Towards an Earpiece for Wearable and Dry Ultrasonic Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Abstract

Ultrasound (US)-based auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) is emerging as a versatile, noninvasive modality for neuromodulation - spanning clinical therapies (e.g., pain management, depression) and general well-being applications. However, most existing US-based aVNS systems remain bulky and require wet coupling media (e.g., ultrasound gel) to achieve both spatially localized stimulation and efficient acoustic transmission. We present a wearable US stimulation system combining a personalized, dry-coupled earpiece with a battery-powered, wireless US probe. The earpiece integrates a 2 MHz piezoelectric transducer fully encapsulated in Humimic material designed for anatomical fit and stable coupling without externally applied gel. Hydrophone measurements of the fully encapsulated earpiece in water give a peak rarefactional pressure of 0.24 MPa at 15 mm for a 15 V unipolar excitation. We further demonstrate in vivo feasibility through fully dry, in-ear 2 MHz pulse-echo acquisitions under realistic wearing conditions, confirming effective US transmission without the need for coupling gel. These results demonstrate the integration of a personalized dry acoustic interface with battery-powered stimulation electronics, providing a wearable platform for investigating US-based aVNS. Future studies will focus on functional outcomes, including heart rate variability and pupillary responses during stimulation.