Safety and Efficacy of the BrainPort™ Balance Device to Improve Balance in Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

NCT ID: NCT00254228

Last Updated: 2008-10-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-11-30

Study Completion Date

2007-12-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to determine whether the BrainPort™ balance device is safe and effective in the treatment of balance disorders in patients with Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction.

Detailed Description

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People with Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction (BVD) often experience disabling symptoms, greatly affecting their quality of life and ability to work. Current vestibular treatment does not always allow these patients to fully recover. Many patients either do not improve or reach a plateau with conventional vestibular rehabilitation, and still have difficulty with daily function. The BrainPort™ balance device is intended to provide information about head position to the brain through electrotactile stimulation of the tongue to improve balance in subjects with vestibular disorders.

This study is a prospective, multi-center, randomized double-blinded study comparing the postural stability of BVD subjects using the BrainPort™ balance device to postural stability of control subjects using a sham device and respective baseline measures for each group. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether electrotactile stimulation of the tongue, using the BrainPort™ balance device, can improve postural stability, as measured by improvement in performance of the composite Computerized Dynamic Posturography using the NeuroCom® Sensory Organization Test in subjects with chronic bilateral vestibular dysfunction (BVD). The secondary objectives are to evaluate improvement in quality of life, as measured by the Activities Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and to demonstrate a decreased number of falls on the NeuroCom® Sensory Organization Test. In addition, we will monitor the number of falls that occur during subjects' normal activities of daily living. The long-term objective is to evaluate the safety and efficacy when the device is used over a one-year period.

Conditions

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Vestibular Disease

Keywords

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Balance Vestibular Electrotactile BrainPort Sensory substitution Tongue

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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Electrotactile sensory substitution

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Documented history of acquired bilateral vestibular dysfunction for a duration of at least one year which has been unsuccessfully treated or reached a plateau with conventional vestibular rehabilitation.
* No greater than 2 successful attempts out of 6 on the NeuroCom Equitest Sensory Organization Tests 5 and 6.
* Failure on the Rotary Chair Vestibulo-ocular Reflex (VOR) Test as evidenced by a gain of less than or equal to -2 standard deviations at frequencies of .025, and .05 Hz.
* Normal corrected vision (20/40 or better).
* Able to read and understand the informed consent form, and willing to sign the informed consent form.
* Willing to complete all follow-up evaluations required by the study protocol.
* Able to stand for a period of 20 minutes in a stationary position with weight evenly distributed without moderate pain, muscle cramping or numbness in the lower extremities.

Exclusion Criteria

* Neurological disorders other than bilateral vestibular disorder, as determined by medical history and neurological screening procedure.
* Current oral health problems as determined by health questionnaire and an examination of the oral cavity.
* Cigarette smokers and those who use chewing tobacco.
* Currently taking either benzodiazepine or barbiturate medication.
* Any medical condition as determined by the health questionnaire that would interfere with performance on the postural stability evaluation tests.
* Known neuropathies of tongue or skin tactile system.
* Peripheral neuropathies of the lower extremities.
* Prior exposure to BrainPort™ balance device (does not apply to control group subjects who cross over).
* Subjects who are unwilling or unable to adhere to all study requirements, including completion of the training period, evaluation tests, and return to clinic for a follow-up visit.
* Subjects who have undergone middle ear or other surgery with sacrifice or damage to the chorda tympani, lingual, or hypoglossal nerve.
* Subjects who have an implanted device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.
* If the subject is female, she is pregnant.
* If the subject is unwilling to discontinue medications for dizziness or imbalance 48 hours prior to beginning the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Wicab

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Yuri P Danilov, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Wicab

Locations

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Mayo Clinic

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Site Status

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Washington University

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Site Status

Medway Balance Centre

Kent, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United States United Kingdom

References

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Bach-y-Rita P, W Kercel S. Sensory substitution and the human-machine interface. Trends Cogn Sci. 2003 Dec;7(12):541-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2003.10.013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14643370 (View on PubMed)

Tyler M, Danilov Y, Bach-Y-Rita P. Closing an open-loop control system: vestibular substitution through the tongue. J Integr Neurosci. 2003 Dec;2(2):159-64. doi: 10.1142/s0219635203000263.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15011268 (View on PubMed)

Bach-y-rita P, Danilov YP, Tyler ME, Grimm RF. Late Human Brain Plasticity: Vestibular Substitution with a Tongue BrainPort Human-Machine Interface. Journal Intellectica, 2005 (in press).

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Bach-Y-Rita P. Emerging concepts of brain function. J Integr Neurosci. 2005 Jun;4(2):183-205. doi: 10.1142/s0219635205000768.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15988797 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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WCB1-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id