Design of Migraine Management Device

Neurological disorders are affecting the global population in a negative way about which the United Nations General Assembly had stressed that the work being done to reduce it is insufficient to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030 [1]. Migraine is also on

Project Title

Design of Migraine Management Device

Project Area of Specialization

Biomedical Engineering

Project Summary

Neurological disorders are affecting the global population in a negative way about which the United Nations General Assembly had stressed that the work being done to reduce it is insufficient to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030 [1]. Migraine is also one of those disabling neurological diseases and globally stands 2nd among the most disabling diseases and as per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally 1/2 of the adult population is affected by different types of headache of which 1/3rd are migraine sufferers which constitutes 1 Billion and 12% of the Global adult population [2][3].

Migraine is considered to be triggered by stress, aura, smell, taste, bright light, noise and changes in sleep timings. This results in mild to severe headache in sides of the head which can further escalate into nausea, visual disturbance, dizziness and some related symptoms. The headache may last from few hours to several hours and even days resulting in a sudden disability to the patient that may cause hindrance in daily routine tasks [4].

Some migraineurs may opt for long-term preventive treatments that usually require consuming a complete course of medications and some migraineurs even use usual pain killer tablets that have been reported to result in comorbidities related to heart and hormone functions and yet these methods are not so effective in dealing with the disease completely [5]. Use of neuromodulation devices is also observed which employs the use of electrical or magnetic signals for stimulating the nerves in order to modulate the neural activity [6][7]. These neuromodulation devices are in clinical practice in some developed countries but these devices on an average cost more than $400 and are not available locally, so if it is to be imported then the cost would raise even more. Also, these devices have been reported to have its own side-effects as the output stimulation parameters are high and causes itching, tightness on head, tingling and burning sensation which creates another burden for migraineur.

All of these factors pertaining to migraine results in annual loss of about $17 billion and not just economically but socially this disease has been observed to increase anxiety and stress on the migraineur and the people around them [8]. So, a non-invasive neuro-stimulation device is to be developed that modulates the neural activity during migraine attack as it delivers a controlled low-intensity current across the scalp and a head massage which helps in relieving the condition of a migraineur during migraine attack without having any potential adverse effect in order to replace side-effective pharmacological solutions and expensive clinical therapeutics.

Project Objectives

To design a wearable neuro-stimulation device that delivers a controlled low intensity current across the scalp via conductive sponge electrodes placed at the locations of trigeminal and occipital nerves and a ganglion massager that delivers mechanical vibrations at the location of temples on head to manage migraine.

Project Implementation Method

The project implementation method is designed to be carried out in a systematic manner with first and the foremost task is to get to know about the severity of migraine and its impact across the globe and locally. For this purpose, the World Health Organization and Migraine Research Foundation’s statistics are to be referred for global data and as local data is unavailable, so a survey is imperative to be conducted initially under the project to determine the prevalence of migraine and the ways in which migraineurs copes with it. After this a thorough process of literature review is to be conducted and the disease to be studied from various aspects starting from its global burden, right to the options available for migraine. The idea that is devised and design for neuro-stimulation device is prepared after which relevant components and equipment are to be procured for initial design. The initial circuit is to be developed using simulations and then practically implemented to confirm its validity. The circuit can then be implemented on vero board by soldering and initial prototype will be prepared for bench test, in which different resistances can be used as load impedance to validate the required output.

In the next stage the design and incorporation of ganglion massager is to be implemented after which the final circuit is to be implemented as a soldered circuit to validate the output and then be implemented as printed circuit board. After which the device will undergo human testing on subjects first under clinical setting and this process is subjected to approval from the Ethical Review Committee of the University. The designed device will then be converted into a product to be patented.

Benefits of the Project

The project would offer the following benefits upon its completion.

• Non-invasive and non-pharmacological solution to Migraine.
• Point-of-Care solution for Migraine management.
• Portable device as it can be carried along.
• Migraineur can wear it as a cap, upon migraine attack.
• Adjustable according to each user’s head due to its flexible strap.
• Pocket friendly & Pocket Carriable.
• One-time purchase with no side-effects.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final deliverable of this project will be a cost effective, battery operated, non-invasive and non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention that will produce favorable effects in medical realm by managing the pain and reducing the sufferings of migraineurs during migraine attack. The proposed intervention will deliver low intensity direct electrical current of 2mA to stimulate/excite definite brain regions involved/associated with migraine. In-order to ensure aesthetics, final deliverable of the proposed project will also include a design headset comprising of a mechanical massager to improve the efficiency of the neuro-stimulator and provide relief to migraine patients. The final device protype will be wearable like a cap and can be carried along by the patient. The design would be compact but stretchable and can be easily adjusted on patient's head.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Health

Other Industries

Medical

Core Technology

NeuroTech

Other Technologies

Wearables and Implantables

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People, Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Required Resources

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