ExAblate Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

NCT ID: NCT03671889

Last Updated: 2026-01-09

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

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

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-09-28

Study Completion Date

2030-01-31

Brief Summary

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

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2.0 System as a tool to disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in patients with probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Detailed Description

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

This is a prospective, multi-center, single-arm study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BBB disruption using the ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2.0 (220 kHz) system. Patients with diagnosis of Probable Alzheimer's Disease may qualify for a clinical trial to have three serial ExAblate BBB disruption procedures in specific areas in the brain. This study will be conducted at up to 8 sites in the United States and will enroll up to 30 patients.

Conditions

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

Alzheimer Disease

Study Design

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

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

Subjects who meet study eligibility will undergo treatment procedures
Primary Study Purpose

DEVICE_FEASIBILITY

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption

ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2.0 System

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption

Intervention Type DEVICE

Focal Ultrasound (FUS) involves the application of acoustic energy at low frequencies from over 1000 individual transducers into distinct targets to induce BBB disruption.

Interventions

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

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption

Focal Ultrasound (FUS) involves the application of acoustic energy at low frequencies from over 1000 individual transducers into distinct targets to induce BBB disruption.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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

ExAblate Neuro

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria

1. Male or Female between 50-85 years of age
2. Probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
3. If taking concurrent Alzheimer's medication, has been on the medication for at least 2 months with a stable dose for at least 3 months
4. Able to communicate sensations during the ExAblate MRgFUS procedure
5. Ambulatory

Exclusion Criteria

1. MRI Findings
2. Presence of unknown or MR unsafe devices anywhere in the body
3. Significant cardiac disease or unstable hemodynamic status
4. Relative contraindications to ultrasound contrast agent or PET amyloid tracer
5. History of a bleeding disorder
6. History of liver disease
7. Known cerebral or systemic vasculopathy
8. Significant depression and at potential risk of suicide
9. Any contraindications to MRI scanning
10. Any contraindication to lumbar puncture for collection of cerebral spinal fluid
11. Untreated, uncontrolled sleep apnea
12. History of seizure disorder or epilepsy
13. Severely Impaired renal function
14. Currently in a clinical trial involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device or in any other type of medical research
15. Chronic pulmonary disorders
16. Positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
17. Known apolipoprotein E allele (ApoE4) homozygosity
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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

InSightec

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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

Delray Medical Center & Florida Atlantic University

Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Broward Health Medical Center & The University of Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Florida Health Shands

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Baptist Health South Florida & Florida International University

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Advent Health

Orlando, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Tampa General Hospital

Tampa, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Weill Cornell Medicine

New York, New York, United States

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

The Ohio State University -Wexner Medical Center

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, United States

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Center

Morgantown, West Virginia, United States

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Countries

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

United States

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Jenny Zucker, MS

Role: primary

561-825-1505

Joan Osborne, EdD

Role: primary

954-355-5563

Celena Bodie

Role: backup

654-786-6736

Phuong Deleyrolle

Role: primary

352-273-5529

Victoria Hope

Role: backup

352-273-9000

Margarita Mederos

Role: primary

786-596-1845

Bhumi Patel

Role: primary

407-609-4598

Shalini Raj Nampally

Role: primary

8138218513

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Mehta RI, Carpenter JS, Mehta RI, Haut MW, Wang P, Ranjan M, Najib U, D'Haese PF, Rezai AR. Ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening uncovers an intracerebral perivenous fluid network in persons with Alzheimer's disease. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2023 Jun 16;20(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12987-023-00447-y.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37328855 (View on PubMed)

Rezai AR, Ranjan M, Haut MW, Carpenter J, D'Haese PF, Mehta RI, Najib U, Wang P, Claassen DO, Chazen JL, Krishna V, Deib G, Zibly Z, Hodder SL, Wilhelmsen KC, Finomore V, Konrad PE, Kaplitt M; Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Focused ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening in Alzheimer's disease: long-term safety, imaging, and cognitive outcomes. J Neurosurg. 2022 Nov 4;139(1):275-283. doi: 10.3171/2022.9.JNS221565. Print 2023 Jul 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36334289 (View on PubMed)

Mathew AS, Gorick CM, Price RJ. Multiple regression analysis of a comprehensive transcriptomic data assembly elucidates mechanically- and biochemically-driven responses to focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier disruption. Theranostics. 2021 Oct 11;11(20):9847-9858. doi: 10.7150/thno.65064. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34815790 (View on PubMed)

Mehta RI, Carpenter JS, Mehta RI, Haut MW, Ranjan M, Najib U, Lockman P, Wang P, D'haese PF, Rezai AR. Blood-Brain Barrier Opening with MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Elicits Meningeal Venous Permeability in Humans with Early Alzheimer Disease. Radiology. 2021 Mar;298(3):654-662. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021200643. Epub 2021 Jan 5.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33399511 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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

AL002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Blood Brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer' Disease
NCT03119961 COMPLETED PHASE1/PHASE2