Korea developed a device to treat depression

Special equipment developed by a Korean start-up promises to bring hope to people with depression in the future.

Over the past 11 years, Korea has recorded the highest suicide rate among the OECD countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). The cause of suicide is mostly due to depression and mental illness. Although there are more and more people suffering from mental health problems, very few Korean people have a sense of treatment due to concerns about language and social stigma.

Mindd device.

According to the Korea Herald, a start-up in Korea has realized the idea of ​​a new medical device that can help treat mental illness at home easily. Start-up Ybrain has created a head device called Mindd , capable of sending weak currents into the brain.

Mindd was sold in South Korea in March 2017 after being certified by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to treat depression.

The device will treat clinical depression symptoms through stimulating currents. Mindd will transfer a small electric current into the frontal lobe of the brain through a forehead-pad that has been soaked in saline. The impact on this position on the brain significantly reduces depression.

Mindd weighs only about 150 grams and does not cause shock when used. Of the generated electric waves, only 20% are transmitted to the brain. Ybrain confirms, clinical trials show very good efficacy of this therapy, and have not detected any side effects.

Mindd weighs only about 150 grams and does not cause shock when used.

Usually, depressed patients must take medication for treatment. However, it is difficult for doctors to check whether the patient uses the medication as required.

In contrast to Mindd, patient records will always be stored. Apart from monitoring whether the patient has been using therapy, Mindd also helps record the level of physical activity, the number of hours of sleep through the mobile application. The data will then be automatically sent to the doctor for further monitoring and treatment.

So far, Ybrain has deployed Mindd at 12 major hospitals in and outside Seoul. The company's goal this year is to distribute Mindd in more than 150 hospitals in Korea and treat at least 3,000 patients.

Lee Ki-Won, CEO of Ybrain, shared with Korea Herald: "Although we have begun to deploy equipment at hospitals, the broader goal is to help anyone with depression who can self-regulate at home. easy, while reducing the incidence of depression worldwide ".

Lee Ki-Won CEO.

In the future, Ybrain will gradually be present in markets such as Europe, America and many other markets.

Founded in 2013, Ybrain was founded by 3 engineers from Korea Academy of Science and Technology. In it, Lee was a researcher at Samsung Electro-Mechanics. Ybrain aims to develop wearable devices that can treat mental disorders including Alzheimer's depression and dementia.

During the past 4 years, the company has received nearly $ 9 billion in investment and the latest achievement is Mindd.