Cuneiform Nucleus (CnF) Deep Brain Stimulation for Gait Facilitation Following Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT07109804

Last Updated: 2026-02-05

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

6 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-04-30

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This is a study about deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an investigational treatment for walking impairment following spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and inform on the safety, and efficacy of CnF DBS to improve gait in SCI patients with incomplete injury who cannot effectively walk overground

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injuries

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

DEVICE_FEASIBILITY

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Participants will be in the DBS study group for up to 34 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

The DBS system delivers electrical current into deep areas of the brain. In this study, the electrical current will be delivered continuously during the study duration to an area of the brain called the cuneiform nucleus (CnF). Stimulation frequencies are anticipated to be between 20 and 50 Hertz. Participants may choose to continue stimulation following study termination. This area of the brain is associated with the body's ability to start a movement.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Device Implant Procedure

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participants will undergo a one-time implantation of Cartesia DBS electrodes (bilateral) including the Vercise pulse generator in a single surgery (up to approximately 6 hours) to implant bilateral directional DBS leads in the cuneiform nucleus.

Training Sessions

Intervention Type OTHER

Training sessions occurs 3 times/week at the study center to condition the subjects before DBS implantation and after DBS implantation. Each session may last up to 60 minutes. Training sessions include joint mobility (passive stretching), volitional neuromuscular activation (active hip mobility), task isolation (weight shifting), task integration (stepping), and activity rehearsal (walking).

Interventions

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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

The DBS system delivers electrical current into deep areas of the brain. In this study, the electrical current will be delivered continuously during the study duration to an area of the brain called the cuneiform nucleus (CnF). Stimulation frequencies are anticipated to be between 20 and 50 Hertz. Participants may choose to continue stimulation following study termination. This area of the brain is associated with the body's ability to start a movement.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Device Implant Procedure

Participants will undergo a one-time implantation of Cartesia DBS electrodes (bilateral) including the Vercise pulse generator in a single surgery (up to approximately 6 hours) to implant bilateral directional DBS leads in the cuneiform nucleus.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Training Sessions

Training sessions occurs 3 times/week at the study center to condition the subjects before DBS implantation and after DBS implantation. Each session may last up to 60 minutes. Training sessions include joint mobility (passive stretching), volitional neuromuscular activation (active hip mobility), task isolation (weight shifting), task integration (stepping), and activity rehearsal (walking).

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Male or female subjects between ages of 22-70
* At least 1 year post SCI
* Confirmed SCI according to SCI clinician according to clinical history and the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) / American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) criteria as documented in the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) on examination. Other disorders of gait will be excluded by history and a neurological examination.
* Persons with incomplete injury grades of ASIA C or D who can stand with support and who have some voluntary leg function and a maximum walking capacity of Walking Index for spinal cord injury - level II (WISCI-II) level 8 or less.
* Injury level T10 and above.
* Ability to stand with moderate body weight support for at least 5 minutes.
* Stable medical and physical condition.
* Able to commit to training/evaluation sessions over 6 months and for longer periodic follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria

* Individuals with high-moderate to severe depression -Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) ≥ 25).
* Individuals with cognitive impairment indicated by a score of less than 24 on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination 2nd ed. (MMSE).
* Individuals with alcohol use disorder. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) will be used to measure harmful patterns of alcohol consumption over the past year. A cutoff score of 8 will be used to identify and exclude those with moderate to severe alcohol use behavior.
* Individuals with substance abuse. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) will be used to identify problematic substance abuse behavior over the past year. A cutoff score of 6 will be used to identify and exclude those with moderate to severe drug use behavior.
* The presence of major medical co-morbidities and other surgical contra-indications such as coagulopathy as defined by past medical history and abnormal lab work at the investigator/surgeon's discretion.
* Individuals with a Berg Balance score \< 21.
* Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, severe autonomic dysreflexia, dysphagia or osteoporosis.
* History of prior intracranial surgery or known lesions.
* Individuals that require diathermy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, or serial brain MRIs.
* Individuals with non-MRI compatible metallic implants in their head or body, and with metallic implants and other implantable devices in the body that could be affected by DBS.
* Individuals with active implantable devices anywhere in the body (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, implanted medication pump).
* Individuals who are pregnant desire to become pregnant during the study.
* Individuals who are breastfeeding.
* Individuals with intractable orthostatic hypotension despite treatment.
* Individuals with a recent history of limb fracture, ligamentous injury, active pressure sores or unstable skin structures (e.g., skin grafts and chest tubes).
Minimum Eligible Age

22 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Florida

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Miami

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Brian Ronald Noga

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Brian R Noga, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Miami

Locations

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The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Miami School Of Medicine

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Brian R Noga, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

305-243-6155

Letitia Fisher, BLA

Role: CONTACT

305-243-3056

Facility Contacts

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Letitia Fisher, BLA

Role: primary

3052433056

David McMillan, PhD

Role: backup

305-243-5569

Brian R Noga, PhD

Role: primary

305-243-6155

Letitia FISHER, BLA

Role: backup

305-243-3056 ext. Noga

Other Identifiers

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GR025072

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

20240334

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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