Sensory Responses to Dorsal Root Stimulation

Lee Fisher, PhD

Status: Withdrawn

Conditions: Sensation, Phantom; Amputation

Treatments: Device: Spinal cord stimulation system

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04725006

STUDY20020043

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this project is to characterize the types of sensations that can be evoked via electrical stimulation of the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Patients will be recruited from a local pain clinic, each with a spinal cord stimulation device implanted, to participate in experiments to explore the ability to modulate and control the modality, intensity, focality, and location of the sensations evoked by stimulation through the spinal cord stimulator leads. Investigators will connect spinal cord stimulator leads to a custom stimulator system and will ask subjects to report the types of sensations felt. Invesigators will also perform detailed psychophysical metrics to examine participants' ability to discriminate sensations.

Full description

For this study, investigators aim to determine whether DRG and spinal root stimulation might be viable techniques for restoring feedback. Investigators will focus on patients undergoing temporary percutaneous trials of DRG or lateral spinal cord stimulation with leads manufactured by either Boston Scientific (under PMA P030017) or St. Jude (under PMA P150004), which have FDA premarket approval for the management of chronic pain in the trunk and lower limbs. In this early experiment, investigators will not focus on individuals with limb loss, but rather will include patients already undergoing a percutaneous trial of DRG or spinal root stimulation to treat pain. Investigators will characterize the location, modality, and intensity of sensations evoked in the hands or feet with stimulation delivered by an external stimulator.

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 70 years old.
2. Subjects must be undergoing an epidural spinal cord implanted electrode array clinical trial with Dr. Helm for the management of pain.
3. Persons must understand the consent and the procedures.

Exclusion criteria

1. Persons with open wounds;
2. Persons with implanted metal rods in the spine or limbs;
3. Persons with defibrillator or pacemaker;
4. Persons with permanent skin metal tags or decorations.

Trial design

0 participants in 1 patient group

Stimulation in individuals with implanted stimulation systems

Description:

During psychophysical stimulation trials, an external stimulator will be connected to the SCS lead, a volley of stimulation will be performed, and the subject will be asked to respond to standard psychophysical questions, as well as to provide any additional comments.

Treatment:

Device: Spinal cord stimulation system