Chronic Migraine: Developing another Device to Fight It.
Another device is being developed specifically to help chronic migraine sufferers. It should provide another option for patients who are looking for new ways to fight the pain.
This summer there was actually some bad news in the world of migraine-fighting devices. eNeura, the makers of SpringTMS and sTMS mini, filed for bankruptcy in August. This was a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) device – read more about it from this past post.
It will take time to see if SpringTMS will rise again, but no doubt something similar will. TMS itself is not an uncommon treatment – often used for depression. It would be interesting to check around and see if an in-office treatment would be available in your area, though obviously it was the portability of SpringTMS that made it especially practical. (Some more helpful thoughts here regarding SpringTMS alternatives.)
However, research on various devices is continuing. A start-up known as Salvia BioElectronics is working on a device especially for chronic migraine. This is a pacemaker-style device, which does require a surgical implant, though it is a very simple procedure.
Of course, in this case it’s not for your heart, but for your head, which means that it’s an implant in your head. This is tricky, because no one wants a bulky device on their head. Which is why Salvia is developing a device which is “a very thin foil” that can be placed under the skin using two small incisions. The result is a neurostimulation device that can fight chronic migraine simply.
This month, Salvia received “FDA Breakthrough Device Designation”, which basically means they get some priority in the approval process as they develop and test the product.
As time goes by, we hope that devices will become more sophisticated and more targeted, so that people with chronic migraine will be taking less medications with side effects, and have more relief. Neurostimulation devices like this are another important tool in the toolbox.
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