Migraine is a severely disabling neurologic condition and is the sixth most disabling disorder globally with over a billion people suffering from it. Women are three times more likely to be affected, with a lifetime incidence of 43%. The global economic burden is staggering, at approximately $56 billion worldwide due to migraine-related impairment. Current therapies for migraine are suboptimal in curbing the global epidemic. Narcotic medications are overprescribed for acute pain relief, and migraine sufferers want therapeutic alternatives. There is an enormous unmet need for an effective, affordable, and non-invasive abortive therapy for acute migraine to improve quality of life and reduce the cost burden of migraine to society.
The Mi-HelperTM is a completely new way to manage pain from acute migraine. Using a technique developed at Johns Hopkins, the Mi-Helper is a semi-portable device (similar in size and portability to a standard CPAP) that delivers a specially conditioned air stream to the nasal turbinates, providing stimulation to nerve pathways affecting pain modulation. Key Tech designed both the device and disposable components. The design incorporates mesh ultrasonic misting transducers to generate a saline mist, as well as a heatsink and fan assembly to control the temperature of delivered air. The simple, intuitive user interface and device workflow were designed based on user research which was also conducted by Key Tech.
This device is currently in development in advance of clinical trials and has not been approved by the FDA.