What is Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and What is it Used for

[demografx]

So if theoretically the non-implant vagus nerve stimulator has promising results, when is the soonest a POIS sufferer not involved in the study could get treatment? Would we have to go to the doctor during every POIS state?

Good questions, Scary,

I think we'll have a better feel for the timing you're looking for once our first two forum members complete the Rutgers pilot study.

The outcome will also depend on all 12 participants' timing/ability to get to Newark, NJ.

_IF_ the stimulator works (and btw that is NOT the prime focus of our study -- understanding/explaining POIS better to the world and to the medical establishment is -- primary) .

Yes, if it conclusively works and the results are peer-reviewed and published, you can buy one in Europe if we can get approval for POIS use (vs Epilepsy, etc.). I don't know the import rules, but I believe, for POISers -- a strong group by definition, surviving POIS --

[FloppyBanana]

FYI - Nemos is now marketed in the UK:

https://www.nemos.uk.com/

[FloppyBanana]

Here is a type of TVNS that has been around for a while. The second link is a study of the device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFENTa9fWes

http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/bmte.2013.58.issue-s1-A/bmt-2013-4033/bmt-2013-4033.xml

FB

[demografx]

Interesting, FB.

[demografx]

Cross-posted from "The Polyvagal Theory":

Article: "Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS): a new neuromodulation tool in healthy humans?"
February, 2015
Frontiers in Psychology
Cognition
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00102/full

Mentions Cerbomed tVNS device we discussed extensively.

[FloppyBanana]

Latest Cerbomed Press Release (about epilepsy)

http://www.cerbomed.com/Press-release-April-30th-2015-40226.html

For those who have not seen the older studies, here's a couple:

http://www.brainstimjrnl.com/article/S1935-861X%2814%2900397-0/abstract

http://www.cerbomed.com/upload/Poster_pupillary_light_reflex.pdf

To be positive, I know we have a rare condition and it can seems like no-one cares about us. Epilepsy is a common disorder and this is being researched quite a lot. So perhaps us POISers can hitch a ride so to speak on this products research. I spoke to a Cerbomed sales rep (trust  a salesman?! anyhow...) about a year ago and he told me that studies are happening for pain management and depression. When published I believe that the depression one could have strong parallels to the POIS study. Depression is so common and if this turns out to effective for even just a small percentage people it would still be a comparatively large portion of people, especially compared to POIS sufferers. NOTE: of course Cerbomed (sub company of worlds largest iVNS producers) want to push this forward asap because they only have 4 years left on the patent and want to obtain market dominance. After the four years is out then other people can manufacture similar devices, and I bet they will be a lot cheaper! I'm prepared to fork out GBP2.5K as soon as I can get my hands on one before then...

[demografx]

Encouraging and informative, FB!