Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Peter P. Ricci

Biomedical Engineering

BME 281 Section 1

Background

Depression•Affects 350 million people on a daily basis

•The leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the global number of mental disorders

•Can develop at any age, but has a median onset of 35 years old

Introduction• TMS is the process of using a magnetic generator to

stimulation the brain cells that control mood

• Early clinical implementation has shown the ability to treat the effects of major brain damage and mental disorders

• Neurological Disorders

– Stroke symptoms

– Depression

– Motor neuron disease

Process1. A magnetic field generator, or coil, is placed near the desire

part to the brain

2. The coil then produces electric currents just above the head

3. The coil is attached to a pulse generator, which alternates the flow of the electric currents

1. The currents stimulate the neurons of the limbic system to control mood

Chervyakov, Alexander. “Possible mechanisms underlying the Therapeutic effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation.” Frontiers in human neuroscience 2015; 9: 303. Jun 16 2015

Clinical Study

• Research comprised of 24 drug resistant patients that were diagnosed with recurrent major depressive disorder

• Patients received daily TMS treatments for 4 weeks

• Patients were then split into two groups in which one received continual maintenance over a 12 month period while the other only received the initial treatment

Results

• Results displayed a significant reduction in HDRS scores for all patients involved

• Patients receiving follow-up maintenance showed even greater improvements

Results

Patients with TMS

Maintenance

Patients without TMS Maintenance

Baseline HDRS 23.83 23.50

Post TMS HDRS 9.83 9.92

6 month follow-up 9.33 13.75

12 month follow-up 12.92 16.17

Rapinesi, Chiara. “Maintenance Deep Transcranial Magnetic stimulation sessions are associated with reduced depressive relapses” Frontiers in Neurology 2015: 9: 16. Feb 6 2015

Advantages & Disadvantages

BlackHawk TMS <http://www.blackhawktms.com/transcranialmagneticstimulation/tms-side-effects.php

Future Implementation

• Research into the effects of debilitating brain injuries– i.e. stroke & motor neuron disease

• Treatment for numerous mental disorders– Hopefully a sustainable cure for depression

Questions?

References

1. Chervyakov, Alexander. “Possible mechanisms underlying the Therapeutic effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation.” Frontiers in human neuroscience 2015; 9: 303. Jun 16 2015

1. Wikipedia: transcranial magnetic stimulation <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation>.

1. Rapinesi, Chiara. “Maintenance Deep Transcranial Magnetic stimulation sessions are associated with reduced depressive relapses” Frontiers in Neurology 2015: 9: 16. Feb 6 2015

1. BlackHawk TMS <http://www.blackhawktms.com/transcranialmagneticstimulation/tms-side-effects.php >