National Fully Remote Use of IpsiHand Device in Hemiparetic Stroke

Neurolutions

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Stroke; Spasticity as Sequela of Stroke; Brain Computer Interface; Hemiparesis

Treatments: Device: Neurolutions IpsiHand System; Other: Standard of Care - Home Exercise Program for Upper Extremity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT05965713

National Remote IpsiHand Study

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to define the efficacy of fully remote home-based BCI therapy in chronic hemiparetic subcortical stroke patients. A randomized controlled study using the integrated remote BCI system will be tested against standard exercise therapy to determine the efficacy of motor improvement in chronic stroke patients with an upper extremity hemiparesis. Specifically, the integrated BCI system will include 1) the remote screening and motor assessment system for the upper extremity and 2) the BCI-controlled robotic hand exoskeleton (i.e. IpsiHand).

Full description

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a functioning and clinically feasible method for restoring function to motor impaired stroke survivors. This ultimate goal is to develop a system that allows for enhanced functional capability and works consistently over a long-term basis and is accessible remotely no matter location or access to healthcare. In developing a new rehabilitation method, the researchers hope to create a system that allows for closed loop feedback through a robotic hand orthosis on the motor impaired side of stroke patients in response to intended movements of the muscles. The method, if successful, would represent an ideal, non-invasive method of promoting motor learning and recovery in stroke survivors. The ability to operate robotic hand orthosis using electrical signals of the brain is rapidly leaving the realm of science fiction and becoming a realistic goal of the clinical community. The current advances in BCI controlled neuroprosthetics could have immeasurable influence on adult patients with severe motor impairments from stroke. Even further on the horizon the insights developed from such work could substantively alter the way all stroke patients are treated and rehabilitated.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults age (18-85)
2. Adults who sustained a CVA
3. Have upper extremity hemiparesis/hemiplegia
4. Participants who are not receiving Botox Injections for the upper extremity may be included. Should a participant be receiving Botox injections for the upper extremity, they may be included but Botox administration must be timed to coincide within a week of the beginning of training.

Exclusion criteria

1. Participants who are not receiving Botox Injections for the upper extremity may be included. Should a participant be receiving Botox injections for the upper extremity, they may be included but Botox administration must be timed to coincide within a week of the beginning of training.
2. Participants who are too cognitively impaired to understand the task or provide informed consent will be excluded. A Short-Blessed Test score of 8 or more will be excluded.
3. Participants who have contractures in the affected wrist and digits will be excluded, as the device will not comfortably fit.
4. Participants who have receptive aphasia and unable to follow written directions will be excluded. A score of 6 or less on the MS Aphasia Screening Test will be excluded.
5. Participants receiving any formal upper extremity therapy will be excluded.
6. Participants with ataxia apraxia or severe psychiatric illness (other than post stroke depression) will be excluded.
7. Participants who are pregnant or breast-feeding will be excluded.
8. Participants who have nerve or sensory impairment that may limit or interfere with their ability to sense pain will be excluded.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

BCI treatment Group using the IpsiHand

Experimental group

Description:

Phase 1: Group 1 subjects will receive an IpsiHand Screening System to complete a remote EEG Screening. Subjects will undergo an EEG screening protocol to ensure that a consistent control signal will be present to control the IpsiHand device. After an EEG screening session is complete, the participants screening data will be analyzed to ensure that sufficient cortical signals are present. Randomization for assignment to group 1 or 2 will then occur. Once assigned to group 1, if consistent signals are found, the participant will then continue to Phase 2. Phase 2: Group 1 subjects will be provided with a Neurolutions IpsiHand BCI system, which combines a novel powered exoskeleton with a commercial EEG amplifier and active electrode system. The exoskeleton opens and closes the patient's hand in a three-finger pinch grip. Patients will use the BCI system on a minimum of 5 days per week for 12 weeks. Patients will complete five or more 10-minute runs of the BCI task per day.

Treatment:

Device: Neurolutions IpsiHand System

Standard of Care - Home Exercise Program for Upper Extremity

Experimental group

Description:

Phase 1: Group 1 subjects will receive an IpsiHand Screening System to complete a remote EEG Screening. Once randomized, the participant will be assigned to group 2 to begin standard of care treatment at home. Phase 2: After being assigned to Group 2, subjects will serve as the control group in the study. Subjects will receive a customized home range of motion exercise program. Subjects will be recommended to complete their exercises daily, 5 out of 7 days per week for 12 weeks to control for the non-specific motor and sensory effects of BCI training. To help ensure compliance with the at-home portion of the protocol in the control group, participants will receive daily virtual monitoring from the study clinical specialist.

Treatment:

Other: Standard of Care - Home Exercise Program for Upper Extremity