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Black Vagal toner device with blue LED display on colorful circuit board pattern background - Research Edition
Black Vagal toner device with blue LED display on colorful circuit board pattern background - Research Edition
VagusNet stimulator display showing 15 minute session ready to start
Hand holding smartphone displaying VagusNet Research Edition app interface
Vagal Tone Library showing five protocol cards - Example Protocol, Maximum Wellness, Monday Tone, So Many Options, and 5th Sense with varying parameters

tVNS Research Device

The most advanced non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator designed for research applications, clinical trials, and academic studies.
This product has been discontinued This item is no longer available for purchase. Please see our recommended replacement below.

Recommended Replacement

Vagal Buddy Research Edition showing the on-device settings screen: current gauge with waveform, 20 minute timer, 1000 uA highlighted for editing, 25 Hz, 250/50 us phase and interphase, 5/5 s duty cycle
Research Edition Digital Upgrade $299.00 View Product


Research Edition

Better data starts with
a better device.

The research-grade tVNS stimulator with full parameter control, sham mode, and session logging. Built for labs that need results they can defend.

Request a research quote
One-time purchase
$399
No subscription. No hidden fees.
In stock -- ships within 2 business days
CE & FCC certified IEC 60601-1 compliant No subscription fees
"The app could be improved but once the settings are made the device is really easy to use."-- Verified buyer, Research Edition
Black Vagal toner device with blue LED display on colorful circuit board pattern background - Research Edition
Research Grade

Your tVNS study deserves better
than consumer hardware.

You've spent months on your protocol. The IRB paperwork is done. The grant is approved. And then you discover the device you ordered has hidden parameters, no sham control, and no way to export session data.

Reviewer 2 asks about blinding. Your PI asks why the output voltage drifted between subjects. The TENS machine from the catalogue has no documentation your ethics board will accept.

You don't have a stimulation problem. You have a device problem. And it's costing you time, credibility, and reproducible results.

Hidden parameters
No sham control
No data export
IRB headaches

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What rigorous tVNS research requires

  • Current-controlled output
  • Validated sham mode
  • Full parameter transparency
  • Session data logging
  • Multi-unit synchronisation
  • IRB-ready documentation
  • Left and right ear capability
  • At-home protocol support
The gap in the market

Most tVNS devices were built for consumers, not for you.

The two ends of the market leave researchers stuck. Medical-grade implantable VNS is too invasive and expensive for most study designs. Consumer ear stimulators are too opaque -- hidden firmware, voltage-controlled output, no documentation, and no way to verify what's actually being delivered.

What you need is something in between: a device that gives you the parameter control and reproducibility of lab equipment, in a portable form factor your subjects can take home.

The Research Edition was designed by a team that started in 2019 making electrodes for university research labs. The device exists because researchers kept asking for it.


tVNS Research Edition stimulator device
tVNS Research Edition

A better tool for better research

Same hardware trusted by thousands of daily users. Firmware unlocked with expanded parameter ranges, sham mode, session logging, and remote protocol control via the Vagal Tones app.

1

Configure

Set your protocol parameters via the app. Frequency, amplitude, pulse width, duty cycle -- all under your control.

2

Clip

Attach the ear electrode. Left or right tragus. Three clip sizes for diverse populations.

3

Collect

Session logs capture delivered parameters, timing, and impedance. Export to MATLAB, R, Python, or SPSS.


What changes for your research

Better control. Better data. Better outcomes.

Reproducible delivery

Current-controlled output means consistent stimulation regardless of electrode impedance, skin moisture, or session duration. Your subjects get the same dose every time.

Proper double-blinding

Built-in sham mode delivers a sensation without therapeutic stimulation. No earlobe placement workarounds. Participants and administrators can both be blinded.

At-home protocols

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

A fraction of the cost

Purpose-built research devices from medical device companies can cost $5,000+ per unit. The Research Edition delivers equivalent parameter control at under $400.


Vagally Understood

Trusted where it matters

Vagal devices have been in active use since 2019. The Research Edition builds on hardware trusted by thousands of daily users worldwide.

10,000+

Devices shipped globally

Across consumers, clinicians, and research labs in over 40 countries. The underlying hardware is trusted and field-tested.

7 years

In tVNS since 2019

Started making electrodes for university research, then built the full device. Researcher needs drove every design decision.

4.4/5

Stars across all products

Based on 159 verified reviews across the full device range. Research Edition users praise the parameter control and ease of setup.


Built for better research

Every feature exists because a researcher asked for it

Full parameter control meets portable form factor. Create your own protocols -- don't test someone else's hidden ones.

Full Parameter Control

0.1-100Hz / 0-4mA / 10us-5ms

Set frequency, amplitude, and pulse width to precise increments. Create protocols that match published research exactly.

Sham Mode

True double-blind capable

Delivers initial ramp-up sensation then stops stimulation. Subjects cannot distinguish active from sham. No earlobe workarounds needed.

Session Logging

8-hour logs / BLE export

Every session records delivered parameters, impedance measurements, and timing. Export via Bluetooth to your analysis platform of choice.

Protocol Automation

Pre-programmed sequences

Upload complex multi-phase protocols via the app. Automated parameter changes, randomisation sequences, and blinding allocation built in.

Multi-Unit Sync

Up to 32 units synchronised

Run group studies with synchronised timing and centralised data collection. Ideal for RCTs and large-scale research protocols.

Anti-Habituation

Controlled frequency variation

Set frequency variation boundaries to prevent neural habituation during longer protocols. You define the range, the device randomises within it.


tVNS Research Edition device
0.1Hz
Frequency resolution
0.1mA
Amplitude precision
10us
Min pulse width
32
Max synchronised units
Technical foundation

The science of getting better data

The Research Edition uses current-controlled output, not voltage-controlled. This matters because electrode impedance changes across subjects, sessions, and even within a single session as gel dries. Current control ensures consistent delivery regardless.

The device is CE marked and FCC certified, compliant with IEC 60601-1 medical device safety standards. The full documentation package -- including device specifications, safety data, and stimulation parameters -- is available for IRB submissions and regulatory filings.

Real-time impedance monitoring tracks electrode contact quality throughout each session, flagging any issues before they compromise your data.


Why researchers choose Vagal

Born from research

Started in 2019 manufacturing electrodes for university labs. Researcher needs came first.

IEC 60601-1 compliant

Medical device safety standard. CE marked. FCC certified. Documentation for ethics boards.

Institutional purchasing

Purchase orders, volume pricing, and invoicing for university procurement departments.

Dedicated support

Direct line to our team at [email protected]. IRB documentation packages on request.


45-Day Guarantee

Better, or your money back.

Test the Research Edition in your lab for 45 days. If it doesn't meet your study requirements, return it for a full refund. No administrative hoops.

One-time purchase. No subscription. No hidden fees. No recurring licences.

$699 $399
One-time purchase. Volume discounts available.
Request a research quote

Two paths to research-grade tVNS

Choose the route that fits your lab

Already own a standard tVNS Stimulator? Upgrade the firmware. Starting fresh? Get the full Research Edition.

Already own a tVNS?

Research Edition Upgrade

$299

Digital firmware upgrade for existing tVNS Stimulator units (firmware 5.2+). Unlocks sham mode, expanded parameters, session logging, and protocol automation. No new hardware needed.

Upgrade existing device
Starting from scratch?

Research Edition Device

$398

Complete device with Research Edition firmware pre-installed. Includes stimulator, ear clips in three sizes, conductive paste, charging cable, and full documentation package.

Request a quote

Volume discounts and institutional purchasing available. Contact [email protected] for multi-unit quotes.


Technical specifications

The numbers behind better data

Device Specifications
Frequency Range0.1 - 100 Hz (±0.1 Hz resolution)
Amplitude Range0.1 - 4.0 mA (±0.1 mA precision)
Pulse Width10 µs - 5 ms (±1 µs resolution)
Output ControlCurrent-controlled (not voltage-controlled)
WaveformBiphasic square wave
Impedance MonitoringReal-time, 1 - 100 kΩ range
Session LoggingUp to 8 hours continuous
Multi-Unit SyncUp to 32 units via BLE
Battery Life60 minutes (86 mAh rechargeable)
ConnectivityBluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Ear PlacementLeft or right tragus (three clip sizes)
Safety StandardsIEC 60601-1, ISO 13485
RegulatoryCE Marked, FCC Certified
Weight190 g
Dimensions225 x 155 x 25 mm

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).

Better data is waiting.

Full parameter control. Validated sham mode. Session logging. IRB-ready documentation. One device, built for the research you actually need to do.

Start getting better data
45-day money-back guarantee Volume pricing available Institutional purchasing supported