Skip to content

Use of the BrainPort® Balance Device to Improve Balance in Adults With Balance Deficits Due to Stroke

A Substitute Vestibular Information System Using the BrainPort® Balance Device for Adults With Chronic Vestibular Dysfunction Following Stroke

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00567944
Enrollment
29
Registered
2007-12-05
Start date
2007-06-30
Completion date
2010-04-30
Last updated
2012-06-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cerebrovascular Accident

Keywords

Physical Therapy Modalities, Electric Stimulation, Postural Balance

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BrainPort balance device in improving balance in people with balance deficits due to stroke.

Detailed description

Following baseline assessments, subjects participate in 5 consecutive days (10 hours) of clinic training with the BrainPort balance device with a Physical Therapist. Assessments are repeated at the end of clinic training. Following clinic training, subjects take the device home to use for two (2) 20 minute training sessions each day. Subjects return to the clinic for one (1) day of testing after using the device at home for 7 weeks.

Interventions

DEVICEBrainPort Balance Device

The BrainPort balance device, is a non-invasive medical device that provides head and body position information to a person via their tongue.

Sponsors

Wicab
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* At least 18 years old. * Diagnosis of stroke for at least 6 months. * Reached a plateau and been discharged from physical therapy. * Able to ambulate with or without assistance. * Ongoing balance problem. * Able to read and understand the informed consent form, and willing to sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

* Current oral health problems as determined by health questionnaire and an examination of the oral cavity. * Any medical condition that would interfere with performance on the assessments. * History of seizures. * Pregnancy. * Cognitive deficits (Mini-Mental 25 or below), joint replacements, cervical vertigo, or major neurologic disease, major depression or disabling psychiatric disorder. * Known neuropathies of tongue or skin tactile system. * Prior exposure to BrainPort® balance device. * Subjects who are unwilling or unable to adhere to all study requirements, including completion of the training period, evaluation tests, and return to clinic for a follow-up visit. * Subjects who have undergone middle ear or other surgery with sacrifice or damage to the chorda tympani nerve, lingual nerve, or hypoglossal nerve.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Dynamic Gait Indexbaseline, 5 days, end of study
Berg Balance ScaleBaseline, 5 days, end of study
Activities-specific Balance Confidence ScaleBaseline, 5 days, end of study
Timed Up and GoBaseline, 5 days, end of study
Stroke Impact ScaleBaseline, 5 day, end of study

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026