--- title: "Ear-clip device shows promise for severe uncontrolled high blood pressure in a small trial" description: "A handheld device that sends gentle pulses through the ear was safe and easy to use at home, and it lowered pressure more in patients with severe…" url: https://lifestyle-health.skoop.news/could-lowering-high-blood-pressure-be-as-simple-as-stimulati-8efb68/ published: 2026-10-24T19:21:40.506077-04:00 modified: 2026-10-24T19:21:40.506118-04:00 section: "Lifestyle & Health" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Queen Mary University of London", "Barts Health NHS Trust", "Afferent Medical Solutions", "American Heart Association", "Ajay Gupta", "Care Research", "Hypertension", "NIHR", "health"] hashtags: ["#QueenMaryUniversityOfLondon", "#BartsHealthNHSTrust", "#AfferentMedicalSolutions", "#Health", "#lifestyle"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Hospital_Kuks_%28Kukus%29_3.JPG/1280px-Hospital_Kuks_%28Kukus%29_3.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Ear-clip device shows promise for severe uncontrolled high blood pressure in a small trial > A handheld device that sends gentle pulses through the ear was safe and easy to use at home, and it lowered pressure more in patients with severe hypertension. Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24 · Lifestyle & Health, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - A small device delivering gentle electrical pulses through the ear could offer a new approach to treating stubborn high blood pressure [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). - The experimental treatment uses a technique called transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN), which aims to influence the autonomic nervous system [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). - The trial enrolled 63 people with uncontrolled hypertension [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## A small device with a possible new role A small device delivering gentle electrical pulses through the ear could offer a new approach to treating stubborn high blood pressure [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). It matters most to people whose readings stay above recommended targets even while they receive treatment, and a substantial number of patients are in that position [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). In the clinical trial, the technology proved safe, well tolerated, and practical for patients to use at home [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Researchers at Queen Mary University of London led the trial [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## How the treatment works The experimental treatment uses a technique called transcutaneous autonomic neuromodulation (tAN), which aims to influence the autonomic nervous system [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). That system automatically controls essential bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Afferent Medical Solutions developed the handheld device [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). It uses two clips on the tragus that deliver gentle electrical stimulation, and patients can give themselves the treatment without visiting a clinic [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## How the trial was run The trial enrolled 63 people with uncontrolled hypertension [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). All of them were already taking at least one medication to lower blood pressure but remained above recommended levels [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded the work [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Participants were randomly divided into an active nerve stimulation group and a group using a sham device as a comparison [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). They used the device for 30 minutes daily during the first two weeks, then once per week for the following 10 weeks [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Most participants followed the prescribed schedule, and adherence was high [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm) [[2]](https://knowridge.com/2026/10/ear-stimulation-may-control-high-blood-pressure/). ## What the results show Across the entire study population, there was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure change between active stimulation and the sham device [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). The active device did not produce a statistically significant improvement over sham treatment across all participants [[2]](https://knowridge.com/2026/10/ear-stimulation-may-control-high-blood-pressure/). A prespecified subgroup analysis found a greater blood pressure reduction with active nerve stimulation than sham among patients who entered the trial with more severe hypertension [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). The results were published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## What the lead investigator says Dr. Ajay Gupta is the chief investigator, a clinical reader at Queen Mary University of London, and a consultant physician at Barts Health NHS Trust [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Gupta said the technology is exciting, highly patient-acceptable, and could ultimately provide a cheap, scalable solution for millions [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Gupta also said the trial was the first and most thorough study of its kind [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). He said it points to new research directions on whether non-invasive neuromodulation can benefit particular groups with uncontrolled hypertension [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## Limits of the findings The trial was relatively small, and the subgroup results require confirmation in larger studies before conclusions about effectiveness can be drawn [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Researchers say larger clinical trials will be essential to confirm the encouraging results in severe hypertension and identify which groups could benefit most [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## What it means for you High blood pressure is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also damage blood vessels and raise the risk of heart failure and kidney disease [[2]](https://knowridge.com/2026/10/ear-stimulation-may-control-high-blood-pressure/). If your blood pressure stays above target despite medication, this device is an experimental option that has been tested only in a small trial [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). Across all participants it did not beat a sham device, so its effectiveness is not established [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). The signal of benefit appeared in people with more severe hypertension, and that result awaits confirmation in larger studies [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm). ## Sources 1. [Could lowering high blood pressure be as simple as stimulating your ear?](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261023023732.htm) — ScienceDaily 2. [Ear Stimulation May Control High Blood Pressure](https://knowridge.com/2026/10/ear-stimulation-may-control-high-blood-pressure/) — Knowridge Science Report Image: Photo (illustrative): Pudelek / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hospital_Kuks_(Kukus)_3.JPG) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. 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