Ear nerve stimulation device tested for hypertension treatment

A clinical trial has evaluated a non-invasive device designed to treat uncontrolled hypertension by stimulating nerves in the ear. The technology, known as transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN), uses small clips placed on the tragus to deliver gentle electrical pulses. These pulses aim to influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure.

The SCRATCH-HTN trial, published in the journal Hypertension and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), involved 63 adults with hypertension that remained uncontrolled despite medication. Developed by Afferent Medical Solutions, the handheld device allows for home use, with participants initially using it for 30 minutes daily before transitioning to weekly sessions.

While the study did not find a significant overall reduction in blood pressure across all participants compared to a sham device, researchers noted encouraging results among patients with more severe hypertension. The treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated. Further large-scale studies are required to determine the specific patient groups that benefit most from this approach.