STIMO: Epidural Electrical Simulation (EES) With Robot-assisted Rehabilitation in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury.

NCT ID: NCT02936453

Last Updated: 2023-10-17

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

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-07-31

Study Completion Date

2026-07-31

Brief Summary

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STIMO is a First-in-Man (FIM) study to confirm the safety and feasibility of a closed-loop Epidural Electrical Stimulation (EES) in combination with overground robot assisted rehabilitation training for patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).

Patients will participate during 8-12 months, during which there will be:

* Pre-implant evaluations (6-8 weeks)
* Device implantation and stimulation optimization (6-8 weeks)
* Overground rehabilitation training with EES (5-6 months). In the period after implantation, participants need to be present for testing and training, 4 days per week at the CHUV University Hospital in Lausanne (lodging can be provided). It is possible to complement the neuro-rehabilitative training at CHUV with training outside the rehabilitation room by making use of the Home-use system.

At the end of the protocol, the study aims to make the patients walk better and faster. As this is the first study of its kind, success is not guaranteed. However, the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

An optional extension of the study up to 3 years is offered. During this period, the patient can continue the training with the Home-use system.

Detailed Description

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STIMO is a First-in-Man (FIM) study with the objective to confirm the safety and feasibility of a closed-loop Epidural Electrical Stimulation (EES) in combination with overground robot assisted rehabilitation training for patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), as it was previously successfully demonstrated in animals.

The study consists of two phases:

A. Main study

The main study lasts about 8-12 months for each individual participant, from signing informed consent to the final test in the study This period can be divided into 3 distinct phases:

* Pre-implant : about 6-8 weeks from informed consent to implant. During this phase, patient will participate during a total of 6 distinct days of evaluations, of which 5 days in Lausanne and 1 day at the assessment center in Zurich. The patient will also participate to 3 weeks of pre-implantation training in a Body Weight Support (BWS) system.
* Implant and stimulation optimization: about 6-8 weeks, including the implantation of the epidural lead and the neurostimulator. In this phase, the optimal stimulation parameters will be determined for the flexing and stretching of both legs. During this period, participants need to be present at the CHUV University Hospital in Lausanne 4-5 days per week (lodging can be provided).
* Rehabilitation training and final evaluation: 4 days per week of rehabilitation training during a period of 5 months, followed by a final evaluation lasting 4 days in Lausanne and 1 day in Zurich. In this phase, the patients receive intensive overground rehabilitation training using a body weight support device in combination with EES, with the aim of significantly improving their walking capabilities. During this period, participants need to be present at the CHUV University Hospital in Lausanne (lodging can be provided) 4 days per week.

Once the patient has shown the ability to stand or walk safely without robotic assistance, he/she is offered the possibility to complement his/her neuro-rehabilitative training using EES outside the robotic environment and rehabilitation room by making use of the Home-use system.

B. Optional study extension (3 years)

The patient has the possibility to continue his/her neuro-rehabilitative training with the home-use system for an additional period of 3 years after the end of clinical rehabilitation period. During this period, evaluation measures and technical check-ups are made at regular time points. The patient is contacted monthly to ensure a normal training conduct and a safety follow-up.

At the end of the protocol, the study aims to make the patients walk better and faster. Improvements are quantified through pre-defined measures assessed prior to implant and at the end of the main study as well as at regular time points during the optional study extension.

As this is the first study of its kind, success is not guaranteed. However, the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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All patients

Patients will participate during 8-12 months, during which there will be :

* Pre-implant evaluations (6-8 weeks)
* Device implantation and stimulation optimization (6-8 weeks)
* Overground rehabilitation training with EES (5-6 months) In the period after implantation participants need to be present at the CHUV University Hospital in Lausanne 4 days per week for testing and training (lodging can be provided). It is possible to complement the neuro-rehabilitative training at CHUV with a training outside the rehabilitation room by making use of the Home-use system.

An optional extension of the study up to 3 years is offered. During this period, the patient can continue the training with the Home-use system.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Device implantation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

* Implantation of Specify 5-6-5 lead or Go-2 lead in epidural space
* Implantation of Activa RC neurostimulator

Interventions

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Device implantation

* Implantation of Specify 5-6-5 lead or Go-2 lead in epidural space
* Implantation of Activa RC neurostimulator

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18-65 (women or men)
* Incomplete SCI graded as AIS A,B,C \& D
* Level of lesion: T10 and above, based on AIS level determination by the PI, with preservation of conus function
* The intact distance between the cone and the lesion must be at least 60mm
* Focal spinal cord disorder caused by either trauma or epidural, subdural or intramedullary bleeding
* Minimum 12 months post-injury
* Completed in-patient rehabilitation program
* Able to stand with walker or 2 crutches
* Stable medical and physical condition as considered by Investigators
* Adequate care-giver support and access to appropriate medical care in patient's home community
* Agree to comply in good faith with all conditions of the study and to attend all required study training and visits
* Must participate in two training sessions before enrolment
* Must provide and sign Informed Consent prior to any study related procedures

Exclusion Criteria

* Limitation of walking function based on accompanying (CNS) disorders (systemic malignant disorders, cardiovascular disorders restricting physical training, peripheral nerve disorders)
* History of significant autonomic dysreflexia
* Cognitive/brain damage
* Epilepsy
* Patient who has spinal canal stenosis
* Patient who uses an intrathecal Baclofen pump.
* Patient who has any active implanted cardiac device such as pacemaker or defibrillator.
* Patient who has any indication that would require diathermy.
* Patient who has any indication that would require MRI.
* Patient that have an increased risk for defibrillation
* Severe joint contractures disabling or restricting lower limb movements.
* Haematological disorders with increased risk for surgical interventions (increased risk of haemorrhagic events).
* Participation in another locomotor training study.
* Congenital or acquired lower limb abnormalities (affection of joints and bone).
* Women who are pregnant (pregnancy test obligatory for woman of childbearing potential) or breast feeding or not willing to take contraception.
* Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse.
* Spinal cord lesion due to either a neurodegenerative disease or a tumour.
* Patient has other anatomic or co-morbid conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, could limit the patient's ability to participate in the study or to comply with follow-up requirements, or impact the scientific soundness of the study results.
* Patient is unlikely to survive the protocol follow-up period of 12 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Foundation Wings For Life

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Jocelyne Bloch

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jocelyne Bloch

Doctor

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Grégoire Courtine

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Armin Curt

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University Hospital Balgrist, Zuerich

Locations

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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland

Site Status

Countries

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Switzerland

References

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Angeli CA, Edgerton VR, Gerasimenko YP, Harkema SJ. Altering spinal cord excitability enables voluntary movements after chronic complete paralysis in humans. Brain. 2014 May;137(Pt 5):1394-409. doi: 10.1093/brain/awu038. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24713270 (View on PubMed)

Dominici N, Keller U, Vallery H, Friedli L, van den Brand R, Starkey ML, Musienko P, Riener R, Courtine G. Versatile robotic interface to evaluate, enable and train locomotion and balance after neuromotor disorders. Nat Med. 2012 Jul;18(7):1142-7. doi: 10.1038/nm.2845.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22653117 (View on PubMed)

Harkema S, Gerasimenko Y, Hodes J, Burdick J, Angeli C, Chen Y, Ferreira C, Willhite A, Rejc E, Grossman RG, Edgerton VR. Effect of epidural stimulation of the lumbosacral spinal cord on voluntary movement, standing, and assisted stepping after motor complete paraplegia: a case study. Lancet. 2011 Jun 4;377(9781):1938-47. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60547-3. Epub 2011 May 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21601270 (View on PubMed)

van den Brand R, Heutschi J, Barraud Q, DiGiovanna J, Bartholdi K, Huerlimann M, Friedli L, Vollenweider I, Moraud EM, Duis S, Dominici N, Micera S, Musienko P, Courtine G. Restoring voluntary control of locomotion after paralyzing spinal cord injury. Science. 2012 Jun 1;336(6085):1182-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1217416.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22654062 (View on PubMed)

Wenger N, Moraud EM, Raspopovic S, Bonizzato M, DiGiovanna J, Musienko P, Morari M, Micera S, Courtine G. Closed-loop neuromodulation of spinal sensorimotor circuits controls refined locomotion after complete spinal cord injury. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Sep 24;6(255):255ra133. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008325.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25253676 (View on PubMed)

Wenger N, Moraud EM, Gandar J, Musienko P, Capogrosso M, Baud L, Le Goff CG, Barraud Q, Pavlova N, Dominici N, Minev IR, Asboth L, Hirsch A, Duis S, Kreider J, Mortera A, Haverbeck O, Kraus S, Schmitz F, DiGiovanna J, van den Brand R, Bloch J, Detemple P, Lacour SP, Bezard E, Micera S, Courtine G. Spatiotemporal neuromodulation therapies engaging muscle synergies improve motor control after spinal cord injury. Nat Med. 2016 Feb;22(2):138-45. doi: 10.1038/nm.4025. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26779815 (View on PubMed)

Carroll AH, Fakhre E, Quinonez A, Tannous O, Mesfin A. An Update on Spinal Cord Injury and Current Management. JBJS Rev. 2024 Oct 24;12(10). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00124. eCollection 2024 Oct 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39446982 (View on PubMed)

Rowald A, Komi S, Demesmaeker R, Baaklini E, Hernandez-Charpak SD, Paoles E, Montanaro H, Cassara A, Becce F, Lloyd B, Newton T, Ravier J, Kinany N, D'Ercole M, Paley A, Hankov N, Varescon C, McCracken L, Vat M, Caban M, Watrin A, Jacquet C, Bole-Feysot L, Harte C, Lorach H, Galvez A, Tschopp M, Herrmann N, Wacker M, Geernaert L, Fodor I, Radevich V, Van Den Keybus K, Eberle G, Pralong E, Roulet M, Ledoux JB, Fornari E, Mandija S, Mattera L, Martuzzi R, Nazarian B, Benkler S, Callegari S, Greiner N, Fuhrer B, Froeling M, Buse N, Denison T, Buschman R, Wende C, Ganty D, Bakker J, Delattre V, Lambert H, Minassian K, van den Berg CAT, Kavounoudias A, Micera S, Van De Ville D, Barraud Q, Kurt E, Kuster N, Neufeld E, Capogrosso M, Asboth L, Wagner FB, Bloch J, Courtine G. Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis. Nat Med. 2022 Feb;28(2):260-271. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01663-5. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35132264 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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http://courtine-lab.epfl.ch/

Courtine-Lab is a part of the Center for Neuroprosthetic and Brain Mind Institute of the Life Science School at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). The laboratory is headed by Professor Grégoire Courtine.

Other Identifiers

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STIMO2016

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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