Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Some experts describe a migraine as an electrical storm, where the brain is hyperexcitable with an abnormal response to normal stimuli or triggers. The result can be an excruciatingly painful migraine. Based on this theory, many believe a brief pulse of energy, like TMS, may be effective in interrupting or short-circuiting the progression of these abnormal signals, potentially stopping or minimizing the migraine attack. TMS technology has been used for many years to study the circuitry, functionality and connectivity of the brain. With TMS, brain activity can be triggered without discomfort, since the patient cannot feel the magnetic pulse. The most robust and widely-accepted use of TMS is in measuring the connection between the primary motor cortex and muscles. This is most useful in monitoring stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease.

TMS is based on the principals of induction—rapidly changing magnetic fields that induce electrical currents. When TMS is applied to the back of the head, these mild electric currents pass non-invasively through the skull and tissue to excite and depolarize neurons in the brain. This process is thought to short circuit the abnormal electrical activity associated with migraine and cortical spreading depression (CSD).

Neuralieve technology utilizes single pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or sTMS. The investigational device delivers each treatment in a milli-second (1/1,000 of a second). By comparison, a typical magnetic resonance image (MRI) device continuously delivers a magnetic field more than twice as strong with each session lasting over 20 minutes. Two decades of clinical experience with sTMS has consistently demonstrated it to be a non-significant risk technology with promise in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disease in adults^{1, 2, 3}.

¹ Anand, S and Hotson, J, Brain and Cognition 2002; 50: 366-386.
² Rossini, PM and Rossi, S, Neurology 2007; 68: 484-488.
³ Wassermann, EM and Lisanby, S, Clinical Neurophysiology 2001; 112: 1367-1377.

CAUTION: Investigational Device. Federal or (United States) law limits device to investigational use.