# Cost of replacement Vagus Nerve Stimulator magnet?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 14, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342 "2017-09-14T20:41:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342/1 "2017-09-14T20:41:15Z")

</div>

No, not the $20-30,000 cost for an implant in one’s body.

I mean the magnet that you wear on your wrist. [You can see it in this guy’s video. He’s holding one.](https://youtu.be/rcU_iYRHpMA?t=120)

I am asking because I was issued one as an emergency backup for a student in my class. I have, to my embarrassment, lost it. I have zero idea how much a small magnet device like this costs.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342/2 "2017-09-14T21:24:40Z")

</div>

[ESutures.com](http://ESutures.com) wants $99 for the bracelet (magnet model 220),but that may be the inflated price they charge insurance.

I see personalized VNS magnet bracelets going for around $25 on eBay and [Etsy.com](http://Etsy.com). At that price I think it’s just the bracelet onto which one attaches one’s own magnet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342/3 "2017-09-14T21:52:55Z")

</div>

Googling, I found this.

[https://us.livanova.cyberonics.com/sites/vnstherapy.com/files/VNS-Therapy-Magnet.pdf](https://us.livanova.cyberonics.com/sites/vnstherapy.com/files/VNS-Therapy-Magnet.pdf)

It does not include the price, but maybe you can call the number from the site.

To ballpark it, imagine a reasonable number, say $5. Double it- $10. Because it’s medical, multiply by 10-20. I’d guess $50-$200.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-replacement-vagus-nerve-stimulator-magnet/796342/4 "2017-09-14T22:11:00Z")

</div>

Is there any reason why a $5 magnet from a hardware store won’t work? Is there something special about another kind of magnet? Is there another kind of magnetic field? Is there any difference between magnets other than strength?