Skip to content

Usability of the Intracochlear Catheter INCAT - a Feasibility Study

Usability of the Intracochlear Catheter INCAT - a Feasibility Study

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06218966
Acronym
INCAT
Enrollment
24
Registered
2024-01-23
Start date
2024-01-15
Completion date
2024-06-01
Last updated
2024-01-23

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

Conditions

Hearing Loss, Cochlear, Hearing Loss, Sensorineural

Keywords

hearing preservation, cochlear implant, intracochlear catheter, steroids, INCAT, sensorineural hearing loss

Brief summary

This is a feasibility study for a inner ear catheter which will be used to apply steroids to the inner ear. It will be used on nearly deaf patients during their surgery, when they receive an implant that will restore the hearing. Treatment with steroids will improve the maintenance of residual hearing, which will be tested during and after the surgery.

Detailed description

Study Device: The INCAT is an intracochlear catheter which is eligible in Canada for intracochlear drug delivery. Summary: 24 patients with moderate to profound hearing loss and indication for cochlear implantation will receive intracochlear treatment with steroids with an intracochlear catheter (INCAT) for hearing preservation prior to insertion of the cochlear implant array. Subjects will be considered for the study if they are 18 years of age or older and demonstrate a CNC word score in quiet of 60% or less in the ear to be implanted. Subjects will be followed for 6 months post-activation of the audio processor. Primary Objectives: Determination of feasibility of the intracochlear catheter INCAT and hearing preservation of residual hearing thresholds intra-, postoperatively, and long-term. Secondary Objectives: Assessment of quality of life, tinnitus and development of speech perception with the implant up to one year after implantation. Study Endpoint: Feasibility of using the INCAT and assessment of hearing preservation of residual hearing thresholds. Impedance field telemetry will help to assess hearing thresholds pre-, peri-, and postinsertion.

Interventions

DEVICEintracochlear catheter

intracochlear administration of steroids through the intracochlear catheter INCAT

Sponsors

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

feasibility study

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Adults, 18 years of age or older at the time of implantation * Moderate to profound hearing loss in the low frequencies and severe to profound hearing * Loss in the high frequencies, bilaterally as defined by (see Figure 4A and B below for example audiogram information) * Low-frequency pure tone average (PTA - 250, 500, and 1000 Hz) greater than 40 dB * High-frequencies not better than 65 decibels (3000 Hz - 8000 Hz) * Sensorineural hearing loss, demonstrated by an air-bone gap of less than or equal to 10 dB * Limited benefit from appropriately fit hearing aids, defined by consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word score in quiet of 60% or less in the ear to be implanted and 70% or less in the non-implanted ear * CNC word score in quiet of greater than or equal to 10% in the ear to be implanted * Fluent in English * No radiological contraindications * Ability to undergo general anesthesia * Appropriate motivation and expectation levels * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study * Able to perform subjective hearing tests * Able to fill out questionnaires

Exclusion criteria

* Age less than 18 years * Not willing to provide informed consent * Unable to perform subjective hearing tests * Unable to fill out questionnaires * Previous unsensitivity to the investigated drug * Unable to follow the protocol for any reasons * Evidence that hearing loss is retrocochlear in origin * Active middle ear infection * Skin or scalp condition precluding use of external audio processor * Suspected cognitive impairment or organic brain dysfunction * History of prior use of a hearing implant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pure tone average with air and bone conduction12 Monthsair and bone conduction of the frequencies 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 kHz
speech audiometry12 monthsCNC, AzBio, HINT
Impedance12 monthsImpedance testing for all electrodes
ECAPs12 monthselectrically evoked compound action potential testing for all electrodes
ECochG12 monthselectrocochleargraphy

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tinnitus12 MonthsAssessment of tinnitus with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, which is a 25-item self-report measure to determine perceived tinnitus handicap severity

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactTrung Le, MD, PhD
trung.le@sunnybrook.ca416-480

Outcome results

None listed

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