Actipatch ranked #1 in NASA Electromagnetic Pain Relief/Blocking: Feasibility Assessment
Context/Background: Astronauts use pharmaceuticals during spaceflight to manage acute and chronic pain, but use of analgesics will have drawbacks for exploration-class missions because the shelf life of these medications is limited, resupply will be curtailed, astronauts may develop tolerance and/or addiction to these medications, and side effects can include impairment of
cognitive abilities. Electromagnetic devices have been developed that treat pain terrestrially by affecting neuromodulation–dubbed “electroceuticals”, these devices have varied mechanisms of action that either stimulate or suppress neural activity in the central nervous system or peripheral nerves.
Objective/Purpose: The available literature was reviewed and FDA-approved pain treatments (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological), as well as those currently under development, were assessed for their suitability for use in exploration class spaceflight missions.
Results: An overwhelming majority of the literature focuses on the treatment of chronic rather than acute pain because it is assumed that acute pain only rarely fails to resolve and instead transitions into chronic pain when the central nervous system becomes hypersensitized. The available electromagnetic devices marketed for pain treatment have varying levels of
invasiveness, use different mechanisms of action, and have demonstrated varying efficacy when evaluated scientifically. A truly noninvasive, highly efficient device is desired for use during spaceflight. One portable, self-contained, FDA-approved device was identified that, from preliminarily assessment, best met these criteria; the device noninvasively applies pulsed
shortwave therapy (PSWT) to modify pain signals from peripheral nerves, however, the device has limited battery life and the effects are relatively non-selective in type of neural signal modified.
Ranking: The treatment method ranked first in this review was pulsed
shortwave therapy (PSWT), a low-power RF (MHz range) transmitter operated adjacent to biological tissue at maximum output (saturation) to modulate peripheral nerve activity. ActiPatch is a very small wearable PSWT device that is FDA approved for “adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain”
[Anwar-Deen 2020]. It is low cost, low power, and boasts 97% efficacy in reducing pain (85% over a 6-month period) [Staelin 2019]. The device can be secured to the body by physio tape and the area causing pain is bounded by the device’s ring. The device can be turned on and off, and the non-rechargeable battery is capable of 720 hours of operation
(one month continuous use). ActiPatch is sold OTC in local pharmacies for ~$30 [ActiPatch 2020].
Conclusions: The information obtained in the execution of this review effort leads to 2 recommendations for forward work:
1. Tie into DoD and NIH research funding efforts to improve pain treatment: the NIH has a federal partners workgroup for their HEAL Initiative that could conceivably be joined by NASA, and the DoD CPMRP’s initial solicitation only recently completed so that program is young and potentially synergies could be identified with NASA.
2. Obtain an ActiPatch device for evaluation and determine whether it could be beneficial and adapted to spaceflight use.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/202050088...4Sep20.pdf
Context/Background: Astronauts use pharmaceuticals during spaceflight to manage acute and chronic pain, but use of analgesics will have drawbacks for exploration-class missions because the shelf life of these medications is limited, resupply will be curtailed, astronauts may develop tolerance and/or addiction to these medications, and side effects can include impairment of
cognitive abilities. Electromagnetic devices have been developed that treat pain terrestrially by affecting neuromodulation–dubbed “electroceuticals”, these devices have varied mechanisms of action that either stimulate or suppress neural activity in the central nervous system or peripheral nerves.
Objective/Purpose: The available literature was reviewed and FDA-approved pain treatments (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological), as well as those currently under development, were assessed for their suitability for use in exploration class spaceflight missions.
Results: An overwhelming majority of the literature focuses on the treatment of chronic rather than acute pain because it is assumed that acute pain only rarely fails to resolve and instead transitions into chronic pain when the central nervous system becomes hypersensitized. The available electromagnetic devices marketed for pain treatment have varying levels of
invasiveness, use different mechanisms of action, and have demonstrated varying efficacy when evaluated scientifically. A truly noninvasive, highly efficient device is desired for use during spaceflight. One portable, self-contained, FDA-approved device was identified that, from preliminarily assessment, best met these criteria; the device noninvasively applies pulsed
shortwave therapy (PSWT) to modify pain signals from peripheral nerves, however, the device has limited battery life and the effects are relatively non-selective in type of neural signal modified.
Ranking: The treatment method ranked first in this review was pulsed
shortwave therapy (PSWT), a low-power RF (MHz range) transmitter operated adjacent to biological tissue at maximum output (saturation) to modulate peripheral nerve activity. ActiPatch is a very small wearable PSWT device that is FDA approved for “adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain”
[Anwar-Deen 2020]. It is low cost, low power, and boasts 97% efficacy in reducing pain (85% over a 6-month period) [Staelin 2019]. The device can be secured to the body by physio tape and the area causing pain is bounded by the device’s ring. The device can be turned on and off, and the non-rechargeable battery is capable of 720 hours of operation
(one month continuous use). ActiPatch is sold OTC in local pharmacies for ~$30 [ActiPatch 2020].
Conclusions: The information obtained in the execution of this review effort leads to 2 recommendations for forward work:
1. Tie into DoD and NIH research funding efforts to improve pain treatment: the NIH has a federal partners workgroup for their HEAL Initiative that could conceivably be joined by NASA, and the DoD CPMRP’s initial solicitation only recently completed so that program is young and potentially synergies could be identified with NASA.
2. Obtain an ActiPatch device for evaluation and determine whether it could be beneficial and adapted to spaceflight use.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/202050088...4Sep20.pdf
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