You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair.
- A small, curved magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.
- NeuroStar will deliver magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain.
- You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.
Once a session is complete, you can resume normal activities immediately. There are no effects on alertness or memory, meaning you can drive yourself to and from treatment sessions.
About BrainsWay Deep TMS Therapy
Since 2003, BrainsWay has been dedicated to developing and providing advanced solutions for brain disorders using deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS). BrainsWay is FDA-cleared for treating adults with anxious depression, major depressive disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. BrainsWay’s deep TMS has been validated in over 60 randomized controlled trials involving over 3,000 patients.
Similar to other TMS treatments, BrainsWay uses directed electromagnetic fields to stimulate neurons in the brain, helping improve mood regulation. The deep TMS technology of BrainsWay uses a unique coil design that enables deeper and broader stimulation than traditional TMS. This means that while traditional TMS stimulation decays as it reaches deeper into the brain, deep TMS maintains effective levels even in deeper regions of the brain.
The typical treatment course consists of at least five treatments per week over a six-week period for a total of 36 treatments. Each depression treatment session lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Here’s what to expect during a BrainsWay treatment:
- You’ll sit comfortably in a chair
- A cushioned, cooled helmet will be strapped onto your head.
- BrainsWay will deliver magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain.
- You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.
Once a session is complete, you can resume normal activities immediately. There are no effects on alertness or memory, meaning you can drive yourself to and from treatment sessions.