Characterization of Acute Pain

NCT ID: NCT07336264

Last Updated: 2026-01-14

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

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-02

Study Completion Date

2028-06-02

Brief Summary

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This study aims to better understand how acute pain and responses to pain treatment can be measured in children and adolescents using a non-invasive device. Pain is usually assessed using self-reported or observational scales, which can be difficult to interpret, especially in pediatric patients. This study will evaluate whether a novel device, the AlgometRx Nociometer, can provide an objective measure of nociceptive pain. Participants ages 6 to 21 years who are undergoing elective surgery or bone marrow transplantation will be enrolled at Children's National Hospital. The device measures changes in pupil size in response to gentle electrical stimulation, which reflects activity in pain-related nerve pathways. Measurements will be taken before and after procedures and during routine hospital care, alongside standard pain assessments. This is an observational study. Participation will not change or guide any medical treatment, and all pain management will follow standard clinical care. The information collected may help improve future pain assessment and treatment for pediatric patients.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Acute Pain, Postoperative Postoperative Pain Acute Pain

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Surgical Cohort

Children and adolescents ages 6 to 21 years undergoing elective surgical procedures (e.g., orthopedic or thoracic surgery) with no history of chronic pain prior to surgery. Participants will undergo non-invasive nociceptive measurements using the AlgometRx Nociometer at baseline and during postoperative follow-up, alongside standard clinical pain assessments. All pain management will follow standard of care and will not be influenced by study participation.

AlgometRx Nociometer

Intervention Type DEVICE

The AlgometRx Nociometer is a non-invasive device used to measure nociceptive responses through neuroselective electrical stimulation and pupillometry. The device delivers low-intensity, painless electrical stimuli at specific frequencies to selectively activate sensory nerve fibers, while measuring stimulus-induced changes in pupil diameter. Data generated by the device are used or research measurement purposes only and do not guide or alter clinical care, treatment decisions,

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Cohort

Children and adolescents aged 6 to 21 years undergoing elective surgical procedures (e.g., orthopedic or thoracic surgery) with no history of chronic pain before surgery. Participants will undergo non-invasive nociceptive measurements using the AlgometRx Nociometer at baseline and during postoperative follow-up, alongside standard clinical pain assessments. All pain management will follow the standard of care and will not be influenced by study participation.

AlgometRx Nociometer

Intervention Type DEVICE

The AlgometRx Nociometer is a non-invasive device used to measure nociceptive responses through neuroselective electrical stimulation and pupillometry. The device delivers low-intensity, painless electrical stimuli at specific frequencies to selectively activate sensory nerve fibers, while measuring stimulus-induced changes in pupil diameter. Data generated by the device are used or research measurement purposes only and do not guide or alter clinical care, treatment decisions,

Interventions

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AlgometRx Nociometer

The AlgometRx Nociometer is a non-invasive device used to measure nociceptive responses through neuroselective electrical stimulation and pupillometry. The device delivers low-intensity, painless electrical stimuli at specific frequencies to selectively activate sensory nerve fibers, while measuring stimulus-induced changes in pupil diameter. Data generated by the device are used or research measurement purposes only and do not guide or alter clinical care, treatment decisions,

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children and adolescents ages 6 to 21 years
* Undergoing elective surgical procedures without a history of chronic pain, OR undergoing or planning to undergo bone marrow transplantation (BMT)
* Able to provide written informed assent and parental permission/consent, as applicable

Exclusion Criteria

* Documented history of eye disease that precludes pupillometry
* Unwilling or unable to participate
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

21 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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VentureWell

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Children's National Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Julia Finkel

Vice chief for Pain Medicine and Research

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Children's National Hospital

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Julia Finkel, M.D

Role: CONTACT

202-841-0362

Shaghayegh Rezalou

Role: CONTACT

216-463-5052

Facility Contacts

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Julia Finkel, M.D

Role: primary

2202-841-0362

References

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Cleeland CS, Ryan KM. Pain assessment: global use of the Brief Pain Inventory. Ann Acad Med Singap. 1994 Mar;23(2):129-38.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8080219 (View on PubMed)

Instrument: PROMIS Pain Intensity - Short Form 3a v1.0 | NIDA CTN Common Data Elements. https://cde.nida.nih.gov/instrument/0a481bfb-a5e6-3c84-e050-bb89ad43314d

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Page MG, Katz J, Stinson J, Isaac L, Martin-Pichora AL, Campbell F. Validation of the numerical rating scale for pain intensity and unpleasantness in pediatric acute postoperative pain: sensitivity to change over time. J Pain. 2012 Apr;13(4):359-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2011.12.010. Epub 2012 Mar 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22424915 (View on PubMed)

Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale. (2016)

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Lavoie Smith EM, Li L, Hutchinson RJ, Ho R, Burnette WB, Wells E, Bridges C, Renbarger J. Measuring vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Nurs. 2013 Sep-Oct;36(5):E49-60. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e318299ad23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23842524 (View on PubMed)

Barr MS, Farzan F, Davis KD, Fitzgerald PB, Daskalakis ZJ. Measuring GABAergic inhibitory activity with TMS-EEG and its potential clinical application for chronic pain. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2013 Jun;8(3):535-46. doi: 10.1007/s11481-012-9383-y. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22744222 (View on PubMed)

Chouchou F, Perchet C, Garcia-Larrea L. EEG changes reflecting pain: is alpha suppression better than gamma enhancement? Neurophysiol Clin. 2021 Jun;51(3):209-218. doi: 10.1016/j.neucli.2021.03.001. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33741256 (View on PubMed)

Crawford L, Mills E, Meylakh N, Macey PM, Macefield VG, Henderson LA. Brain activity changes associated with pain perception variability. Cereb Cortex. 2023 Mar 21;33(7):4145-4155. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhac332.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36069972 (View on PubMed)

Minetama M, Kawakami M, Teraguchi M, Matsuo S, Enyo Y, Nakagawa M, Yamamoto Y, Nakatani T, Sakon N, Nagata W, Nakagawa Y. MRI grading of spinal stenosis is not associated with the severity of low back pain in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Sep 12;23(1):857. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05810-y.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36096768 (View on PubMed)

Fomberstein K, Qadri S, Ramani R. Functional MRI and pain. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2013 Oct;26(5):588-93. doi: 10.1097/01.aco.0000433060.59939.fe.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23995063 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00001386

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

STUDY00001386

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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