tVNS Research Edition

Q: Do you offer institutional purchasing or volume discounts for labs?

Yes. We offer institutional purchasing with purchase orders, volume pricing for multi-unit orders, and invoicing for university procurement departments. Contact research@vagal.com with your institution details and quantity requirements for a formal quote.

Q: Can I get IRB or ethics board documentation for my study proposal?

Yes. We provide comprehensive documentation packages for ethics board and IRB submissions, including device specifications, safety certifications (IEC 60601-1, CE, FCC), stimulation parameter ranges, and published safety data. Contact help@vagal.com with your protocol details and we will prepare the documentation for your specific submission requirements.

Q: What data formats does the session logging export?

Session logs capture delivered parameters, impedance measurements, timing data, and subject annotations. Data exports via Bluetooth Low Energy and is compatible with MATLAB, R, Python, and SPSS for analysis integration. Each session can log up to 8 hours of continuous data.

A modular research platform with full parameter control, validated sham mode, four waveform types, and three ways to control your device. Start with a Vagal Buddy, unlock research capabilities with a firmware upgrade.

Build Your Setup View Specifications

0.1-100

Hz Range

Waveforms

IRB

Ready

MCP

Connected

Build Your Research Setup

Two components. Full research capability.

Start with a Vagal Buddy for the hardware, then unlock research features with the Digital Upgrade. Same capabilities, modular pricing.

Step 1 — The Hardware

Vagal Buddy tVNS

Clinical-grade tVNS stimulator with current-controlled output, EverSteady technology, and BLE connectivity. The hardware foundation for research-grade stimulation.

$349

Current-controlled output (EverSteady)
Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity
Three ear clip sizes included
CE marked, FCC certified
IEC 60601-1 compliant

View Vagal Buddy

Step 2 — Unlock Research

Research Edition Digital Upgrade

Firmware upgrade that unlocks full parameter control, sham mode, four waveform types, session logging, and the Chrome Control Surface. Instant delivery via the app.

$299

0.1–100 Hz frequency, 0–4 mA amplitude
Sham mode for double-blind studies
Four waveform modes
Chrome Control Surface
MCP device control via Claude

View Digital Upgrade

$349 + $299 for full research-grade tVNS

Comparable research devices from other manufacturers typically cost 5-10x more

Research Tooling

Control your device the way you work.

Three interfaces, one device. Run your protocol from a browser, from AI, or from the app.

New

Chrome Control Surface

Full-featured control panel running in your browser. Connect via Web Bluetooth, see live waveforms, drag faders, and manage sessions. No app install required.

Learn more

Requires Chrome, Edge, or Bluefy (iOS)

New

AI Device Control

Connect Claude to your stimulator via the Model Context Protocol. Set parameters, start sessions, and monitor HRV through natural conversation with AI.

Learn more

Works with Claude Desktop, Claude.ai, any MCP client

Protocol Portal

Design custom stimulation protocols with precise frequency, pulse width, and duty cycle parameters. Upload directly to your device via the Vagal Tones app.

Open Portal

Requires Research Edition firmware

Technical Foundation

Why this matters for your data.

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation research requires precise, reproducible stimulation parameters. Consumer devices are designed for ease of use, not for the needs of controlled research environments. They often lack parameter transparency, sham capability, and data export — all essential for publishable, defensible results.

The Research Edition uses current-controlled stimulation, which means the delivered dose remains constant regardless of changing electrode impedance, skin moisture, or session duration. If you set 1.0 mA, every subject receives 1.0 mA, every session. Voltage-controlled consumer devices cannot make this guarantee because the actual current fluctuates with skin conditions.

A built-in sham mode delivers a brief initial sensation that fades to zero stimulation, enabling proper double-blind study designs without the earlobe-placement workarounds that compromise blinding in many published protocols. Both participants and administrators can be blinded.

Session data logging captures delivered parameters, timing, and impedance throughout each session. Data exports to MATLAB, R, Python, and SPSS. Real-time impedance monitoring flags electrode contact issues before they compromise your data.

Reproducible Delivery

Current-controlled output ensures consistent stimulation regardless of electrode impedance, skin moisture, or session duration. Every subject receives the same dose, every time.

Proper Double-Blinding

Sham mode delivers a sensation without therapeutic stimulation. No earlobe placement workarounds. Participants and administrators can both be blinded.

Four Waveform Modes

Symmetric, alternating, asymmetric, and monophasic pulse shapes. Match your stimulation to the protocol rather than being locked to a single waveform type.

At-Home Protocols

Subjects can run pre-programmed sessions outside the lab. Finite-use mode limits sessions per protocol. Data syncs when they return the device.

Research Edition Specifications

Frequency Range	0.1 – 100 Hz (±0.1 Hz resolution)
Current Range	100 – 4,000 μA (±0.1 mA precision)
Phase Duration	15 – 1,000 μs
Interphase Gap	15 – 1,000 μs
Output Control	Current-controlled (EverSteady technology)
Waveforms	Symmetric, Alternating, Asymmetric, Monophasic
Session Duration	1 – 60 minutes
Duty Cycle	0 – 300s on/off configurable
Anti-Habituation	0 – 99% frequency variation
Session Logging	Up to 8 hours continuous
Connectivity	BLE + Web Bluetooth + MCP
Ear Placement	Left or right tragus (three clip sizes)
Safety Standards	IEC 60601-1, ISO 13485
Regulatory	CE Marked, FCC Certified

IRB Documentation & Institutional Purchasing

We provide comprehensive documentation packages for ethics board and IRB submissions, including device specifications, safety certifications, and published safety data. Volume pricing and purchase order invoicing available for university procurement departments. Contact [email protected] with your protocol details.

Research FAQ

How long does the battery last on the Research Edition?

The Research Edition battery typically lasts about an hour per charge, depending on the intensity level you use. Higher intensity settings will drain the battery faster than lower settings. The device features a rechargeable battery that can be fully charged overnight for daily use. Check your user manual for specific charging times and optimal charging practices.

Do you offer institutional purchasing or volume discounts for labs?

What is the Research Edition and how does it differ from the standard Vagal Buddy?

The Research Edition is a firmware upgrade for the Vagal Buddy (tVNS Stimulator) that unlocks advanced capabilities for clinicians and researchers. These include sham mode for double-blind studies, expanded parameter ranges (0.1-100 Hz frequency, 0-4 mA amplitude, 15-1000 us phase duration), four waveform modes (symmetric, alternating, asymmetric, monophasic), session data logging, protocol automation, finite-use mode for study management, a Chrome Control Surface for browser-based device control, and MCP integration for AI-powered device control via Claude. If you already own a Vagal Buddy with firmware 5.2 or above, you can upgrade to the Research Edition via the Digital Upgrade for $299. Starting from scratch, the full research setup is a Vagal Buddy ($349) plus the Digital Upgrade ($299).

Does it hurt? What do subjects report about the sensation?

Most subjects report a mild tingling sensation at the ear. The intensity is fully adjustable from 0 to 4mA in 0.1mA increments, so researchers can titrate to each subject's comfort threshold. The included Comfort Care conductive paste further reduces skin sensation. In sham mode, subjects feel an initial ramp-up sensation that then ceases, making it difficult to distinguish from active stimulation.

How does the sham mode work for double-blind studies?

Sham mode delivers an initial ramp-up of stimulation so the subject feels a brief sensation, then stops delivering therapeutic current while maintaining the appearance of active stimulation on the device display. This approach avoids the common workaround of placing electrodes on the earlobe (which subjects may notice). Both the subject and the administrator can be blinded, enabling true double-blind study designs.

Can I get IRB or ethics board documentation for my study proposal?

What data formats does the session logging export?

Can subjects use the device at home for longitudinal studies?

Yes. The Research Edition supports at-home use with pre-programmed protocols. Finite-use mode allows you to limit the number of sessions per device, ensuring protocol compliance. Subjects clip to the ear, press start, and the device delivers the exact parameters you configured. Session data syncs when the device reconnects via the companion app (called Vagal Tones on iOS and Vagally Better on Android).

Research-grade vagus nerve stimulation equipment with full parameter control, sham mode, data logging, and BLE connectivity. Purpose-built for clinical studies and neuromodulation research.