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Study to Evaluate the OrthoCor Active System for Pain Relief

Prospective, Multi-Center, Randomized Study to Evaluate the OrthoCor Active System for Pain Relief

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05244187
Enrollment
120
Registered
2022-02-17
Start date
2022-11-07
Completion date
2023-11-23
Last updated
2025-02-28

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

Conditions

Pain

Brief summary

This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, pivotal study to evaluate the OrthoCor Active System in individuals prescribed its use in comparison with the standard of care intervention for pain relief.

Detailed description

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 million adults in the United States have chronic daily pain, with 19.6 million adults experiencing high impact chronic pain that interferes with daily life or work activities. Clinical best practices may recommend a collaborative, multimodal, multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to treatment for various acute and chronic pain conditions to achieve optimal patient outcomes. For improved functionality, activities of daily living, and quality of life, clinicians are encouraged to consider and prioritize, when clinically indicated, nonpharmacologic approaches to pain management. An alternative treatment option can be the use of restorative therapies. Restorative therapies play a significant role in acute and chronic pain management, and positive clinical outcomes are more likely if restorative therapy is part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan following a comprehensive assessment. The OrthoCor Active System uses specialized Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) technology to relieve pain and reduce edema through safe, clinically proven therapy. PEMF is a low-level, time-varying electromagnetic field that penetrates superficial soft tissue, helping to accelerate the body's natural anti-inflammatory and recovery responses. Inside every OrthoCor Active System is proprietary electronic circuitry that delivers PEMF to the source of injuries. PEMF has been shown to stimulate reaction pathways that result in pain and inflammation reduction. OrthoCor's patented PEMF accelerates the binding of calcium (Ca2+) to calmodulin (CaM), the process responsible for the body's natural, antiinflammatory nitric oxide (NO) cascade. NO is a key element in the body's natural healing process. It is also a vasodilator, increasing blood and lymphatic flow. Additionally, NO down-regulates interleukin-1 beta (IL1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which leads to reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandins - molecules responsible for causing inflammation and pain. Unlike other systemic COX-2 inhibitors such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), OrthoCor's targeted PEMF signals stimulate localized reaction pathways, thereby reducing pain and inflammation without the risks and side effects associated with NSAIDs. In previous clinical studies, OrthoCor Active System was clinically proven to reduce pain, swelling and provide lasting relief without the use of pain medications or invasive procedures. OrthoCor Medical Inc. conducted a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled, randomized pilot study (2014-2016), enrolling 80 patients with Kellgren-Lawrence knee arthritis who used the OrthoCor knee system, which showed a significant 60% reduction in the mean pain score within the first 3 days of use compared with the sham group 2. A preliminary study conducted by OrthoCor Medical Inc. in 33 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis utilizing the OrthCor knee system, showed reduced pain and stiffness after 15 days of treatment with a 43% reduction in pain score and a 79% improvement in activity limitations, symptoms, emotions, and overall quality of life. The OrthoCor Active System is a portable (battery operated) non-invasive shortwave diathermy medical device which applies electromagnetic energy at a radio frequency (RF) of 27.12 MHz for the treatment of pain in superficial soft tissue, such as in the ankle, back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or neck. The OrthoCor Active System delivers the pulsed RF signal of 6.5+0.5 Ws/cm3 to the tissue target via the inductive coupling with an applicator coil. The system also uses disposable, single-use, air activated OrthoPods that provide heat for the temporary relief of minor muscular & joint aches & pains associated with overexertion, strains, sprains, and arthritis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the OrthoCor Active System in individuals presenting with post-operative pain and edema in superficial soft tissue. The OrthoCor Active System will be compared to the SOC intervention.

Interventions

DEVICEOrthoCor Active System

The OrthoCor Active System is a portable (battery operated) non-invasive device that delivers Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy for General Use of temporary pain relief, utilizing wraps that position the therapy, such as on the ankle, back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or neck.

Sponsors

Caerus Corporation
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

1:1 assignment

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Individuals presenting with pain in superficial soft tissue, such as ankle, back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or neck pain, or minor muscular and joint aches and pains associated with over exertion, strains, sprains, or arthritis 2. Prescribed use of the OrthoCor Active System or Standard of Care (SOC) intervention 3. Willing and able to provide informed consent or obtain consent from legal authorized representative (LAR)

Exclusion criteria

1. Have a cardiac pacemaker, cardioverter defibrillator, neurostimulator, infusion pump or any active medical implant 2. Have an implanted metallic lead or any type of wire coil implant, or any implanted system that may contain lead 3. Who are or may be pregnant 4. Have an open wound at the area of application 5. Are not capable or fully aware to the sensation of heat 6. Have poor circulation or heart disease 7. Have diabetes 8. Under the age of 18 or individuals with open bone growth plates 9. Unable to provide consent or obtain consent from a LAR 10. Unwilling or unable to use the OrthoCor Active System or Standard of Care (SOC) intervention 11. Unwilling or unable to complete the daily pain assessment 12. Enrolled in a study to evaluate an investigational drug 13. Prisoner or under incarceration

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Primary Safety EndPointafter 2 weeks of useNumber of participants with adverse events
Primary Efficacy EndPointat baseline compared to during 2 weeks of useChange from baseline of Mankoski pain scale between OrthoCor and standard of care. The Mankoski pain scale ranges from 0 representing no pain to 10 representing pain causing unconsciousness.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
OrthoCor Active System
OrthoCor Active System used for pain relief OrthoCor Active System: The OrthoCor Active System is a portable (battery operated) non-invasive device that delivers Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy for General Use of temporary pain relief, utilizing wraps that position the therapy, such as on the ankle, back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or neck.
59
Standard of Care
standard of care: over-the-counter pain medication
61
Total120

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicOrthoCor Active SystemStandard of CareTotal
Age, Continuous54.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.3
56.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.2
55.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.2
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
5 Participants1 Participants6 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
18 Participants19 Participants37 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
5 Participants0 Participants5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
31 Participants39 Participants70 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
59 Participants61 Participants120 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
39 Participants39 Participants78 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
20 Participants22 Participants42 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 590 / 61
other
Total, other adverse events
2 / 592 / 61
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 590 / 61

Outcome results

Primary

Primary Efficacy EndPoint

Change from baseline of Mankoski pain scale between OrthoCor and standard of care. The Mankoski pain scale ranges from 0 representing no pain to 10 representing pain causing unconsciousness.

Time frame: at baseline compared to during 2 weeks of use

Population: PP

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
OrthoCor Active SystemPrimary Efficacy EndPoint-1.8 score on a scale
Standard of CarePrimary Efficacy EndPoint-0.5 score on a scale
Primary

Primary Safety EndPoint

Number of participants with adverse events

Time frame: after 2 weeks of use

Population: ITT

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
OrthoCor Active SystemPrimary Safety EndPoint2 Participants
Standard of CarePrimary Safety EndPoint2 Participants

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