A small device that delivers gentle electrical pulses through the ear could offer a new approach to treating stubborn high blood pressure. In a clinical trial led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, the technology proved safe, well tolerated, and practical for patients to use at home. Although the treatment did not significantly lower blood pressure compared with a placebo device across all participants, researchers observed encouraging results in patients with more severe hypertension.
The findings suggest that stimulating nerves in the ear could eventually help certain people whose blood pressure remains elevated despite taking medication. The results come from the SCRATCH-HTN trial, published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers emphasize that larger studies are needed to determine whether the approach can provide meaningful benefits and which patients might respond best.
How Ear Nerve Stimulation Could Lower Blood Pressure The experimental treatment uses a technique called transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN), which aims to influence the autonomic nervous system. This network of nerves automatically controls essential bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure. By delivering mild electrical signals to nerves in the ear, researchers hope to influence the body's natural mechanisms for regulating blood pressure without requiring an invasive procedure.
The handheld device, developed by Afferent Medical Solutions, uses two small clips positioned on the tragus, the small flap of cartilage located just in front of the ear canal. These clips deliver gentle electrical stimulation, allowing patients to administer the treatment themselves without visiting a clinic. Clinical Trial Tests the Device in 63 Patients The clinical trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), enrolled 63 people with uncontrolled hypertension.
All participants were already taking at least one medication to lower their blood pressure, but their readings remained above recommended levels. Researchers randomly divided the participants into two groups. One received active nerve stimulation, while the other used a sham device designed to serve as a comparison.
This approach helped investigators assess whether the electrical stimulation produced benefits beyond those associated with using the device itself. Participants used their assigned devices for 30 minutes daily during the first two weeks. For the following 10 weeks, they reduced their sessions to once per week.
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