IGNIS LTD. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Qian Kun; hereinafter “IGNIS”) announces that its subsidiary Pulse. Inc (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Qian Kun; hereinafter “Pulse”) and professor Horie of the Juntendo University graduate school of medicine and Juntend o University hospital (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter “Juntendo University”) have ini tiated a “Clinical research study into the alleviation of chronic pain stimulus by virtual reality applications”. Details are as follows.

Outline of “Clinical research study into the alleviation of chronic pain stimulus by virt ual reality applications”

Currently, analgesics are used for the treatment of chronic pain. However, analgesics cause severe side effects, and the abuse of opioid analgesics*1 has become a major social problem overseas. Consequently therefore, there are expectations for the development of a non-drug treatment method for pain. Although it has been confirmed that pain is alleviated by incre asing endogenous opioids*2 in the brain, it has now been reported that such pain also decreases when the patient experiences specially designed VR applications.
Given this background, Pulse and Juntendo University have been collaborating in a joint res earch project to investigate whether “pain treatment” is possible using VR (Virtual Reality) technology for patients suffering chronic pain due to diseases such as urological cancer, and patients who are taking analgesics to achieve relief from their discomfort by wearing VR goggles and watching VR images for periods of about 20 minutes. If pain management (relief of pain) by means of VR can be realized, it would be possible to ʻtreat the painʼ easily and without worrying about side effects, and thus improve the quality of life (QOL) for patients receiving such treatment.

*1 Medical-use narcotics mainly used for cancer pain in Japan
*2 Neurotransmitters produced in the body and present in the central nervous system

Details of research with Juntendo University:
http://juntendo-urology.jp/2018/04/10/ignis_vr/

Researcher Profile

Professor Shigero Horie
1985: Graduated from the University of Tokyo , Faculty of Medicine
1993: Doctor of Medicine
2012: Appointed as Professor at the Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, after attached to the University of Texas, University of Tokyo, National Cancer Center, Teikyo Uni versity, etc.

Comment by Professor Shigeo Horie

I want to clarify whether or not experiencing VR applications can ease pain.
In addition, I believe that the development of easy-to-use, high-quality VR image applications will be a ground-breaking innovation that will serve not only to reduce pain but also to a dvance medical technology.

Future developments

This development is not included in the business forecasts for the current consolidated fiscal year since. it is currently at the stage of clinical research initiation, and so the timing for the provision of any fully developed service is as yet undecided. We shall continue to investigate the future prospects carefully, and if, upon consideration, it becomes necessary to revise our performance forecasts in the future, we shall disclose such revisions immediately.

Outline of Pulse