Antinociceptive Effect of Transauricular Electrical Vagal Nerve Stimulation

NCT ID: NCT04448990

Last Updated: 2020-06-26

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

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

66 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-05-31

Study Completion Date

2023-08-31

Brief Summary

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This investigation is going to study whether electrical tVNS applied at the cymba of auricular conchae reduces central sensitization of experimentally induced pain in comparison with electrical sham stimulation applied at the earlobes and whether the hypoalgesic effects of tVNS disappear after pharmacological block of muscarinic receptors. Also, this investigation will examine whether tVNS is associated with activation in brain areas, involved in processing of thermal pain stimuli and emotional and vegetative modulation of thermal pain in subjects who will respond with antinociceptive reaction to tVNS.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Pain, Acute

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Two periods (real and sham tVNS) randomized crossover investigation in healthy volunteers
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
Real tVNS will be applied using pre-defined characteristics of tVNS device to cymba conchae of the auricle, sham procedure will be the same, however applied to tubule of the auricle

Study Groups

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tVNS

Stimulation will be applied using TENS device eco 2 (Schwa-Medico, Pierenkemper GmbH, Ehringshausen, Germany) bilaterally at the cymba conchae of the auricles for 20 minutes. Current intensity (1-max. 10 mA) will be individually adjusted for each ear separately until the maximal tVNS intensity, which is not uncomfortable or painful, will be achieved.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

TENS eco 2 Transauricular vagal nerve stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Auricular electrical stimulation will be applied bilaterally using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation device TENS eco 2 (Schwa-Medico, Pierenkemper GmbH, Ehringshausen, Germany).

tVNS will be applied bilaterally using electrical square impulses delivered in blocks of 9 impulses with a frequency of 100 Hz and a pulse width of 200 μs emitted twice per second resulting in mixed frequency pattern of 100 Hz/2 Hz with the current intensity, that will be individually adjusted for each ear separately until the maximal tVNS intensity, which is not uncomfortable or painful, will be achieved.

Sham

Same stimulation will be applied using TENS device eco 2 (Schwa-Medico, Pierenkemper GmbH, Ehringshausen, Germany) to bilaterally to the earlobes for 20 minutes. Current intensity (1-max. 10 mA) will be individually adjusted for each ear separately until the maximal tVNS intensity, which is not uncomfortable or painful, will be achieved.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham TENS eco 2

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham

Interventions

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TENS eco 2 Transauricular vagal nerve stimulation

Auricular electrical stimulation will be applied bilaterally using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation device TENS eco 2 (Schwa-Medico, Pierenkemper GmbH, Ehringshausen, Germany).

tVNS will be applied bilaterally using electrical square impulses delivered in blocks of 9 impulses with a frequency of 100 Hz and a pulse width of 200 μs emitted twice per second resulting in mixed frequency pattern of 100 Hz/2 Hz with the current intensity, that will be individually adjusted for each ear separately until the maximal tVNS intensity, which is not uncomfortable or painful, will be achieved.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham TENS eco 2

Sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* healthy volunteers aged 18-45 years old, who have given informed consent
* at least two days free from consume of recreational drugs
* no local infection at the site of tVNS and pain stimulation

Exclusion Criteria

* psychiatric disorders
* abnormal skin conditions (infection, scars, psoriasis, eczema) at the site of tVNS
* contra-indications for MRI (e.g. claustrophobia, pregnancy, tattoos, metallic implants)
* history of coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, glaucoma, allergy to sulphates
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University Medicine Greifswald

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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University Medicine of Greifswald

Greifswald, , Germany

Site Status

Countries

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Germany

Central Contacts

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Taras Usichenko, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+49 3834865893

Facility Contacts

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Taras Usichenko, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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BB 196/18

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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