NeuroMetrix has received CE mark for the Quell wearable pain relief device. This certification in the European Union allows sales and marketing of Quell as a class IIa medical device, as defined by the Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC). CE certification allows Quell to be marketed directly to consumers within the European Union.
Recent epidemiological studies indicate that 20–40% of the adult European population suffers from chronic pain, with an annual financial cost exceeding US$250B. As in the USA, the impact of chronic pain extends beyond the direct effects of pain to include disturbed sleep, low activity, mental health issues, cardiovascular disease and generally poor health.
“Europe is the natural market for initial international expansion of Quell sales,” says Shai N Gozani, president and CEO of NeuroMetrix. “Today we are focused on North America; however, our longer term strategy is to make Quell available in all markets with a high prevalence of chronic pain. Now that we have CE certification, we will accelerate partnership and distribution discussions that will position us for market entry in 2017. We are pleased to have gained certification making Quell available in Europe.”
According to a company release, Quell has been designed for millions of people suffering from chronic pain. The advanced wearable device is lightweight and can be worn during the day while active, and at night while sleeping. It has been cleared by the FDA for treatment of chronic pain without a prescription. In a recent study, 81% of Quell users reported an improvement in their chronic pain. Quell users can start, stop, and adjust therapy discreetly via the optional Quell Relief app. Quell also offers advanced sleep tracking that provides feedback on eight dimensions of sleep including sleep duration, quality, body position, time out of bed, and repetitive leg movements throughout the night. Quell was the winner of the 2016 SXSW (South by Southwest) Innovation Award for Best Wearable Technology. Quell is available in the US at select healthcare professionals and retailers.
