News

Researchers in precision imaging and hearing from the Nottingham BRC are testing a wearable headset device to see if it might be suitable to treat medical conditions including anxiety and tinnitus in future.

The ZenBud device stimulates the vagus nerve, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body, with ultrasound. Now scientists in Nottingham are assessing the suitability of the device for treating a range of health conditions.

They are observing cognitive and physiological effects in healthy participants.

Researchers involved from our BRC include Professor Marcus Kaiser and Jeyoung Jung from MR & Precision Imaging Theme, as well as the BRC Hearing theme’s Dr Magdalena Sereda, Dr Bas Labree, and Dr Derek Hoare, our Hearing Theme research lead.

So far, although it has Conformité Européenne (CE) mark safety approval, ZenBud - which is owned by US company NeurGear - is not approved as a medical device.

However, the intention is to fund larger clinical trials and seek approval for appropriate usage of the device within the healthcare sector in future.

Professor Kaiser, who is a member of the scientific advisory board of the company that makes Zenbud, said:

“There are already devices that use electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve around the ear in a range of conditions such as anxiety, depression and epilepsy.

“However, ultrasound vagus nerve stimulation is, unlike electrical stimulation, not painful and seems to work in a higher proportion of participants, with a higher response rate.

“We are therefore testing the ZenBud device for a range of conditions, currently observing cognitive and physiological effects in healthy participants and will be interested in the outcomes.”

The ZenBud device is currently on the market, sold directly to consumer, as a wellness device. However, its application in a medical setting would require regulatory approval.

A preliminary pilot study published in a journal a few weeks ago, showed improvements in anxiety patients through use of the device.

All the researchers involved in the project to evaluate the device are part of the University of Nottingham’s N3 Centre for Neurotechnology, Neuromodulation, and Neurotherapeutics: Centre for Neurotechnology, Neuromodulation and Neurotherapeutics (N3) - The University of Nottingham