OHSU Deploys First Neuroimmune Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Northwest

The procedure marks a shift in how clinicians manage autoimmune conditions by utilizing device-based stimulation rather than pharmaceuticals alone. By delivering targeted pulses to the left vagus nerve, the implantable neurostimulator activates the body’s innate anti-inflammatory pathways. Patients manage the system independently using a wireless charger worn around the neck for a few minutes each week.

Ahmed M. Raslan, chair of Neurological Surgery at the OHSU School of Medicine, noted that the technology extends neuromodulation beyond traditional neurological disorders. The system is specifically intended for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who experience intolerance or inadequate response to biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. With approximately 1.5 million Americans living with the condition, this expansion into Oregon represents a broader effort by SetPoint Medical to integrate its platform into major academic medical centers nationwide.