What is Deep TMS and how does it work?

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation, or dTMS, is a unique, noninvasive treatment process developed by BrainsWay that helps alleviate symptoms related to mental health conditions. Currently, BrainsWay is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the US, and is CE Marked for additional psychiatric and neurological conditions in Europe. During the Deep TMS process, an electromagnetic field is activated by BrainsWay’s patented H-Coil technology, which is held inside a helmet apparatus fitted over the patient’s head. The helmet safely sends out magnetic pulses that are able to directly reach deeper, broader brain structures, successfully influencing their neural activity.

BrainsWay’s dTMS treatment is an advancement of the standard figure-8 TMS treatment, which was first introduced in 1985 as a form of noninvasive brain stimulation. It was later discovered that utilizing TMS’s magnetic fields to stimulate certain brain structures can help stabilize and regulate their neural activity, which was in turn found to relieve adverse symptoms of mental health conditions.

BrainsWay’s Deep TMS therapy goes one step further with its own patented technology. Our unique H-Coil lined device manages to directly stimulate brain structures found deeper in the brain, enabling treatment of mental health conditions beyond depression.

The advantage of BrainsWay’s noninvasive Deep TMS technology lies in two of its features: first, its ability to reach the brain’s deeper brain structures directly helps prevent a decrease in the magnetic field’s intensity. This helps maintain the field’s effectiveness without needing to increase the intensity to a level that risks causing undesirable side effects.

Second, its ability to avoid the need for an increase in intensity allows dTMS to broaden the scope of its electromagnetic field, reaching more relevant brain regions and structures while maintaining a safe level of activation. The deeper, broader field also enhances targeting of the correct brain region, eliminating the need for complex neuronavigation equipment.

With Deep TMS technology at the forefront of mental health therapy, we at BrainsWay will continue to work hard to bring relief to an-ever growing population.