StrokeEarly Phase 1NCT04129242
taVNS for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
A Early Phase 1 study testing Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training in people with Stroke, run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study explores the use of a new form of neuromodulation known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which stimulates the ear. This stimulation will be delivered concurrently with upper limb motor rehabilitation training (3 days/week for 4 weeks) in chronic stroke patients. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 19 Feb 2020to 5 Oct 2022
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18-80 years old
- Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred at least 6 months prior
- Completed conventional rehabilitation therapy at least one month prior
- Unilateral limb weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score less than or equal to 58 (out of 66)
Who cannot join
- Primary intracerebral hematoma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Bilateral upper extremity weakness
- Other concomitant neurological disorders affecting upper extremity motor function
- Documented history of dementia before or after stroke
- Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder either before or after stroke which could affect their ability to participate in the experiment
- Uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment, specifically SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure) / DBP (Diastolic Blood Pressure) >=180/100mmHg at baseline
- Contraindicated for MRI scanning.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425
About this study
Official title: Optimization of Closed-loop Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) as a Neurorehabilitation Tool
This study explores the use of a new form of neuromodulation known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which stimulates the ear. This stimulation will be delivered concurrently with upper limb motor rehabilitation training (3 days/week for 4 weeks) in chronic stroke patients. Patients will undergo a series of baseline assessments (including a brain scan), a 4-week course of motor rehabilitation, and post-assessments (including a second brain scan)
Read the detailed description
This study aims to refine and develop closed loop taVNS, establish activity with key biomarkers, and show initial feasibility in a small clinical trial. For paired taVNS to succeed as a clinical treatment, it is critical to develop and refine a closed-loop taVNS platform that delivers stimulation concurrently during specific movements of the motor rehabilitation training.
Aim 1 develops this novel motion-gated closed-loop system that delivers taVNS in synchrony with specific upper limb motor activation (n=5) Aim 2 will combine the development of the closed-loop system with the investigator's mechanistic understanding to explore an open-label pilot trial (n=20) using closed-loop taVNS paired with task-specific training to determine the feasibility, safety, and potential effect size of this novel combination therapy.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training
- Keywords
- Stroke, Rehabilitation, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Brain Stimulation, Occupational Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc TrainingDevice
A closed-loop taVNS system that delivers taVNS with upper-limb rehabilitation training in a chronic stroke population.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| "paired" taVNS + Task Specific Training | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Device: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training |
| "unpaired" taVNS + Task Specific Training | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Device: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) is a stroke rehabilitation assessment of arm/hand movement impairment. It is scored by assigning 30 items assessing voluntary arm/hand movements and 3 items assessing reflexes an ordinal rating (0=unable, 1=partial, 2=near normal), then summing the ratings to obtain a general statement of ability. Possible aggregate scores range from 0/66 to 66/66 points. Higher scores indicate greater levels of arm movement ability.
Measured: Mean change in FMA-UE score after 4 weeks of rehab, compared to baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2019
- Study start19 Feb 2020
- Primary completion5 Oct 2022
- Study completion5 Oct 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Bashar Badran, Medical University of South Carolina
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04129242
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 00086291
- Other IDs
- 5P20GM109040
- Status last verified
- Feb 2024
- First submitted
- 23 Sep 2019
- Last updated
- 28 Feb 2024
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Feb 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Optimization of Closed-loop Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) as a Neurorehabilitation Tool
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04129242
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 00086291
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Keywords
- Stroke, Rehabilitation, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Brain Stimulation, Occupational Therapy
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South CarolinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Study start
- 19 Feb 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Oct 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 28 Feb 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study explores the use of a new form of neuromodulation known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which stimulates the ear. This stimulation will be delivered concurrently with upper limb motor rehabilitation training (3 days/week for 4 weeks) in chronic stroke patients. Patients will undergo a series of baseline assessments (including a brain scan), a 4-week course of motor rehabilitation, and post-assessments (including a second brain scan)
Detailed description
This study aims to refine and develop closed loop taVNS, establish activity with key biomarkers, and show initial feasibility in a small clinical trial. For paired taVNS to succeed as a clinical treatment, it is critical to develop and refine a closed-loop taVNS platform that delivers stimulation concurrently during specific movements of the motor rehabilitation training.
Aim 1 develops this novel motion-gated closed-loop system that delivers taVNS in synchrony with specific upper limb motor activation (n=5) Aim 2 will combine the development of the closed-loop system with the investigator's mechanistic understanding to explore an open-label pilot trial (n=20) using closed-loop taVNS paired with task-specific training to determine the feasibility, safety, and potential effect size of this novel combination therapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| "paired" taVNS + Task Specific Training | Active comparator | Device: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training |
| "unpaired" taVNS + Task Specific Training | Active comparator | Device: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 18-80 years old
- Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred at least 6 months prior
- Completed conventional rehabilitation therapy at least one month prior
- Unilateral limb weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score less than or equal to 58 (out of 66)
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Primary intracerebral hematoma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Bilateral upper extremity weakness
- Other concomitant neurological disorders affecting upper extremity motor function
- Documented history of dementia before or after stroke
- Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder either before or after stroke which could affect their ability to participate in the experiment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc TrainingA closed-loop taVNS system that delivers taVNS with upper-limb rehabilitation training in a chronic stroke population. | Device | "paired" taVNS + Task Specific Training, "unpaired" taVNS + Task Specific Training |
Primary outcome
Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity
Time frame: Mean change in FMA-UE score after 4 weeks of rehab, compared to baseline
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) is a stroke rehabilitation assessment of arm/hand movement impairment. It is scored by assigning 30 items assessing voluntary arm/hand movements and 3 items assessing reflexes an ordinal rating (0=unable, 1=partial, 2=near normal), then summing the ratings to obtain a general statement of ability. Possible aggregate scores range from 0/66 to 66/66 points. Higher scores indicate greater levels of arm movement ability.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Feb 2024.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Early Phase 1 study testing Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) + Task Specifc Training in people with Stroke, run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Feb 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Feb 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (time frame: Mean change in FMA-UE score after 4 weeks of rehab, compared to baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Feb 2024; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.