BTL Emsella Chair Versus Sham for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

NCT ID: NCT04133675

Last Updated: 2025-12-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 110 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-12-18
• Study Completion Date: 2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a condition that affects both men and women. SUI is the involuntary leakage of urine caused by an increase in intra-abdominal pressure from activities such as exercise, coughing, laughing, or sneezing. It can significantly affect quality of life as patients avoid activities or behaviors that cause leakage. This clinical trial will compare the efficacy of the Emsella chair to sham and determine if electromagnetic technology is effective in the treatment of SUI.

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, sham-controlled, observational study of subjects undergoing electromagnetic perineal stimulation for the treatment of SUI. Eligible subjects will be randomized to receive active treatment or sham in a 1:1 ratio. Eight treatments (2 treatments each week) for 4 weeks will be completed with the Emsella chair to the pelvic floor muscles.

Electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor is a FDA approved therapy whereby a coil generates pulsed electromagnetic fields that penetrate deep into the pelvic floor muscles inducing stimulation and providing rehabilitation of weak pelvic muscles.The Emsella Chair is a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for the treatment of SUI, in addition to other pelvic floor related disorders. HIFEM technology induces deep pelvic floor muscle contractions designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises over 28 minutes.This technology is typically not covered by insurance, is minimally invasive, and safe, but has limited data available.

Currently, there is no data available from sham controlled studies evaluating efficacy of this technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the Emsella Chair to sham and to determine whether electromagnetic technology is effective in the treatment of SUI.

Conditions

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Emsella Chair Active Treatment

Active treatment subjects will be asked to sit on the center of the Emsella chair. The height of the chair will be adjusted until the participant's feet are on the floor. The Emsella chair will be turned on and the setting gradually increased to the subject's sensory threshold; the maximum sensation the subject can tolerate. The setting will then be decreased slightly and stay unchanged for the remainder of the treatment time. The treatment threshold should be increased with every treatment until the subject reaches 100%.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

BTL Emsella

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The Emsella Chair is a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for the treatment of SUI, in addition to other pelvic floor related disorders. HIFEM technology induces deep pelvic floor muscle contractions designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises over 28 minutes. The treatment paradigm consists of 3 different phases. The phases consist of an intense stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), which consists of stimlulation and relaxation. The repetition of the phases and focused electromagnetic energy delivery leads to pelvic floor stimulation, adaptation, and remodelation.

Emsella Sham Treatment

Sham subjects will be positioned on the device in the same manner as the active treatment group. The sham treatment will be provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology. The programming for the sham treatment will have an amplitude limitation, with the setting below therapeutic level (\<10% power).

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham BTL Emsella

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham subjects will be positioned on the device in the same manner as the active treatment group. The sham treatment will be provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology. The programming for the sham treatment will have an amplitude limitation, with the setting below therapeutic level (\<10% power).

Interventions

BTL Emsella

The Emsella Chair is a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for the treatment of SUI, in addition to other pelvic floor related disorders. HIFEM technology induces deep pelvic floor muscle contractions designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises over 28 minutes. The treatment paradigm consists of 3 different phases. The phases consist of an intense stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), which consists of stimlulation and relaxation. The repetition of the phases and focused electromagnetic energy delivery leads to pelvic floor stimulation, adaptation, and remodelation.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham BTL Emsella

Sham subjects will be positioned on the device in the same manner as the active treatment group. The sham treatment will be provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology. The programming for the sham treatment will have an amplitude limitation, with the setting below therapeutic level (\<10% power).

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated, informed consent prior to screening, and be likely to comply with study protocol, including independently complete study questionnaires and communicate with study personnel about AEs and other clinically important information.

2. Females and males, 18 to 80 years of age, inclusive, at screening

3. Positive Cough or Bladder Stress Test at screening

4. Subject agrees not to start any new treatment (medication or otherwise) during the treatment and follow-up periods.

6. Subject agrees to maintain a stable dose of any medication known to affect lower urinary tract function, including but not limited to anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants, beta-3 adrenergic agonist, or α-adrenergic blockers, throughout the treatment and follow-up periods.

For Females Only:

• Subject agrees to discontinue use of bladder support devices, including but not limited to vaginal pessary, during the screening, treatment, and follow-up periods.
• If of child-bearing age and female, agree to practice approved birth-control methods (oral contraceptives, condom barrier, injection, diaphragm or cervical cap, vaginal contraceptive ring, IUD, implantable contraceptive, surgical sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation), vasectomized partner(s))

For Males Only:

• Subject must be ≥ 4 months post radical prostatectomy

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pelvic floor physical therapy, including muscle training and/or electrostimulation, in a clinical setting within 30 days prior to screening

2. Subject is morbidly obese (defined as body mass index 40 or greater)

3. Pulmonary insufficiency, defined as difficulty breathing and fatigue, especially during exercise; chest pain, such as squeezing, pressure or tightness; the sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations); swelling of the legs or feet; dizziness or fainting; and/or bluish discoloration of the nails and/or lips (cyanosis)

4. Any condition that causes a lack of normal skin sensation to the pelvis, buttocks, and lower extremities

5. Implanted cardiac pacemaker or metal in the body, including, but not limited to drug pumps, neurostimulators, electronic implants, copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), and/or defibrillators

6. Subject has a piercing between the waist and knees and is not willing to remove it before each treatment

7. Active urethral diverticula

8. Known vesicoureteral reflux

9. Currently healing from surgical procedures where muscle contraction may disrupt the healing process

10. Treatment with urethral bulking agents within the 6 months prior to the Screening Visit

11. Subject is currently receiving treatment for a malignant tumor that would interfere with study participation.

12. Subject has used the BTL EMSELLA device previously

13. Subject has urinary incontinence of neurogenic etiology, such as multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetic neuropathy etc.

14. Clinically confirmed urinary tract infection, requiring treatment as determined by the investigator, at the Screening Visit

15. Currently participating in an investigational study that may impact study results or previously received an investigational drug or treatment within 30 days of the Screening Visit

16. Current or history of any physical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, might put the subject at risk or interfere with study results interpretation

For Females Only:

17. Pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, at screening or anytime throughout the study period

18. History of surgery with insertion of vaginal mesh for SUI

19. Vaginal prolapse beyond the introitus

20. Vaginal rejuvenation treatment, including laser treatments and radiofrequency therapy, within the 6 months prior to the Screening Visit

• Note for the sake of preserving scientific integrity, one or more of the eligibility criteria have been left off the list posted while the trial is ongoing. A full list of eligibility criteria will be posted upon completion of the trial.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Corewell Health East

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kenneth M Peters, MD

Director and Chair of the Department of Urology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Kenneth Peters, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Locations

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Royal Oak, Michigan, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Julie Swanson, RN

Role: CONTACT

Julie.Swanson2@corewellhealth.org

248-551-3551

Jennifer Giordano, RN

Role: CONTACT

Jennifer.Giordano@corewellhealth.org

248-551-3517

Facility Contacts

Julie Swanson, RN

Role: primary

Julie.Swanson2@corewellhealth.org

248-551-3551

Jennifer Giordano, RN

Role: backup

Jennifer.Giordano@corewellhealth.org

248-551-3517

References

Galloway NT, El-Galley RE, Sand PK, Appell RA, Russell HW, Carlan SJ. Extracorporeal magnetic innervation therapy for stress urinary incontinence. Urology. 1999 Jun;53(6):1108-11. doi: 10.1016/s0090-4295(99)00037-0.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 10367836 (View on PubMed)

HIFEM technology in treatment of urinary incontinence mechanism of action. https://www.avantemedicalcenter.com/images/documents/Emsella_study.pdf. Published November 2017. Accessed June 20, 2019.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

2019-242

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id