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Research Edition Digital Upgrade

Research Edition Digital Upgrade

Upgrade your Buddy to Research Edition with full parameter control, four waveform modes, Chrome Control Surface, and AI-powered MCP device control via Claude.

Requires Vagal Buddy (tVNS Stimulator) with firmware 5.2 or above.

One-time purchase
$29900
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“After only 2 weeks I noticed a huge difference. I just purchased one for both my brothers.”

— Verified buyer, daily use

Research Edition

Turn Your Buddy Into a Research Instrument

Research Edition is a firmware upgrade that unlocks full parameter control, professional tooling, and three major new capabilities. Same hardware. Entirely new level of control.

4 Waveform Modes New Chrome Control Surface New AI Device Control New

What Research Edition Unlocks

Everything you need to turn your Buddy into a fully programmable research instrument.

New

Four Waveform Modes

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

New

Chrome Control Surface

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

New

MCP Device Control

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

Exact mA Control

Set stimulation to precise microamp values. No more guessing with intensity levels.

Full Parameter Access

Frequency, pulse width, interphase, duty cycle, anti-habituation. Every parameter exposed.

BLE Connectivity

Wireless Bluetooth Low Energy connection. Control your device from across the room.

Session Reports

Post-session HRV analysis with timeline charts, phase comparisons and stimulation correlation.

Sham Mode

Configurable sham stimulation for blinded research. Set ramp, min current and max duration.

API Access

Programmatic device control for automated study protocols and custom integrations.


Four Waveform Modes

Match pulse shape to protocol. Symmetric for standard studies, or unlock alternating, asymmetric and monophasic waveforms for advanced research designs.

Included

Symmetric

Biphasic balanced

Equal positive and negative phases. The standard for most tVNS research protocols. Charge-balanced by design.

New

Alternating

Polarity-alternating biphasic

Flips leading polarity each cycle. Reduces electrode polarisation and may improve nerve fibre recruitment patterns.

New

Asymmetric

Charge-balanced asymmetric

Short high-amplitude cathodic phase with a longer, lower anodic return. Targets specific fibre types while maintaining charge balance.

New

Monophasic

Uniphasic cathodic

Single-phase pulse with no return. Maximum directional selectivity for protocols that require unbalanced stimulation.


Web Bluetooth

Full Control from Chrome

No app required. Open the tVNS Control Surface in Chrome and connect directly to your Buddy via Bluetooth. Every parameter at your fingertips.

Live target vs. actual gauge

See your target current and what the device is actually delivering in real time on a dual-arc gauge.

Live waveform display

Canvas-rendered oscilloscope shows your exact pulse shape, timing and interphase in real time.

Session timeline with duty cycling

Visual timeline shows on/off periods, elapsed time and session progress at a glance.

Requires Chrome, Edge or Bluefy (iOS) with Web Bluetooth support
VagaltVNS Control Surface
BLE
MCP
Target
mA
800
uA
Target
Max V 30 V
Total 247s
Pulse Shape
04:07

Control Your Device with AI

Talk to Claude. It talks to your stimulator. Set parameters, start sessions, and adjust protocols through natural conversation using the Model Context Protocol.

MCP Connected
You & Claude
Y
Set the frequency to 25 Hz and start a 20-minute session at 1mA
C
Setting your parameters now.
set_frequency(25)
set_target_current(1000)
set_session_duration(1200)
start_session()
C
Done. 25 Hz at 1.0 mA, session running. I can see your HRV responding already.
MCP
Buddy Stimulator
Frequency25 HzSet
Target Current1000 uASet
Session Duration20:00Set
StatusRunningLive
WaveformSymmetric
Phase250 us
Works with Claude Desktop Claude.ai Any MCP Client

Who This Is For

Research Edition transforms your consumer Buddy stimulator into a programmable research instrument with full parameter access and professional tooling.

Academic researchers running tVNS studies
Clinicians prescribing specific stimulation protocols
Practitioners who need exact milliamp control
Developers integrating tVNS into research platforms
Power users who want full control of every parameter

Device Compatibility

Vagal Buddy (tVNS Stimulator)
Firmware 5.2 or above
Chrome / Edge / Bluefy
For Control Surface (Web Bluetooth)
Claude Desktop / Claude.ai
For MCP device control
Vagal Oh!
App-controlled only
Vagal Boost (tENS)
Uses built-in modes

Technical Specifications

Frequency Range0.1 - 100 Hz
Current Range100 - 4000 uA
Phase Duration15 - 1000 us
Interphase Gap15 - 1000 us
WaveformsSymmetric, Alternating, Asymmetric, Monophasic
Session Duration1 - 60 minutes
Duty Cycle0 - 300s on/off
Anti-Habituation0 - 99%
ConnectivityBLE + Web Bluetooth + MCP
Control InterfacesApp, Chrome, Claude AI
DeliveryDigital (instant via Vagal Tones app)
LicencePermanent, single device

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