Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) for Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

Delivering Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) to Improve Symptoms Associated With Opioid Withdrawal

Clinical performance data for transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN) as a method to aid in the reduction of symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in order to support clinical substantial equivalence to a predicate device.

Prior evidence has demonstrated that non-invasive neurostimulation can modulate specific brains regions associated with opioid use disorder and reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. This is a double blind, randomized, controlled, multi-center study in which subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: 1) active transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN) or 2) delayed-active tAN to determine reduction of symptoms related to opioid withdrawal. Subjects in the active tAN group will receive tAN immediately whereas those in the delayed-active tAN will have their therapy turned on after a 30 minute delay (inactive period). All subjects will be informed of their group assignment at the conclusion of the randomized, double blind period (following initial 30 minutes of active or inactive therapy) and all will continue to receive active tAN throughout the five-day study. Each clinical site will have pre-determined and qualified clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) accessor(s) that will be blind to the subjects group designation during the randomized, double blind period and will not be informed that all subjects receive active therapy throughout the remainder of the study. This will ensure a non-biased assessment of the COWS score and maintain single blinding throughout the duration of the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Current opioid dependence; prescriptive or non-prescriptive
2. COWS score is ≥ 13 or in the opinion of the investigator the subject is in moderate to severe withdrawal
3. 18-65 years of age
4. English Proficiency
5. Participants must be able to provide informed con-sent and function at an intellectual level sufficient for study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current evidence of an uncontrolled and/or clinically significant medical condition
2. History of seizures or epilepsy
3. History of neurological diseases or traumatic brain injury
4. Participants using long-acting opioids such as methadone or buprenorphine for a period of five or more consecutive days prior to enrollment
5. Recent suicide attempt leading to current hospital admission or continued expressed suicidal ideation
6. Presence of devices, e.g. pace-makers, cochlear prosthesis, neuro-stimulators
7. Abnormal ear anatomy or ear infection present
8. Women of childbearing potential, not using adequate contraception as per investigator judgment or not willing to comply with contraception for the duration of the study
9. Females who are pregnant or lactating
10. Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the participant's ability to participate in the trial