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A Study to Confirm the Safety of High Frequency DRG Stimulator in Patients With Chronic Lower Limb Pain

A Single-arm, Open Label, Single Center Pilot Study to Confirm the Safety of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) and Ultrahigh Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulator in Patients With Chronic Lower Limb Pain

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03285113
Enrollment
10
Registered
2017-09-15
Start date
2017-03-03
Completion date
2018-02-05
Last updated
2021-01-22

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

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Brief summary

This study is a prospective, single-arm, open label, single center pilot study to confirm the safety of a ultrahigh frequency DRG stimulator in patients with chronic lower limb pain. The actual trial length is 5 days. Pts will be given ultrahigh frequency pulse stimulation, and VAS will be obtained after 3-4 hours of each stimulation.

Detailed description

This study is a prospective, single-arm, open label, single center pilot study to confirm the safety of a ultrahigh frequency DRG stimulator in patients with chronic lower limb pain. The actual trial length is 5 days. An initial eligibility screening within Day -14. Pt admitted to hospital on Day 1. The lead implantation is conducted on Day 2, and the 1st treatment starts after anesthesia recovery (Day 2 T1). If VAS \>4 at 4 hours after the 1st treatment, the 2nd treatment will be conducted. VAS will be acquired 4 hours after the 2nd treatment. On Day 3, physical examination and vital signs will be collected. If VAS \>4, the 3rd treatment will be provided. One hour after the 3rd treatment, the device will be removed and an X-ray will be taken. Three hours after the removal, VAS will be collected and then the patient will be discharged. VAS will be estimated by phone call on Day 4, and the patient will return to OPD for follow up examination on Day 5. The trial is completed on Day 5 visit.

Interventions

Trial stimulator to generate pulsed ultrahigh frequency (\>200KHz) electrical stimulation, delivered via lead around DRG, in treating pain. Similar with current market available Spinal Cord Stimulators but with a higher stimulation frequency (hundred KHz) range.

Sponsors

China Medical University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
GiMer Medical
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≧20 and ≦75 2. Have a symptom of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), lower limb pain with or without lower back pain with a diagnosis related to spinal lesion and pain history of \>6 months. 3. Have an average pain score \>5 by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) on inclusion. 4. Has failed to achieve adequate pain relief from prior pharmacologic treatments. 5. In the judgement of the investigator, the subject is an appropriate candidate for the trial procedure 6. The subject is willing and able to comply with the procedure and requirements of this trial. 7. The participant is able to understand and provide informed consent, and has signed their written informed consent in accordance with IRB requirements.

Exclusion criteria

1. Have evidence of a mental or psychological condition that affects pain perception and has difficulty/disability performing objective pain assessment, or have previously failed mental or psychological assessments administered by a psychiatrist that may be deemed to indicate the subject's lack of suitability for participation in this study. 2. Subject has exhibited escalating or changing pain condition within the past 30 days as evidenced by Investigator examination. 3. Be on anticoagulant medication with INR \>1.5 or platelet count less than 100,000/μL, peripheral vascular diseases (PVDs), visceral pain or uncontrolled Diabetes mellitus (DM). 4. Has had corticosteroid therapy at an intended site of stimulation within the past 30 days. 5. Pain medication(s) dosages(s) are not stable for at least 30 days. 6. Has previously failed spinal cord stimulation therapy. 7. Currently has an active implantable device including ICD, pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator or intrathecal drug pump or subject requires magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) or diathermy. 8. Has pain only within a cervical or thoracic distribution. 9. Have a current diagnosis of cancer with active symptoms 10. Have a known terminal illness with life expectancy less than one year 11. Have a systematic or local infection 12. Currently has an indwelling device that may pose an increased risk of infection. 13. Be pregnant or breast feeding 14. Have a medical history of drug or alcohol addiction within the past 2 years. 15. Participation in any investigational study in the last 30 days or current enrollment in any trial. 16. Be currently involved in an injury claim law suit or medically related litigation, including workers compensation. 17. Be a prisoner.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Safety of Ultrahigh Frequency Treatment: Adverse Event (AE) and Serious AE (SAE)5 daysNumber of Participants with Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)4 daysVAS: 0 (no pain) to 10 (max pain). Change in pain as a result of ultrahigh frequency DRG stimulation, as measured by VAS score compare to baseline VAS.
Incidence of Paresthesia2 daysIf patients feel tingling during stimulation?
Change in Pain Medication Consumption5 daysDecrease in pain medication consumption, including Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and weak opioids, compared to baseline

Countries

Taiwan

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ultrahigh Frequency Stimulation
Patients with chronic lower limb pain will be treated with ultrahigh frequency stimulation via lead around DRG. GiMer Medical MN 1000 External Stimulator: Trial stimulator to generate pulsed ultrahigh frequency (\>200KHz) electrical stimulation, delivered via lead around DRG, in treating pain. Similar with current market available Spinal Cord Stimulators but with a higher stimulation frequency (hundred KHz) range.
10
Total10

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyUnable to implant leads2

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicUltrahigh Frequency Stimulation
Age, Continuous53.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.5
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
10 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
0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
5 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Safety of Ultrahigh Frequency Treatment: Adverse Event (AE) and Serious AE (SAE)

Number of Participants with Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events

Time frame: 5 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Ultrahigh Frequency StimulationSafety of Ultrahigh Frequency Treatment: Adverse Event (AE) and Serious AE (SAE)5 Participants
Secondary

Change in Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

VAS: 0 (no pain) to 10 (max pain). Change in pain as a result of ultrahigh frequency DRG stimulation, as measured by VAS score compare to baseline VAS.

Time frame: 4 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Ultrahigh Frequency StimulationChange in Pain Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-2.7 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.1
Secondary

Change in Pain Medication Consumption

Decrease in pain medication consumption, including Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and weak opioids, compared to baseline

Time frame: 5 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Ultrahigh Frequency StimulationChange in Pain Medication Consumption3 Participants
Secondary

Incidence of Paresthesia

If patients feel tingling during stimulation?

Time frame: 2 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Ultrahigh Frequency StimulationIncidence of Paresthesia0 Participants

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