Feasibility of the Radio-Frequency Microstimulator System to Improve Arm Function Following Traumatic Brain Injury

NCT ID: NCT01488981

Last Updated: 2013-12-19

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

1 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-02-29

Study Completion Date

2013-07-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study will evaluate the feasibility of using fully implanted microstimulators to rehabilitate arm function in patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) could involve damage to motor pathways within the central nervous system, resulting in loss of arm function from symptoms including general weakness, loss of power, motor control abnormalities and spasticity.

The Radiofrequency Microstimulator (RFM) System consists of fully implanted, leadless stimulators that are injected in a minimally invasive procedure. RFMs measure 16.7mm long, 2.4mm dia. and can be placed directly at target nerves in the arm to drive specific muscle contractions. This system has demonstrated efficacy in arm rehabilitation for stroke patients who suffer from loss of arm function similar to that experienced by some TBI patients.

This feasibility study will evaluate if the RFM system can be used to assist patients in the rehabilitation of arm function following TBI. TBI patients that pass screening will have up to 7 RFM devices implanted in their disabled arm. After implantation, patients will participate in four phases of therapy, each lasting 12 weeks and consisting of standard occupational therapy occurring at regular intervals at home and in the clinic. In the first phase, therapy will not involve use of the RFM System. In the second phase, occupational therapy will be assisted by electrical stimulation using the RFM System. The third and fourth phases will repeat the therapies of the first and second phases, respectively. Arm function following therapy with RFM stimulation will be compared to arm function after therapy without RFM stimulation.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

Radio Frequency Microstimulator Traumatic Brain Injury TBI Arm Rehabilitation electrical stimulation FES

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Upper Extremity Therapy without stimulation

Two 12 week phases of occupational therapy without electrical stimulation.

Intervention Type OTHER

Upper Extremity Therapy with stimulation from the Radiofrequency Microstimulator (RFM) System (Alfred Mann Foundation, Santa Clarita, CA)

Two 12 week phases of occupational therapy that incorporates electrical stimulation from the RFM System.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Arm Rehabilitation Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy OT FES functional electrical stimulation electrical stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Subject sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury at least 6 and no more than 48 months prior to time of consenting.
2. As a result of Traumatic Brain Injury, subject has impaired hand function associated with poor control and weakness of wrist and elbow extensors on at least one side.
3. Subject has some preserved control of the arm to be treated as demonstrated by any voluntary movement of fingers and shoulder.
4. Subject has functional, passive Range of Motion at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger joints of the arm to be treated.
5. Subject's spasticity has been maximally medically controlled and documented stable without change in medication or therapies for a minimum of one month.
6. Peripheral neuromuscular system is intact as demonstrated by electrophysiologic response to routine clinical nerve conduction studies and electromyography on the arm to be treated.
7. Subject is assigned a level no less than VII on the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale.
8. Subject is fluent in English.
9. Subject or their legally authorized representative has signed an informed consent form.
10. Subject (either male or female) is at least 18 years of age at time of consent.
11. Subject is willing and capable of traveling to the investigational site for study visits outlined in this protocol.
12. In the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI), subject will be able to apply per protocol therapy at home, with the aid of a caregiver if necessary.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Subject is unwilling to perform all of the therapies and assessments required for the study.
2. Subject has an active implant device (e.g. pacemaker, implanted cardiac defibrillator, neurostimulator, or drug infusion device).
3. Subject has a metal implant (e.g. orthopedic hardware, stent, etc.) that is located within 12 cm of where the RF Coil surface will be placed for the RFM E-Stim therapy.
4. Subject has metal fragments, metal implants, bullet fragments, metal chips or clips in or around the orbits or cranium or any other metal inside the body that would contraindicate an MRI or make it unreadable for the purpose of analysis.
5. Subject with a congenital defect, contracture, upper extremity trauma, or other non-TBI condition that limits range of motion or neuromuscular function of the involved arm.
6. Subject has a documented diagnosis of HIV or other life limiting infection or disease.
7. A female subject who is pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study. Women of childbearing potential must maintain effective contraception during the study period, as judged by the Investigator.
8. Subject has a major psychological disorder, such as poorly controlled schizophrenia or paranoia, such that cooperative status is inconsistent.
9. Subject has severe claustrophobia, movement that cannot be medically controlled or other condition that would limit their ability to undergo an MRI scan or remain still throughout an MRI scan.
10. Subject has non-controlled epilepsy.
11. In the opinion of the PI, subject has a high level of residual spasticity despite maximal medical therapy.
12. Subject has peripheral neuropathy or myopathy in either upper extremity that would preclude implementation of proposed stimulation techniques (i.e. involvement of peripheral nerves or muscles involved in extension of the elbow, wrist, or fingers). An exception is made for carpel tunnel syndrome.
13. Subject has a muscle power grade of more than 3 on the elbow, wrist and finger extensors of the arm to be treated, according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale.
14. Subject has a history of endocarditis, a prosthetic valve or murmur.
15. Subject has a history of adverse reactions to anesthetic agents.
16. Recent or current participation in research that may influence response to either study intervention, or be harmful to the subject in any way.
17. Subject's life expectancy is less than 1.5 years.
18. Subject has any bleeding or clotting disorder.
19. Subject has pain that in the opinion of the PI would impair participation.
20. Subject is unwilling to refrain from use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on the arm to be treated for the duration of their study participation.
21. The PI does not feel the subject is a suitable candidate for the study, for any reason.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

The Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Subhra Jit Mookerjee, DO

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

James A. Haley VA Medical Center

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

James A. Haley VA Medical Center

Tampa, Florida, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

http://aemf.org

Related Info

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

CP-0014

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id