The Use of LIFUP in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Disorder of Consciousness; CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident); Thalamic Infarction; Vegetative State; Minimally Conscious State; Anoxia, Brain; Coma; Prolonged; Minimally Conscious State Plus; Minimally Conscious State Minus; Traumatic Brain Injury

• Registration Number: NCT04921683
• Lead Sponsor: Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare

Brief Summary

When patients survive a severe brain injury but fail to fully recover, they often enter a Disorder of Consciousness (DoC) --that is, a set of related conditions of decreased awareness and arousal including the Vegetative State (VS) and the Minimally Conscious State (MCS). When these conditions become chronic, there are no approved treatments to help bolster any further recovery. In prior work, we have shown the clinical feasibility and potential of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Pulsation (LIFUP) as a remarkably safe form of non-invasive brain stimulation in these conditions.

Detailed Description

In the present study, we propose taking the "next step" to assess whether LIFUP can affect objective and validated markers of DoC patient impairment (in the direction of lesser impairment). Specifically, patients will be admitted at Casa Colina Hospital for a 10-day (in-patient) protocol, and two follow-up sessions, conducted remotely (e.g., over the phone) at 7 and 30-days post-discharge. The full length of the study is 40 days from admission. Over the admission period, patients will undergo multiple measurements of validated biomarkers, including behavioral testing, brain metabolism (using Positron Emission Tomography), and electroencephalography, before and after one session of LIFUP to thalamus.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-05-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-06-04
• Study First Posted: 2021-06-10
• Study Start: 2021-06-21
• Primary Completion: 2023-03-01
• Study Completion: 2023-04-14
• Status Verified: 2023-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-05-03
• Last Update Posted: 2023-05-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 16

Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis of VS or MCS based on the CRS-R .

2. Chronic status:

   • 3 months post-injury for non-traumatic etiologies
   • 12 months post-injury for traumatic etiology

3. 18 years of age or older.

4. If on a psychotropic medication regimen, that regimen will be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study and the patient will be willing to remain on a stable regimen during the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of neurological disorder (other than the brain injury).
2. Unsuitability to undergo Magnetic Resonance (MR) assessment (e.g., non-MR compatible implants).
3. Unsuitability to undergo LIFUP neuromodulation (e.g., presence of non-bone implant or absence of bone under the expected positioning of the device by the left temporal bone window).
4. Manifest continuous spontaneous movement (which would prevent imaging)
5. Participation in another concurrent clinical trial.
6. Having undergone PET, CT, or other exam involving the use of ionizing radiation in the 12 months prior to the date of scheduled admission to Casa Colina.
7. Dependence on ventilator.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Positron Emission Tomography	This will be conducted on Day 4.	Assess change in local standard uptake value (SUV) and global SUV.
Polysomnography	This will be conducted Day 1-10 of the study.	Change in nightly average density of sleep-spindles and sleep structure.
Coma Recovery Scale-Revised	Coma recovery scale-revised is completed at enrollment and twice a day on Day 1-10, except for Day 4. Maximum score is 23 with a minimum of 0. Higher scores mean better outcome.	Change in maximum total and subscale scores.
Electroencephalography	The EEG will be conducted at Day 3, 4, 7 and 10 of the study.	Change in fast to slow frequency power spectrum density and in P3b amplitude.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Casa Colina Hospital; 🇺🇸 Pomona, California, United States