Occipital nerve stimulation appears to be a promising new treatment for migraine and cluster headaches. Phase II trials performed by Medtronics, the manufacturer of one type of stimulator, have been positive. This stimulator requires implantation of a stimulator wire next to the occipital nerves and a separate incision to implant a stimulator device with a battery in the upper chest. A recent report suggests that the same effect can be achieved by implanting a small self-contained device without the need for wires, large battery, or a separate incision. This “Bion Microstimulator” has not been subjected to any extensive studies similar to ones performed by Medtronics, but the preliminary data looks promising.
