ARC-IM System to Manage Symptomatic Blood Pressure Instability Secondary to Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT07147296

Last Updated: 2026-01-23

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

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-10-17

Study Completion Date

2029-03-31

Brief Summary

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Empower BP is a pivotal, interventional, multicenter, prospective, randomized, sham-controlled double-blinded study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the ARC-IM System in managing symptomatic blood pressure instability in individuals with chronic SCI (\>1 year after SCI).

The primary effectiveness outcome will be evaluated through subject-reported ADFSCI and seated blood pressure assessments at 3 months post-implant.

Following a baseline screening period and the surgical implantation of the ARC-IM System, subjects will be randomized with a 2:1 ratio into an active or control arm for 3 months. All the subjects will undergo therapy activation sessions (active or sham) within 21 days of the surgical implant and will then commence independent at-home use of ARC-IM Therapy. At the 3 Month timepoint, after all assessments are conducted, all subjects will transition to the open-label period in order to receive the active version of the ARC-IM System in an open-label fashion. All subjects will undergo therapy programming sessions following Month 3.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injuries Blood Pressure Disorders

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Randomized and sham-controlled study consisting of a 3-month double-blinded phase followed by a 21-month open-label phase
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active Group

ARC-IM System with active stimulation since day 0

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

ARC-IM System Implantation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Implantation of the ARC-IM Thoracic Lead in the epidural space and ARC-IM Neurostimulator

ARC-IM Therapy (active)

Intervention Type DEVICE

The ARC-IM System is programmed since day 0 to deliver active electrical spinal cord stimulation at the low thoracic level for the management of symptomatic blood pressure instability in people with chronic spinal cord injury

Sham Group

ARC-IM System without active stimulation before the open-label phase of the study (3 month post-implant)

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

ARC-IM System Implantation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Implantation of the ARC-IM Thoracic Lead in the epidural space and ARC-IM Neurostimulator

ARC-IM Therapy (sham)

Intervention Type DEVICE

The ARC-IM System is programmed at month 3 to deliver active electrical spinal cord stimulation (after 3 months of sham stimulation) at the low thoracic level for the management of symptomatic blood pressure instability in people with chronic spinal cord injury

Interventions

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ARC-IM System Implantation

Implantation of the ARC-IM Thoracic Lead in the epidural space and ARC-IM Neurostimulator

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

ARC-IM Therapy (active)

The ARC-IM System is programmed since day 0 to deliver active electrical spinal cord stimulation at the low thoracic level for the management of symptomatic blood pressure instability in people with chronic spinal cord injury

Intervention Type DEVICE

ARC-IM Therapy (sham)

The ARC-IM System is programmed at month 3 to deliver active electrical spinal cord stimulation (after 3 months of sham stimulation) at the low thoracic level for the management of symptomatic blood pressure instability in people with chronic spinal cord injury

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 18 years or above, and no older than 75 years at the time of enrollment.
2. Clinical evidence of Orthostatic Hypotension (blood pressure drop of 20mmHg systolic or 10mmHg diastolic) measured during Head Up Tilt Table assessment (HUTT, within 10 minutes) with current standard of care if any. 2 out of 3 tests must meet OH criteria.
3. Clinical evidence of sustained hypotension (average systolic Blood pressure ≤ 110 mmHg) when measured each minute for 10 minutes while seated and in the absence of supportive compressive garments and medication.
4. Evidence of symptomatic hypotension as determined by a non-zero OHSA total score
5. A Spinal cord injury at the neurologic level between C2 and T6 inclusive.
6. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) classification A, B, C, or D.
7. Traumatic (non-progressive) chronic spinal cord injury with minimum 12 months post-injury prior to study entry.
8. Average A-P diameter of the sponal canal ≥ 13 mm, measured on MRI at the disc space at level(s) planned for implantation
9. Stable medical, physical, and psychological condition as considered by the investigators.
10. Stable dose of blood pressure medication for 30-days prior to enrollment into the study . Stability will be defined as no changes to medication regimens based on treating physician instructions.
11. Subjects who are on long-term antihypertensive treatment must discontinue these medications no less than 30 days prior to enrollment in the study. This requirement does not apply to antihypertensive agents administered for the acute management of autonomic dysreflexia (AD)
12. If the subject requires daily continuous support from a personal caregiver, the presence of a caregiver during the study visits is mandatory.
13. Willing and able to provide informed consent.
14. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
15. Willing and able to comply with the instructions for use, operate the study devices, and comply with this clinical investigation plan

Exclusion Criteria

1. Subject has an autoimmune etiology of spinal cord dysfunction/injury.
2. Subject has diseases and conditions that would increase the morbidity and mortality of the surgical procedures required by the study.
3. Subject has a history of physiologic hypotension prior to SCI
4. Subject has a history of unexpected blood pressure instability related to medications
5. Inability to withhold antiplatelet/anticoagulation agents perioperatively.
6. History of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular event within the past 6 months. or
7. History of chronic/recurrent severe cardiac arrythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, third degree atrioventricular block)
8. Evidence of clinically significant underlying cardiac conditions on Holter monitoring performed at screening including but not limited to arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia),
9. Evidence of ischemic changes or prolonged QT interval (QTc \> of 450 ms for males and 470 ms for females) identified on EKG during screening,
10. Subjects with a known diagnosis of heart failure, including but not limited to New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I-IV, or with evidence of clinically significant left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction \< 40%) as determined by echocardiogram during screening or within the past 6 months,
11. Current renal/kidney, hepatic, or other concomitant disorders deemed severe by the Investigator including those ones that could be linked to severe autonomic dysreflexia.
12. Requires continuous ventilator support.
13. Imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) findings within the last 12 months that contraindicate lead placement
14. Known allergic reaction to implanted materials
15. Requires continuous/frequent/any transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation treatment.
16. Has any active implanted medical device (e.g. baclofen pump, pacemaker).
17. Inability to receive a pre-operative MRI.
18. Female subject who is pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test completed at baseline visit per site standard test.
19. Presence of pressure sore at time of screening or baseline graded stage 3 or 4 .
20. Subject is enrolled or intends to participate in another clinical drug and/or device study or registry that may interfere with the results of this study, as determined by ONWARD Medical personnel.
21. Presence of other anatomic or comorbid conditions, or other medical, social, or psychologic conditions such as severe uncontrolled neuropathic pain, depression, history of alcohol or substance abuse, history of schizophrenia or psychotic illness, severe personality disorder or other significant psychiatric or cognitive disorders that, in the investigator's opinion, could limit the subject's ability to participate in the clinical investigation or to comply with follow-up requirements of the clinical investigation.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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ONWARD Medical, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Craig Hospital

Englewood, Colorado, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

UofL Health - Frazier Rehabilitation Institute

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Spaulding Rehabilitation

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Facility Contacts

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Clare Morey

Role: primary

303-789-8621

Andrea Willhite

Role: primary

502-581-8675

Noah Piazza

Role: primary

617-952-6953

Michael McGehee

Role: primary

971-509-4932

Other Identifiers

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ONWD-IM-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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