NeuroMetrix‘s wearable, over-the-counter chronic pain relief device Quell is now available for purchase through QuellRelief.com and at select physicians’ offices, the company has announced. Worn just below the knee, Quell utilizes NeuroMetrix’s patented, non-invasive nerve stimulation technology to provide drug-free chronic pain relief; it is designed for people with painful diabetic neuropathy, sciatica, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, among other conditions.

Quell calibrates automatically for every user, determining the ideal therapeutic intensity of electrical nerve stimulation to provide optimal pain relief. The device triggers a central inhibition effect that “turns down the volume” of pain signals by stimulating the sensory nerves, which causes the brain to release endogenous opioids that reduce pain signal transmission. Quell provides widespread pain relief and is more than twice as strong as ordinary TENS devices, which typically provide only localized pain relief.

Quell calibrates automatically for every user, determining the ideal therapeutic intensity of electrical nerve stimulation to provide optimal pain relief.Quell received FDA clearance in July 2014 for chronic pain relief and use during nighttime sleep without a prescription. The FDA submission for Quell was based on its predecessor, SENSUS, which has provided over 2.5 million hours of therapy to chronic pain sufferers throughout the United States. Quell does not have any side effects, but users may experience mild skin irritation after prolonged use.

The Quell pre-order campaign through Indiegogo met its $100,000 goal in just 1.5 days and achieved pre-orders totaling 388% of the original goal at the end of the one month campaign. To date, more than 2,000 Quell devices have been ordered through the campaign as well as from pre-orders on the website.

People with existing, implanted devices that utilize electrical stimulation such as a pacemaker or defibrillator should not use Quell.