Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulators: a review of past, present, and future devices

ABSTRACT

Introduction

As an emerging neuromodulation therapy, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been proven to be safe and effective for epilepsy, major depressive disorders, insomnia, glucose metabolic disorders, pain, stroke, post stroke rehabilitation, anxiety, fear, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disorders, tinnitus, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and COVID-19.

Areas covered

Although the history of taVNS is only two decades, the devices carrying taVNS technique have been constantly updated. Especially in recent years, the development of taVNS devices has presented a new trend. To conclude, the development of taVNS devices has entered a new era, thus the update speed and quality of taVNS devices will be considerably improved in the future. This article reviewed the history and classification of taVNS devices.

Expert opinion

The correlation between the effectiveness and stimulation parameters from taVNS devices still remains unclear. There is a lack of standard or harmonization among different taVNS devices. Strategies, including further comparative research and establishment of standard, have been recommended in this article to promote the future development of taVNS devices.

KEYWORDS:

• Neuromodulation
• vagus nerve stimulation
• transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
• auricular acupuncture
• auriculotherapy

Article highlights

• The method of taVNS has been proven to be safe and effective for epilepsy, major depressive disorders, insomnia, glucose metabolic disorders, pain, stroke, poststroke rehabilitation, anxiety, fear, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disorders, tinnitus, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and COVID-19.

• The development of taVNS devices has entered a new era, thus the update speed and quality of taVNS devices will be considerably improved in the future.

• The correlation between the effectiveness and stimulation parameters from taVNS devices still remains unclear.

• Strategies, including further comparative research and establishment of standard, have been recommended in this article to promote the future development of taVNS devices.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by Chinese National key R & D Program key project (No. 2018YFC1705800) and Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology (Z161100002616003).