Inside the Scrambler Therapy, a Noninvasive Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic and Cancer Pain: From the Gate Control Theory to the Active Principle of Information

Abstract

Scrambler therapy (ST) is an electro-analgesia therapy for the noninvasive treatment of chronic neuropathic and cancer pain based on a new generation of medical device that uses 5 artificial neurons and is based on a novel theoretical model the differs from gate control theory. The active principle with Scrambler Therapy is such that synthetic "non-pain" information is transmitted by C fiber surface receptors. This is a different theoretical mechanism than the traditional electric stimulation of A-Beta fibers to produce paresthesia and/or block the conduction of nerve fibers to produce an analgesic effect, that is, via TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines. Scrambler therapy was developed to treat chronic neuropathic pain and cancer pain resistant to opioids and other types of treatments. The goal of Scrambler Therapy is to eliminate pain during treatment and allow for long-lasting analgesia after a series of 10 to 12 consecutive treatments performed over a 2-week period. The aim of this review is to clarify the underlying theory of Scrambler Therapy and describe the appropriate usage method that maximizes its effectiveness while reducing bias and deepen the explanation of the artificial neuron technology associated with Scrambler Therapy.

Keywords: Scrambler Therapy; artificial neurons; cancer pain; chronic pain; drug resistance; electro analgesia; gate control theory; neuropathic pain; opioids.

Figure 1.

Simplified model of Scrambler Therapy.

Figure 2.

Information theory diagram.

Figure 3.

Scrambler therapy technology device MC-5A. FDA 510(k) Clearance: # K142666, CE certified: #CE 0476.

Figure 4.

Block diagram of an artificial neuron. The blocks from W01 to W16 representing the 16 different synthetic action potentials used to create with appropriate dynamic assembly and modulations 256 information strings (messages) of “no pain” used in the treatment. In biological systems, according to the information theory scheme there is usually also “noise,” which is simulated and integrated into the main information to make the emission of the Scrambler Therapy as “self” more recognizable.

Figure 5.

Electrocardiography (EKG) electrodes recommended.