RecruitingNot Applicable

Feasibility of Neural Feedback for Lower Limb Amputees

United States15 participantsStarted 2015-11-05

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of providing sensation of the missing limb to individuals with lower limb loss, including above and below knee amputees. The approach involves delivering small electrical currents directly to remaining nerves via implanted stimulating electrodes. These small electrical currents cause the nerves to generate signals that are then transferred to your brain similar to how information about the foot and lower limb used to be transferred to your brain prior to the amputation. Individuals also have the option to have recording electrodes implanted within muscles of the lower limb(s) in an attempt to develop a motor controller that would enable the user to have intuitive control of a robotic prosthetic leg.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults age 18 or greater * Chronic, medically stable ( \> 3 months) trans-tibial or trans-femoral amputation at the time of implant surgery. * Potential user of trans-tibial or trans-femoral prostheses for standing or walking * Viable target nerves in the lower extremity as determined by standard-of-care clinical tests of nerve conduction, response to stimulation, sensory evoked potentials and the like * Good skin integrity and personal hygiene * Absence of autoimmune deficiencies, seizure disorders or cardiac abnormalities contraindicating stimulation * Sufficient social support and personal ability to tolerate study procedures and comply with follow-up schedule Exclusion Criteria: * Uncontrolled diabetes to a degree that would preclude surgery * Significant vascular disease * Chronic skin ulcerations * Significant history of poor wound healing * Significant history of uncontrolled infections * Active infection * Significant pain in the residual or phantom limb * Pregnancy * Inability to speak English * Expectation that MRI will be required at any point for the duration of study or while percutaneous leads are in place * Severe neurological conditions that significantly impair balance or mobility to an extent that independent ambulation is impossible without assistance ( as determined by a healthcare provider) * Appropriate body habitus (height and weight within acceptable limits as determined by study physician) * Poor surgical candidate * Psychiatr…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Stimulation Thresholds

Timeframe: 9 months post implant

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)

Timeframe: 1 year post implant

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03409133

SponsorLouis Stokes VA Medical Center

Sponsor typeFED

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09-01

Contact for this trial

Aarika Sheehan, PT, DPT

216-791-3800 Aarika.Sheehan@va.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Amputation trials