Phoenix CR
taVNS Research Device
The Phoenix® CR is designed specifically to produce high-quality transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) data from human clinical trials
Caution: Investigational Device. Limited by Federal (or United States) Law to Investigational Use.
Phoenix CR Device
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Programmable
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Time
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Intensity
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Sham
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Track usage & adherence
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Long battery life
Soft, Conforming Earpiece
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Made of soft silicone
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Available in 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large
Easy-to-use & Portable
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No hands needed during stimulation sessions
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Use the CR device with minimal interruption to your daily life
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Only charge once per week!
Fully programmable
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Design & save custom programs
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Adjust stimulation parameters
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Choose stimulation ports
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Select when to calibrate
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Measure impedence
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Track adherence
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Download data
Impedance Monitoring
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Monitors resistance to stimulation in real time
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Ensures proper device usage and optimal stimulation as defined in clinical protocol
WHAT IS VNS?
The vagus nerve (vagus means “wandering” in Latin) is the longest cranial nerve in the human body. It actually is not one nerve, but a family of neural pathways originating in several areas of the brain. The vagus is the key component of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, and because the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems act reciprocally - when one goes up, the other goes down -- the vagus nerve is critical to our therapy due to its beneficial effect in restoring balance in cases where sympathetic activity is abnormally raised or parasympathetic activity is lowered.
taVNS Research Areas
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Traumatic Brain Injury
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PTSD
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Sleep Disruption
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Adjustment Disorders
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Fear
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Cognition and Learning
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Tinnitus
Enhanced Neuroplasticity:
Stimulation of the vagus enhances memory storage processes and remodels the amygdala-hypothalamus connection. Recent evidence suggests that this may be due to the activation of neurons in the nucleus locus coeruleus resulting in the release of norepinephrine throughout the neuraxis. It is supposed that enhancing the release of norepinephrine in the central nervous system facilitates recovery of function. Basically, VNS can help someone learn (or unlearn) faster.
So, when you pair VNS with a learning process, whether it is mental or physical, multiple studies have shown its effectiveness in increasing the speed and depth of the learning curve.
Parasympathetic Response:
Vagal nerve stimulation affects the brain systems involved in emotional regulation, including the amygdala. VNS activates, among other things, the locus coeruleus (the principal site for brain synthesis of norepinephrine) which affects the limbic system.
The limbic system is a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain concerned with instinct and mood, controlling the basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring.) The Polyvagal theory predicts, and a variety of studies supports, the conclusion that VNS diminishes emotional reactivity and increases socially adaptive emotional regulation in the limbic system. These are the same regions and networks that are abnormally active in response to emotional stimuli in PTSD patients.
Clinical Research
support
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Assist with protocol development
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Full training and installation
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Clinical support
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IT support for data collection, download and interpretation
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Repair, maintenance and replacement
“What do I have to lose? It’s not a drug that I’m putting in my system and its not something that I’m smoking. So, if you’re telling me that you can put something in my ear and make me better, sign me up every day of the week!”
-Pilot Study Participant