Directional Versus Nondirectional DBS for ET

NCT ID: NCT04828798

Last Updated: 2025-10-30

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-04-01

Study Completion Date

2029-10-01

Brief Summary

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This will be a single center (OHSU) proof of concept trial to demonstrate that directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) creates a larger therapeutic window for the treatment of essential tremor (ET), effectively treats ET, and minimizes effects on speech, gait and balance compared to nondirectional DBS.

Detailed Description

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Specific Aims:

1. To compare the therapeutic window (TW) of directional versus nondirectional deep brain stimulation for treatment of tremor.

Hypothesis: directional DBS will result in a wider TW than nondirectional DBS.
2. To compare the effects of directional versus nondirectional DBS on speech Hypothesis: Objective and subjective speech impairment will occur to a greater extent in nondirectional DBS versus directional DBS optimized for tremor control.
3. To compare the effects of directional versus nondirectional DBS on balance and gait Hypothesis: Objective and subjective balance and gait impairment will occur to a greater extent in nondirectional DBS versus directional DBS optimized for tremor control.
4. To assess efficacy for tremor of nondirectional and directional DBS in an optimized programming configuration Hypothesis: both directional and nondirectional DBS will significantly improve tremor compared to baseline.

Conditions

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Essential Tremor

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Double-blinded crossover design
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Directional deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation delivered in a directional manner within an axial plane

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Deep brain stimulation of the VIM Thalamic nuclei

Intervention Type DEVICE

Deep brain stimulation of the thalamus, in a directional and nondirectional manner

Nondirectional deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation delivered in a nondirectional manner within an axial plane

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Deep brain stimulation of the VIM Thalamic nuclei

Intervention Type DEVICE

Deep brain stimulation of the thalamus, in a directional and nondirectional manner

Interventions

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Deep brain stimulation of the VIM Thalamic nuclei

Deep brain stimulation of the thalamus, in a directional and nondirectional manner

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* A tremor syndrome of bilateral upper limb action tremor with at least 3 years' duration

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients who have decided not to receive DBS for control of their medication-refractory essential tremor.
* Patients with secondary tremor (ie not Essential Tremor), such as side effects from medications, secondary to another identified neurologic disease (eg multiple sclerosis, -----Parkinson's disease, dystonia).
* Prior history of deep brain stimulation.
* Prior history of thalamotomy.
* A history or signs of dystonia, ataxia or parkinsonism.
* Task specific tremor.
* Orthostatic tremor.
* Patients with cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, or neurostimulators.
* Patients who require MRI, ECT, rTMS, or diathermy.
* Subjects with other type of neurological disease or injury.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Oregon Health and Science University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Matthew Brodsky

Associate Professor of Neurology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Zoe Fanning

Role: CONTACT

503-494-7772

Facility Contacts

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Zoe Fanning

Role: primary

503-494-7772

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00020724

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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