About Us
Mission: Eliminate Unnecessary Pain
Our Company
Pain Care Labs (a dba of MMJ Labs) was established in 2006 by pediatric emergency physician and pain researcher Amy Baxter. Distressed by other doctors’ indifference to needle pain, Dr. Baxter decided to help moms get their children vaccinated pain-free. Her prototype was so effective, she decided to “take a year or two” to study and develop the technology formally. Her NIH funding led to the discovery of widespread needle fear, the critical components of pain, and an entire new platform for natural effective pain relief. When a colleague used her Buzzy device to avoid opioids for a knee replacement, she decided to quit practice in 2016 to invent and research full time. She is currently NIH NIDA funded to adapt her technology to reduce opioid use for low back pain – everything else was too easy! Now she and her amazing team are out to change the world and eliminate unnecessary pain.
Initial R&D was funded by the Mayday Foundation. The frequency Dr. Baxter used to create Buzzy® is now proven to inhibit pain better than TENS, improve muscle soreness, blood flow, recovery and more. Since its May 1 2009 launch, Buzzy® has controlled needle pain for over 37 million procedures in 27 countries, and been statistically significantly effective in 50+ independent peer reviewed studies. Buzzy is now in over 5,000 hospitals and clinics, with over 300,000 units sold.
With multiple patents and FDA 510(k) clearances to control and treat pain, the company created the VibraCool®. VibraCool’s M-Stim pain relief was 2-3.4 times superior to electrical stimulation (TENS) for physical therapy; another demonstrated 35% fewer opioid tablets after knee surgery. A sophisticated low back pain device is currently in clinical trials and expected to release in 2021.
Mission & Values
Eliminate unnecessary pain
We are moms and people who know healthcare can do better. Through a deep understanding of science, we create easy-to-use devices to address suffering and fear, giving Power Over Pain.
- Accountable to our customers and each other – if it’s not right, we make it right.
- Rigorously science-based – we won’t lie or use hyperbole. This is why we say “Buzzy Helps” and refused on Shark Tank to say, “eliminates pain!”
- Conserve resources – when we can recycle, we do; if we can make something reusable, it is.
- Passionate about our mission.
Hospitals
Trials
Sold
Awards
Amy Baxter MD
MD, FAAP, FACEP / Inventor, Founder, and CEO
Dr. Baxter directs innovation, invention, operations and strategy for Pain Care Labs. After graduating from Yale University and Emory Medical School, as a double boarded pediatric emergency physician Dr. Baxter founded PEMA Emergency Research while also founding Pain Care Labs (initially called MMJ Labs). Accomplishments include multiple textbook chapters, first author papers, and national and international invited lectures; innovation impact comes from multiple NIH SBIR Fast-Tracks, patents, and successfully pursuing 510(k) FDA clearances. Academic service includes numerous NIH Scientific Review Groups for multiple institutes, and the COVID-19 ACEP Field Guide Task Force. Recognition includes Forbes Ten Healthcare Disruptors, Inc. Top Women in Tech to Watch, Top 10 Innovative and Disruptive Women in Healthcare, a Wall Street Journal “Idea Person,” and the Most Innovative CEO from Georgia Bio. National and international speaking highlights include HHS testimony, Exponential Medicine “Future of Pain Management”, TEDx, State Department VentureWell keynote, and TEDMED. Also known as Robert A. Heinlein’s adopted granddaughter and for turning down Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank.