HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC.

What HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC. does

HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC. is a Canadian medical device company that developed and commercialized the PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator), a non-invasive neuromodulation system consisting of a portable controller connected to a mouthpiece that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue. The stimulation triggers neural impulses to brain structures that control gait, and when combined with a 14-week supervised physical rehabilitation program — branded PoNS Therapy — the device is indicated for short-term treatment of gait deficit in adults 22 years and older with mild-to-moderate symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). PoNS Therapy became available in Canada in 2020 following Health Canada authorization and in the United States in March 2021 following FDA authorization; clinical evidence cited includes sham-controlled trial data published in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating gait improvements versus sham device plus physical therapy alone.

The company's go-to-market is a prescription-based, clinic-gated model: PoNS is sold as a hardware device and administered only by physical therapists who have completed PoNS-specific professional training, with patients identified via a 'Rate Your Gait' online assessment and directed to the nearest trained clinic. Marketing is multi-channel — content marketing, social media (X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), a newsletter, events, and earned media — targeting both end patients and healthcare professionals. In 2023, Bioness Medical, Inc. acquired the PoNS System from Helius and now operates the US commercial website (ponstherapy.com) and handles US sales and distribution, while the Canadian market is served separately at ponstherapy.ca. The company's revenue stream is hardware sales of the PoNS device; no pricing, revenue figures, headcount, or funding data is publicly disclosed in the available source material.

Name

HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC.

Legal name

HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC.

Website

https://ponstherapy.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Helius Medical Technologies (Canada), Inc. develops the PoNS neuromodulation device — a non-invasive, tongue-based neurostimulator used with physical rehabilitation to improve gait in adults with mild-to-moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms, distributed through trained clinics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuromodulation Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Implantable Neuromodulation & Neurostimulation (SCS/DBS/VNS/PNS) (HLAHAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy Therapeutics (HLACANAJ), Rehabilitation Therapy Equipment (PT/OT Modalities, Exercise & Balance Devices) (HLAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Neuromodulation medical devices
• Neurostimulation therapy
• Multiple sclerosis treatment
• Gait rehabilitation devices
• Non-invasive brain stimulation

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. PoNS Device Sales: The PoNS device is sold as a prescription medical device to patients with gait deficit due to mild to moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms. The device is prescribed by healthcare providers and administered by trained physical therapists in clinical settings. Combined with physical rehabilitation exercise sessions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Helius Medical Technologies (Canada), Inc. develops and commercializes the PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) device, a prescription medical device that delivers mild electrical stimulation through a mouthpiece to the surface of the tongue, triggering neural impulses to brain structures that control gait. The device is combined with physical rehabilitation exercise (PoNS Therapy) and is indicated for short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms in adults 22 years of age and older.

Product overview

HELIUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES (CANADA), INC. offers the PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) system as its core medical device product, accompanied by PoNS Therapy — a supervised therapeutic exercise program. The PoNS device is an orally applied neurostimulation system consisting of a portable controller connected to a mouthpiece that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the tongue surface, which triggers neural impulses to brain structures controlling gait. When combined with physical rehabilitation exercise over a 14-week period, PoNS Therapy is indicated for short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild to moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms in adults 22 years and older. The product was authorized for use in the US in March 2021 and has been available in Canada since 2020. Bioness Medical acquired the PoNS System and currently distributes the device.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PoNS: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator - an orally applied neurostimulation therapy delivered through a mouthpiece connected to a portable controller, used for gait deficit treatment in multiple sclerosis patients combined with physical rehabilitation exercise.

Products and services

• PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) A neuromodulation therapy device consisting of a controller and mouthpiece that delivers mild neurostimulation to the surface of the tongue, triggering neural impulses to brain structures that control gait. It is used in conjunction with physical rehabilitation exercise (PoNS Therapy) to improve gait in adults 22 years of age and older with mild-to-moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms. Distributed as a prescription medical device through trained physical therapy clinics; in the United States distribution is operated by Bioness Medical, Inc. following its 2023 acquisition of the PoNS System.
• PoNS Therapy A supervised therapeutic exercise program that combines the PoNS device with physical rehabilitation exercise over a 14-week period. Indicated for short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate multiple sclerosis symptoms in adults 22 years and older. Administered by trained physical therapists at certified clinics, with the device worn primarily at home during therapy sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70% of people with MS develop trouble with their gait
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bioness Medical, Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBioness Medical, Inc. acquired the Portable Neuromodulation (PoNS) System from Helius Medical Technologies. Bioness Medical now operates the PoNS therapy website and handles sales and distribution of the PoNS device in the United States. The acquisition represents a significant distribution expansion for the PoNS technology.
• Propel PhysiotherapyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPropel Physiotherapy is referenced in patient testimonials as providing customized PoNS therapy programs, prescribing and modifying exercises to suit patient conditions.
• Novah HealthcareminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNovah Healthcare, with Clinic Director Dr. Trung Ngo and Resident Physiotherapist Asha Chaudhary, provides customized PoNS therapy programs for patients with their altruistic approach and flexibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MicroTransponder: MicroTransponder developed Vivistim, an implanted vagus nerve stimulation system paired with rehabilitation therapy for post-stroke upper-limb recovery. It is a direct peer in rehabilitation-paired neurostimulation and competes with PoNS for the same PT-channel and neuroplasticity-mechanism narrative.
• electroCore: electroCore markets gammaCore, a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) device for headache and several neurology indications. It is a direct peer in non-invasive, prescribed, clinic-and-home neurostimulation and competes for similar payer and clinician mind-share.
• Bioness Medical: Bioness Medical acquired the PoNS System from Helius in 2023 and now operates the PoNS commercial website and US distribution. It is both a corporate counterparty and a direct peer — it markets its own functional electrical stimulation (FES) devices for foot drop and stroke rehabilitation, competing for the same PT channel and patient pool that PoNS targets.

Broad incumbents

• Abbott: Abbott markets the Proclaim line of neurostimulation systems for DBS and SCS indications. It is a broad-incumbent peer in the neurostimulation device category and competes for clinician attention and payer coverage in adjacent CNS applications.
• NeuroPace: NeuroPace markets the RNS System, a closed-loop responsive neurostimulator for refractory epilepsy. It is a broad-incumbent peer in implanted/focal neurostimulation for CNS disorders and a useful comparable for clinical-trial-driven regulatory strategy in neurostimulation.
• Medtronic: Medtronic is a broad incumbent in neuromodulation across deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), and other indications. While not focused on the MS-gait niche, it is a peer in the broader neurostimulation category and represents the type of large incumbent that could enter or acquire into the MS-gait segment.
• Boston Scientific: Boston Scientific markets the Vercise DBS system and broader neuromodulation portfolio. It is a broad-incumbent peer and a likely competitive reference point for any indication-expansion PoNS might pursue in DBS-adjacent CNS conditions.
• Axonics: Axonics markets sacral and dorsal-root ganglion neuromodulation systems for incontinence and chronic pain. It is a broader-incumbent peer in the implanted neuromodulation category and represents the type of company pursuing label expansion strategies similar to those PoNS could pursue.

Emerging players

• Cionic: Cionic builds a wearable functional electrical stimulation sleeve for mobility impairment, including conditions that affect gait such as MS and stroke. It is an emerging direct-adjacent peer addressing the same mobility-impaired MS population with a non-invasive, home-use device.
• NeuroSigma: NeuroSigma developed external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS), a non-invasive neurostimulation therapy. It is an emerging peer in non-invasive, prescription neurostimulation targeting CNS indications and shares a similar regulatory and adoption pathway with PoNS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PonsTherapy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ponstherapy
• Facebookfacebook.com/PonsTherapy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ponstherapy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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