The first patenting from Neuro-Joy Ltd. details development of a device that electrically stimulates facial nerves and muscles in order to emulate a facial expression configured to ameliorate a mood disorder and improve symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

In what represents the first patenting in the name of Houston-based Neurastasis Inc., company co-founders Kirt Gill and Joe Upchurch describe a head-worn apparatus for neural stimulation that can be used to treat or augment recovery from medical conditions, particularly ischemic stroke.

In the last week, the U.S. FDA has taken two steps to expand treatment options for the millions of patients with fibromyalgia who find little relief from the three approved drugs for the condition. Neurometrix Inc. reported that the agency granted de novo authorization to its Quell device Thursday and Remedee Labs SA announced it received breakthrough device designation for its endorphin stimulation system May 12.

Neurometrix Inc. secured breakthrough device designation from the FDA for its Quell technology for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) just six months after receiving the designation for fibromyalgia in July 2021. Quell is a wearable, credit card-sized transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device worn on the upper calf that delivers self-adjusting, high-power nerve stimulation that disrupts pain signals sent to the brain.

Fibromyalgia is an often debilitating condition, characterized by chronic pain throughout the body that can leave patients fatigued, depressed and unable to perform even the simplest of activities. While a handful of drugs have been approved to treat this autoimmune disorder, they can have unpleasant side effects and do not benefit all patients. To that end, the FDA has granted a breakthrough device designation to Neurometrix Inc.’s Quell wearable neurostimulation device for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia in adults.