About the episode
Can an implant just under the skin relieve severe migraines? A Dutch start-up thinks so. They recently placed their first implant in a patient and are happy with the result.
Of course, much follow-up research with larger groups of patients is still needed to be able to say something about the effectiveness of the implant. That is also true professor of neurology Gisela Terwindt of the LUMC points to. It’s an exciting development, she says, but placebo research – something she thinks should definitely be done – is difficult with these kinds of devices.
Hubert Martens, CEO of the start up Salvia BioElectronics yourself too. They are only at the beginning. More research is needed. But for now he is very satisfied and the patient herself – a 29-year-old woman from Australia – is also pleased with the procedure, which took place two months ago. She says she has fewer and less violent attacks.
The implant consists of a kind of ribbon (a bit like the ribbon you put on a present) that is placed under the skin of the forehead using two small incisions on the side. It works with electrical pulses that affect the nerves involved in the sensation of pain. To activate those pulses, the patient must click a small device on the skin at the end of the ribbon. This is done with a magnet. It is recommended to do this for at least an hour every day, or whenever someone feels an attack coming on.
2023-07-04 14:55:27
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