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Evaluation of Remote DBS Programming.

Evaluation of a Visual-Analog Scale (VAS) for Remote DBS Programming

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05193825
Acronym
REMOTE
Enrollment
54
Registered
2022-01-18
Start date
2022-03-22
Completion date
2025-07-30
Last updated
2025-08-29

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

Conditions

Deep Brain Stimulation, Parkinson Disease, Telemedicine

Keywords

Deep Brain Stimulation, Telemedicine, Parkinson's Disease (PD), Subthalamic Nucleus (STN), Remote

Brief summary

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) represents the treatment of choice for advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (PD). Currently, adaptive closed-loop stimulation systems that apply disease-specific biomarkers, such as local field potentials (LFPs), are being actively examined to facilitate DBS programming. However, the most suitable feedback signal, still remains to be determined. The investigators previously tested the usefulness of the patient's subjective rating on a visual analogue scale (VAS) as a potential feedback signal for DBS adjustment and found that VAS-based programming lead to similar results as our standard approach. One of the practical advantages of using VAS-based programming strategies - in addition to saving time - is the principal applicability of such an approach to a remote programming setting, although a validation of such an approach is required. Within the scope of a prospective, randomized multicenter clinical trial (the REMOTE Trial), the investigators will examine the effectiveness and safety of VAS-based remote DBS programming in PD by using a novel and recently introduced software platform (Abbott NeurosphereTM Virtual Clinic) that allows for the programming through a smartphone-based video connection with the patient. Therefore, n = 50 PD patients undergoing STN-DBS surgery will be randomized and subsequent to surgery will have their IPG settings adjusted either during regular visits at the hospital or alternatively be programmed remotely through a VAS-based approach. Prior to surgery and after a 90 days follow-up period, we will assess specific clinical (MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale = UPDRS, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 sum index = PDQ-39 SI, Beck Depression Inventory = BDI, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale = MOCA) parameters to determine the effectivity and safety of the two different strategies on the patient outcome and to correlate it with VAS ratings and MRI data. The results will support the examination of remote-based DBS programming and evaluate the patient's subjective judgment as a valid feedback signal.

Interventions

Patients in the experimental group (Group B) will have their internal pulse generators (IPGs) adjusted through a novel software that allows for remote DBS programming (NeurosphereTM Virtual Clinic)

Patients in the active comparator group (Group A) will have their internal pulse generators (IPGs) adjusted through a standard procedure at their caregivers institution.

Sponsors

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
CollaboratorOTHER
Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
CollaboratorOTHER
Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf
CollaboratorOTHER
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Muenster
CollaboratorOTHER
Thomas Köglsperger
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age between 35 and 80 yrs. * Ability to communicate with the study physician and to understand the requirements of the study * Idiopathic Parkinson's Syndrome; IPS (according to MDS-Criteria) * Implantation of a DBS device for the stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) to treat PD.

Exclusion criteria

* Any inability to communicate with the study physician and to understand the requirements of the study *

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in UPDRS-III (Stimulation ON/Medication ON = STIM-ON/MED-ON)Assessed at Day 90Part III of the MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Range 0-128 pts. with high values indicating a more severe disease symptoms)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in UPDRS-IIAssessed at day -1 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Part II of the MDS-Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Range 0-52 pts. with high values indicating more severe disease symptoms)
Change in UPDRS-IVAssessed at day -1 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Part IV of the MDS-Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Range 0-24 pts. with high values indicating more severe disease symptoms)
Change in PDQ-39-SIAssessed at day -1 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 Sum Index (Range 0-100 pts. with high values indicating more severe disease symptoms)
Change in UPDRS-IAssessed at day -1 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Part I of the MDS-Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Range 0-52 pts. with high values indicating more severe disease symptoms)
Number of visits at the the hospital or remotelyAssessed at day +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Number of doctor-patient contacts either in person at the hospital (Group A) or remotely (Group B)
Change in TEEDAssessed at day +5 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Total Electrical Energy Delivered by the IPG; TEED (1s) = (voltage2 × frequency × pulsewidth) / impedance (1s)
Change in Patient Rating (Patient Diary)Assessed on a weekly basis by the patient between day +5 and +90 (day 0 = implantation of DBS electrodes)Number of hours spent with bothersome dyskinesia or in a reduced mobility state (OFF)

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

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