Implant device for depression patients

Chronically depressed US adults who find no relief with drugs or psychotherapy could soon be able to try an implanted pacemaker-like device that sends electrical pulses to the brain.

An undated image released yesterday shows the stopwatch-sized device by Cyberonics, which is surgically inserted in the chest, where a wire runs up to wrap around a nerve in the neck.

On June 15, 2004 a US Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts will meet to discuss whether to recommend the agency approve the device, called VNS Therapy, for patients with stubborn depression. The agency usually follows the advice of its panels.