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Feasibility Study: Heavy Water Tissue Labeling Protocol

Feasibility Study: Determination of the Effect of Ultherapy® Treatment on the Rate of Collagen Synthesis in Normal Skin

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01708525
Enrollment
2
Registered
2012-10-17
Start date
2012-08-31
Completion date
2013-11-30
Last updated
2017-12-11

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

Conditions

Skin Laxity

Keywords

Ulthera® System, Ultherapy® Treatment, Ulthera, Inc., Ultrasound treatment for skin tightening

Brief summary

Enrolled subjects undergo tissue labeling to evaluate the rate of collagen synthesis in tissue treated with the Ulthera® System compared to control tissue.

Detailed description

This study is a prospective, single-center, blinded, non-randomized clinical trial. Two subjects who have chosen to have a surgical facelift procedure and agree to drink heavy water for tissue labeling, will be enrolled. Subjects will consume heavy water and collect saliva specimens over the course of the study period, following a specific heavy water labeling protocol. Two weeks after starting the heavy water protocol, subjects will return to the study site to receive one Ultherapy® treatment to the pre-auricular region on one side of the face. The contra-lateral pre-auricular region will serve as a control. Following Ultherapy® treatment, subjects will continue to follow the heavy water protocol for 4 more weeks. Subjects will then return to the study site to undergo resection of the treated and control tissue for analysis during their planned rhytidectomy procedure. Subjects will send in saliva samples on a weekly basis to allow for confirmation that they are drinking the heavy water.

Interventions

Focused ultrasound energy delivered below the surface of the skin

OTHERHeavy Water

A tissue labeling model via the consumption of the stable isotope, deuterated water (heavy water). Heavy water consumed over the course of the 6-week study period for a direct kinetic measure of in vivo collagen synthesis. 60 ml (about 12 teaspoons) of heavy water (also called deuterated water or 2H2O), was consumed three times a day for the first five days. Starting on Day 6, two 60 ml doses of heavy water were consumed per day for the remaining 37 days.

Sponsors

Ulthera, Inc
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
30 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female, age 30 to 65 years scheduled for rhytidectomy. * Subject in good health. * Understands and accepts the obligation not to undergo any other procedures in the areas to be treated. * Willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements, including returning for follow-up visits and abstaining from exclusionary procedures for the duration of the study. * Subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test result and must not be lactating at Visit 1 and be willing and able to use an acceptable method of birth control. * Absence of physical or psychological conditions unacceptable to the investigator. * Willingness and ability to provide written consent for study-required photography and adherence to photography procedures (i.e., removal of jewelry and makeup). * Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent and HIPAA authorization prior to performance of any study-related procedure.

Exclusion criteria

* Presence of an active systemic or local skin disease that may affect wound healing. * Severe solar elastosis. * Significant scarring in areas to be treated. * Open wounds or lesions in the area to be treated. * Severe or cystic acne on the area to be treated. * Presence of a metal stent or implant in the facial area to be treated. * Inability to understand the protocol or to give informed consent. * Microdermabrasion, or prescription level glycolic acid treatments to the submental area within two weeks prior to study participation or during the study. * Excessive dermatochalasis, deep dermal scarring, or thick sebaceous skin in the area to be treated. * BMI equal to or greater than 30.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of Collagen Synthesis4 weeks post-treatmentResected tissue will be analyzed to determine the rate of collagen synthesis in tissue treated with Ultherapy® compared to non-treated tissue.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ultherapy®-Treated Tissue
Heavy water labeled tissue receiving an Ultherapy® Treatment Ulthera System® Treatment: Focused ultrasound energy delivered below the surface of the skin
2
Total2

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicUltherapy®-Treated Tissue
Age, Continuous62 years
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
2 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
2 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 2
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 2

Outcome results

Primary

Rate of Collagen Synthesis

Resected tissue will be analyzed to determine the rate of collagen synthesis in tissue treated with Ultherapy® compared to non-treated tissue.

Time frame: 4 weeks post-treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Untreated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 1, Type I Collagen15.71 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Untreated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 1, Type III Collagen36.11 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Untreated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 2, Type I Collagen18.53 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Untreated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 2, Type III Collagen50.34 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Ultherapy®-Treated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 2, Type III Collagen68.13 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Ultherapy®-Treated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 1, Type I Collagen21.22 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Ultherapy®-Treated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 2, Type I Collagen29.69 percentage of new collagen synthesized
Ultherapy®-Treated TissueRate of Collagen SynthesisSubject 1, Type III Collagen51.80 percentage of new collagen synthesized

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