Clinical Outcome of Electrical Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Stimulation in Patients With Stable Symptomatic Chronic Heart Failure

P-STIM (Biegler, Mauerbach, Austria) is a battery-operated micro-stimulation appliance weighing 5 grams, designed as a disposable product for a single use. P-STIM is placed behind the patient's ear and connected to stimulation needles (usually 3 needles) on the auricle. For the study, only one stimulation needle was needed. P-STIMTM offers regular therapy over several days. The appliance transmits low frequency electric pulses to exposed nerve endings. The built-in microchip creates periods of stimulation and rest, each lasting approximately 3 hours. Stimulation was performed with a frequency of 1Hz for 40min followed by a break of 20 min.

The placebo device is a look-a-like, that stimulates only for 1h hour and then stops.