Researchers are testing a novel, non-surgical, non-implant device to suppress high blood pressure. The device applies non-invasive electrical stimulation through clips attached to the tragus the cartilage at the entrance of the ear canal.
The clinical trial, conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, examined whether nerve stimulation in this region could benefit individuals whose blood pressure remains high despite medication. The results, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension in September 2026, indicate that the technology is safe and feasible for home use, though its effectiveness still needs further study.
Blood pressure is partially maintained by the autonomic nervous system. This area of the nervous system helps manage involuntary activities like your heart rate and blood vessel constriction.
It is called transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation and involves a device that’s held in a person’s hand and it delivers a gentle electrical stimulation through the skin. Transcutaneous means it’s done through the skin. The procedure is designed to alter nerve messages that regulate the heart.
Afferent Medical Solutions’ device stimulates sensory nerves around the tragus. This approach can be more easily self-administered by patients than repeated hospital visits for treatment.
Controlling the nervous system may offer another treatment option for those whose blood pressure isn’t adequately controlled with current treatments, researchers are hopeful. But it remains unclear exactly how and, which populations of patients would likely benefit.
In the trial, 63 participants with uncontrolled hypertension who were already taking one or more blood pressure medicines were randomly assigned to active or sham stimulation. The sham, meant to simulate the active treatment, did not contain any of the product’s active treatment components.
In the initial two weeks, they wore the device for 30 minutes each day. They then received the treatment once a week for 10 more weeks.
The findings demonstrated the device to be well tolerated, safe, and practical to use in the home setting. There was good adherence of the patient group, which indicated that the proposed treatment regime was feasible.
The trial showed no statistically significant difference in the extent to which blood pressure was lowered between those who received the active-treatment and the sham pill across the study population. But a prespecified subgroup analysis did show a greater reduction in those who had more severe hypertension.
It’s an encouraging but early finding for this subgroup. Since the overall primary comparison was not statistically significant, larger studies will be required to find out whether the apparent benefit holds true, and how big a benefit it might provide, and for which patients.
Hypertension is the leading contributor to strokes, heart attack, kidney disease and other cardiovascular disease. Despite the availability of effective medication, some patients continue to be above target range or guidelines despite medication.
The device is simple and non-invasive. If further studies can confirm that it is effective in reliably reducing blood pressure, it may provide an alternative option for a handful of carefully chosen patients. Because it is suitable for use at home, it is also easier to fit into daily care.
