The vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy system developed by Cyberonics (Houston, Texas) has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. The device, which is already approved in the US for both refractory epilepsy and depression, delivers electrical pulses to the vagus nerve via a generator that is implanted in the chest. This stimulation is designed to prevent the electrical irregularities in the brain that cause seizures. Tokyo-based Nihon Kohden is the exclusive distributor of the device in Japan.
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