Abstract
Objective. Conventional treatment methods for migraine often have side effects. One treatment involves a wearable neuromodulator targeting frontal nerves. Studies based on this technique have shown limited efficacy and the existing setting can cause pain. These may be associated with neuroanatomical variations which lead to high levels of required stimulus current. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of such variations on the activation currents of the Cefaly neuromodulator. Also, using a different electrode orientation, the possibility of reducing activation current levels to avoid painful side-effects and improve efficacy, is explored. Approach. This paper investigates the effect of neuroanatomical variations and electrode orientation on the stimulus current thresholds using a computational hybrid model involving a volume conductor and an advanced nerve model. Ten human head models are developed considering statistical variations of key neuroanatomical features, to model a representative population. Main results. By simulating the required stimulus current level in the head models, it is shown that neuroanatomical variations have a significant impact on the outcome, which is not solely a function of one specific neuroanatomical feature. The stimulus current thresholds based on the conventional Cefaly system vary from 4.4 mA to 25.1 mA across all head models. By altering the electrode orientation to align with the nerve branches, the stimulus current thresholds are substantially reduced to between 0.28 mA and 15 mA, reducing current density near pain-sensitive structures which may lead to a higher level of patient acceptance, further improving the efficacy. Significance. Computational modeling based on statistically valid neuroanatomical parameters, covering a representative adult population, offers a powerful tool for quantitative comparison of the effect of the position of stimulating electrodes which is otherwise not possible in clinical studies.
Highlights
Migraine is a neurological disorder that may be characterized by a recurrent, unilateral or bilateral throbbing headache, which is usually accompanied by nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia [1]
The aim of this paper is to study the effect of such variations on the activation currents of the Cefaly neuromodulator
Human head model validation Using the Cefaly electrode orientation, matching anatomical and geometrical human head models were compared based on the stimulus current level leading to 50% activation of fibers
Summary
Migraine is a neurological disorder that may be characterized by a recurrent, unilateral or bilateral throbbing headache, which is usually accompanied by nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia [1]. It is the third most common neurological disorder and the sixth cause of disability, affecting about 15% of the general population [2]. Available pharmaceutical treatments of migraine are associated with moderate to severe side-effects including headache chronification due to overuse [5]. These may lead to inefficacy, dissatisfaction and/. A recent study has shown the profound need for alternative treatment methods [5]
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