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This article was written by Richard D. Zorowitz, MD, and Kathaleen Brady, PT, MPT.
Research is underway to learn whether a wearable device stimulating neuronal networks can help patients recover after a stroke.
For patients who have had a stroke, recovering function can be a long and challenging process. MedStar Health Research Institute and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital are part of a nationwide network of centers studying a breakthrough device that could help.
Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. each year have a stroke when blood flow to the brain is blocked, or a blood vessel bursts. Stroke is the leading cause of severe long-term disability, leaving about half of people who survive with permanent or chronic disability.
The Q Therapeutic System (also known as BQ 3.0) is an investigational device by BrainQ Technologies Ltd. that has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The wearable device produces and delivers low-intensity, low-frequency electromagnetic fields that stimulate the brain’s neuronal networks to promote recovery and reduce disability.
MedStar Health was involved in a previous study of the technology – EMAGINE 1.0 – which showed that people who received this treatment were three times more likely to return to independent living, work, hobbies, and social activities within three months of their stroke compared to those who did not receive the treatment. You can hear from one of MedStar Health’s own EMAGINE 1.0 participants here.
We’re part of the EMAGINE 2.0 study of the Q Therapeutic System to help improve our patient’s recovery in the days and weeks after a stroke when additional treatments can make the most difference.
Studying a new way to aid stroke rehabilitation.
EMAGINE 2.0 is a national multi-center study of up to 122 patients. All participants will get five treatments per week, consisting of 40 minutes, using the device and a home-based exercise program. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups: half will get electromagnetic stimulation from the device, while the other half will not. The electromagnetic field, which delivers less electrical charge than a cell phone, is thought to help the brain’s networks re-learn movement after a stroke.
Treatment with the device will begin in the hospital and continue from the comfort of home, offering accessibility and flexibility with sessions. A caregiver or the participant will be trained to put on the device, which is worn like a hat and a belt and is controlled by a remote app.
At 45, 90, and 180 days after the stroke, researchers will assess whether the Q Therapeutic System has improved patients’ outcomes and record any side effects—patients had no serious, device-related adverse effects in early trials with this technology.
Patients who will be part of the study should begin treatment as soon as possible after their stroke for the best chance that the brain will “rewire” itself. This neuroplasticity is best in the days immediately following a stroke, making electromagnetic stimulation most effective during this window.
The Q Therapeutic System does not replace traditional rehabilitation therapy. To achieve the best outcomes, patients must do movement exercises and tasks to stimulate the brain for recovery. Using the device at home can help bridge a gap between acute and outpatient rehab for many patients.
Related reading: What Does Recovery Look Like After a Stroke?
Patients benefit from advanced research.
Studies like EMAGINE 2.0 are a unique opportunity for MedStar Health patients. By participating in research, our patients get access to leading treatments as part of their medical care.
This research is structured so patients get maximum benefits. All participants get five days per week of rehabilitation therapy, plus additional care at no cost to them, including help managing their case. We can help when prescriptions need to be refilled, and researchers are an extra set of caregivers who could be on the lookout for challenges like high blood pressure.
Regarding stroke recovery, we often tell patients their motivation is responsible for about 50% of the results. That is why we’re either their best cheerleader or their most annoying nag—we know that with determination and persistence, recovery is possible for many patients.
