A Study to Test a New Fluid to Improve the Quality of Images Obtained by Using Sound Waves (Ultrasound) During Surgery

NCT ID: NCT07042620

Last Updated: 2026-02-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2026-09-30

Brief Summary

The objective of this clinical investigation is to assess the safety and performance of the SonoClear® System. Performance will be assessed by analysis of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and assessment of image quality by using the Surgeon Image Rating (SIR) Scale.

This is a prospective, multi-centre single arm study where the performance of the SonoClear® System relative to routinely used acoustic coupling fluid is investigated by each patient being their own control. Patients with the diagnosis of high-grade glioma (HGG) and low-grade glioma (LGG) at up to 5 sites in Germany will be included. Additionally, safety data are collected at 72 hours, 30 days and 6 months post procedure.

Detailed Description

Ultrasound images will be obtained at different timepoints during the operation. First timepoint being after craniotomy (no fluids involved). Second timepoint being when some tumour is left in the bottom of the deeper part of the resection cavity (approximately 80% of tumour removed), and third timepoint being when the surgeon deems resection of the tumour to be completed. At the second and third timepoint ultrasound acquisition will be performed twice at each timepoint. Once with routinely used irrigation fluids (physiologic saline 0.9% / ringer's / lactated ringers' solution) and once with SonoClear® as part of the SonoClear® System

There are two performance related primary endpoints, based on core lab assessments:

1. To assess ultrasound images obtained with SonoClear® as part of the SonoClear® System are less influenced by image artefacts compared to images obtained with standard of care irrigation fluid, by measuring the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The CNR is a measure of the relative noise in the image.

2. To assess ultrasound images obtained with SonoClear® as part of the SonoClear® System compared to images obtained with standard of care irrigation fluids, by using a qualitative assessment, called the Surgeons Image Rating (SIR) scale. A Panel of Experts will assess the quality of the obtained images by answering 3 questions for each image. For SIR a 1-10 numeric rating scale, is used to measure the quality of the image according to three questions to be answered at the three different timepoints during the operation.

This SIR is designed to explore whether SonoClear® as part of the SonoClear® System having shown to provide better quantitative image quality in the CNR analysis, allows surgeons to detect this improved image quality. Eventually this improved image quality should result in better decision-making during surgery about margins of excision and residual tumour resection.

The primary safety event is defined as any core lab determined major Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) finding when post-operative MRI is compared to pre-operative MRI that was found by the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) to be serious and probably or definitely related to the study device OR any DMC determined serious adverse event that is probably or definitely related to the study device that occurs within 30 days of the procedure. The primary safety hypothesis declared in ACF-03 study is to prove the primary safety event rate is less than 10%. Success is demonstrated by observing 0 of these events out of 37 subjects exposed to SonoClear® ACF, i.e. the event rate is 0% with an upper two-sided 95% confidence limit less than 10%. With an event rate of less than 10% for major neurotoxicity events that are serious and probably or definitely related to the device, the benefit of a clearer image for the neurosurgeon balances the potentially increased risk. This study expands the number of patients to evaluate the safety outcome. The primary safety event rate will be evaluated also in a total group of 60 patients, 45 using SonoClear® ACF and 15 using the SonoClear® System.

Conditions

Brain Tumor Adult; Low Grade Glioma (LGG), High Grade Glioma (HGG); Glioblastoma

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Ultrasound imaging in brain tumour surgery with the use of SonoClear® System mimicking brain tissue.

SonoClear(R) System

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

SonoClear(R) System

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The SonoClear(R) System is intended to be used as an acoustic coupling fluid during ultrasound imaging in brain surgery of human beings

Interventions

SonoClear(R) System

The SonoClear(R) System is intended to be used as an acoustic coupling fluid during ultrasound imaging in brain surgery of human beings

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• A diffuse malignant glial tumour (high grade (grade III and IV) or low grade (grade I-II)) is suspected from the diagnostic MRI scan
• Pre- or peri-procedural confirmed histopathology of glioma
• ≥18 years of age
• Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70
• Life expectancy of more than 30 days at the time of procedure
• Negative pregnancy test for female subjects of childbearing potential

Exclusion Criteria

• Not able to give consent (e.g., severe cognitive impairment)
• History of brain radiation therapy
• Recent meningitis (within 6 months prior to screening visit)
• Other active infection (within 30 days prior to screening visit)
• Immuno-incompetent patient (e.g., failing immune system due to AIDS)
• Patients taking immune-suppressive medication
• Intended biopsy only (meaning cases not suitable for resection)
• Known hypersensitivity to egg protein
• Known hypersensitivity to soybean or peanut protein
• Known Hypersensitivity to glycerol
• Pregnant or lactating females or females who intend to become pregnant during the time of the study

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

Sponsors

SonoClear AS

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg

Günzburg, , Germany

Site Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH Standort Marburg

Marburg, , Germany

Site Status: RECRUITING

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery

Tübingen, , Germany

Site Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Schwarzwald-Baar Klinikum Villingen-Schwenningen GmbH

Villingen-Schwenningen, , Germany

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Germany

Central Contacts

Helene Quie

Role: CONTACT

helene@sonoclear.no

+45 5664 1010

Facility Contacts

Prof. Dr. Jan Coburger

Role: primary

Jan.coburger@uni-ulm.de

+49 8221 96 0

Dr. med. Benjamin Saß

Role: primary

sassb@med.uni-marburg.de

Prof. Dr. Constantin Roder

Role: primary

constantin.roder@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Prof. Dr. Rainer Ritz

Role: primary

rainer.ritz@sbk-vs.de

Other Identifiers

ACF-03-02

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id