FLOW FL-100 tDCS Headset User Manual

: June 3, 2024
: FLOW

FLOW FL-100 tDCS Headset

Instruction for Use – Flow

Instructions on how to use the Flow headset and the accompanying smartphone app.
IFU Version and Issuing date: Ver 13 – 2021-09-07
Product model: FL-100
The latest version of this manual is also available to download from ﬂowneuroscience.com

Manufacturer

Flow Neuroscience AB
Södra Förstadsgatan 2, 211 43 Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden

Intended Use

Flow is a class IIa Medical Device intended for home-based treatment of adults (18+) diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Flow does not require any special training before use.

Box Contents & the Headset

Instructions for Use
Micro-USB Charger & cord
Two Pad Holder Rings
Flow Headset
LED indicator
Charger port cover
Back piece

FLOW-FL-100-tDCS-Headset-04 After each use, put the headset and other parts back in the box.

Accessories

FLOW-FL-100-tDCS-Headset-05 More Pads can be ordered online at flowneuroscience.com

Reuse of pads may cause skin damage. Always start a stimulation session with a new pair of Headset pads.

Precautions

Caution: Do NOT use this device without ﬁrst consulting a doctor or other health care professional. !

Using this device poses minimal risk of injury. Even so, it is recommended to consider multiple treatment options. If symptoms worsen, make sure to contact a healthcare professional.
The Flow device should only be used by people over 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with depression (Major Depressive Disorder).
Always consult a physician before making any changes to your current medication.
Take extra precaution and make sure to consult your physician under the following circumstances:

Pregnancy (or suspected pregnancy)
Suicidal thoughts (thoughts about ending your life)
Bipolar disorder (or having a history of hypomanic/manic episodes)
Epilepsy (or having a history of seizures)
Heart disease (or suspected heart disease)
A neurological or neuropsychiatric condition
Having recently had a surgical procedure
Having a defect in neurocranium and/or an implant inside the skull
Having an active, implanted medical device (e.g. cardiac pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator, vagal nerve stimulator, auricular stimulator, deep-brain stimulating electrodes, cochlear implant, implanted hearing aid or deﬁbrillator) or other implanted metallic or electronic device.

Warnings

Apply the headset ONLY on the head as directed and not on other body parts.
Keep the headset dry and out of sunlight.
Keep the headset out of the reach of children.
Do not apply the headset over areas of skin that lack normal sensations.
Do not apply the headset outdoors or close to water.
Do not apply the headset while driving.
Do not apply the headset during any activity creating a signiﬁcant risk of injury.
Do not apply the headset while intoxicated or incapacitated.
Do not apply the headset in environments with strong magnetic ﬁelds.
Do not apply the headset without the supplied Headset Pads.
Do not apply the headset with dried-out Headset Pads (Pads are single use).
Do not charge the headset with any other charger than the one supplied with the headset.
Worsening of symptoms: If you experience a signiﬁcant worsening of your symptoms while using this device, consult a physician before continuing the treatment.

Possible Adverse Reactions

Some skin redness under the electrode or near the electrode sites is normal, due to increased local blood ﬂow and will normally subside within approximately an hour of the end of use.
DO NOT apply the device over open wounds, or broken or damaged skin. This might create further irritation and/or skin damage.
Skin irritation might be experienced beneath the stimulation electrodes. In this case, electrodes should NOT be reapplied to the irritated skin.
Discontinue treatment if the sensation of tingling, itching or burning under electrodes becomes severe (mild sensation of tingling, itching or burning is normal).
Discontinue treatment if you experience a mild headache that does not pass within an hour after the end of a session.
Discontinue treatment if you experience tinnitus (noise or ringing in the ears) during or after using the device.
Discontinue treatment in case of any other adverse reaction from the device.

NOTE: Any serious incident that has occurred in relation to the device should be reported to Flow Neuroscience and the local competent authority.

Prerequisites

A smartphone or other device running either Apple iOS 11+ or Android 5.0+.

The Treatment Program

The Flow treatment programme consists of 15 sessions during the ﬁrst 3 weeks, as shown in the table below.
After this ﬁrst treatment period, 1-2 sessions are recommended per week.
The number of sessions you can do per week is restricted and you can only do 1 per day.
Each session lasts 30 minutes, plus a few minutes of preparation time.

FLOW-FL-100-tDCS-Headset-06

First-Time Use

Download the “Flow – Depression” app to your mobile device.
Create an account in the downloaded “Flow – Depression” app using an email address you have access to and new password of your choosing.

NOTE: IT security measures, including protection against unauthorised access, are secured in accordance with GDPR regulations.

How to Perform a Treatment Session

Ensure your forehead is free from any makeup or hair products before you start.
If you have a fringe, it is recommended that you use a hair tie to remove it from your forehead.
Take out the headset from the box.
Press the button on the headset and make sure it blinks twice. If not, charge the headset.
Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your smartphone.
Start the Flow app and log in with the email address & password you chose in section 9 above.
Select the next session in the app and press “Start” to start the session. Note that how often you can use the headset is restricted per week and day.
Follow the instructions given by the virtual therapist in the app.
When told to, follow the instructions on how to prepare the headset, as below:

Take a new pair of Headset Pads from the pouch.
Attach them to the electrodes using the Pad Holder Rings.
Adjust the length of the metal arch by sliding the back piece.
The end of the arch should sit comfortably on the back of your head.
Make sure the headset does not sit too low.
The app shows you how to correctly position the headset using the camera on your device.
Before starting the stimulation, you can press and hold the “Tingle” button in the app to test how the stimulation feels. Hold the “Tingle” button for at least 10 seconds.
Start the stimulation by pressing the “Start stimulation” button in the app..

The current will now slowly increase to its maximum of 2 mA, as shown in the app.
If you at any point want to pause the stimulation, press the pause button in the app or the button on the headset.
Follow the instructions in the app during the rest of the session. The session will last for 30 minutes.
When the time is up, the headset will automatically start decreasing the current.
Do not remove the headset before the app indicates that the stimulation has stopped.
The headset gives a “beep” signal when the stimulation has ﬁnished.
After the session, dispose of the Headset Pads and put the Pad Holder Rings and headset back in the box.
The headset will automatically turn itself off after a few minutes of inactivity. Start it again by pressing the button on the headset.

NOTE: Most users that experience reduced symptoms of depression do so within 3-4 weeks. For a summary of safety & clinical performance, see ﬂowneuroscience.com

Charging the Headset

Charge the headset if the LED indicator on the front of the headset does not blink when pressing the button.
Remove the charger port cover and charge using the supplied Micro-USB charger and cable.
The LED indicator blinks during charging and shows a steady light when the headset is fully charged.
Recharging a fully ﬂat battery takes approximately an hour.
Be sure to close the charger port cover again after charging.

Cleaning of the Headset

It is recommended to clean the headset and especially the electrodes after each use.
To clean the device, ensure that the Micro-USB cable is not connected to the headset and remove the pads.
Use an IPA (isopropanol) wet wipe (70% is a good choice).
Clean the electrodes using a circular motion.
Neither the device nor its accessories are supplied sterilized nor require sterilization prior to use.

Device Specifications

Markings

Product Disposal

Headset Pads are cellulose sponges and can safely be disposed of as household waste.
The headset and charger should be disposed of as electronic waste according to the local legislation.