A device originally designed for treating chronic and acute pain has received approval from the United States FDA to be used in opioid addiction treatments. The NSS-2 Bridge works by zapping parts of the brain linked to processing pain information.
ZAPPING THE BRAIN
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on November 15 the approval of a device called the Neuro-Stim System Bridge (NSS-2 Bridge), which is meant to help reduce the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It’s the first medical device of its kind that’s been given the FDA’s blessing.
The NSS-2 Bridge is a relatively simple device that attaches to the skin behind the ear, where it uses a chip to transmit controlled electrical pulses to stimulate four cranial nerves in the part of the brain that’s associated with processing pain information.
Marketed by Indiana-based Innovative Health Solutions, the Bridge was previously cleared to treat chronic and acute pain in 2014. The new approval “expands the use of the device as an aid to reduce the symptoms of opioid withdrawal,” according to the FDA, though it will only be available by prescription. It is rather pricey though, with previous Bridge treatments costing between $600 and $800.
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