Cyberonics' VNS device approved for epilepsy in Japan
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy system developed by Cyberonics (Houston, Texas) has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. The device, which is already approved in the US for both refractory epilepsy and depression, delivers electrical pulses to the vagus nerve via a generator that is implanted in the chest. This stimulation is designed to prevent the electrical irregularities in the brain that cause seizures. Tokyo-based Nihon Kohden is the exclusive distributor of the device in Japan.