TerminatedNot Applicable

Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation Mechanisms

Stopped: The study was terminated because the investigational device could no longer be provided for study purposes, precluding further trial conduct.

United States4 participantsStarted 2025-07-15

Plain-language summary

In this mechanistic study, 40 individuals with chronic stroke will be implanted with a small vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device. The study will use a randomized, blinded, crossover design to deliver two conditions in six-week blocks: active VNS or sham VNS, each paired with upper extremity (UE) motor rehabilitation. Assessment visits will occur before and after each block, and will examine neural pathway strength, functional connectivity, and motor and non-motor behaviors. Investigators will test for VNS-induced changes in motor, cognitive, and affective systems, and will identify biomarkers predictive of clinical response.

Who can participate

Age range

22 Years – 79 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: * Ability to provide signed and dated informed consent form * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study * 22-79 years of age * Unilateral supratentorial ischemic stroke that occurred ≥ 12 months prior to enrollment * Upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score of 20 to 50 * Modified Rankin Score of 2, 3, or 4 * Meets all clinical criteria for VNS implantation as determined by the PI and clinical care team Exclusion Criteria: * Intracerebral hemorrhage or traumatic brain injury * Deficits in language or attention that interfere with study participation * Severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth \> 3) * Psychiatric disorders and/or cognitive impairments that would interfere with study participation, as assessed by medical evaluation * Receiving any therapy (medication or otherwise) that would interfere with VNS, such as drugs that perturb neurotransmitter action (anticholinergics, adrenergic blockers, etc.) * Presence of any other implanted electrical stimulation device * Prior injury to vagus nerve * Females of childbearing potential who are either pregnant, lactating, heterosexually active, or planning to become pregnant or heterosexually active during study participation; and who are not using, or will not agree to use, the following medically acceptable birth control methods:\* (1) sterilization surgery for women, (2) Surgical Sterilization Implant for Women, (3) sterilization surgery for men, (4…

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

Percent change in Ipsilesional CST MEP Size after Active VNS

Timeframe: Pre-Active VNS Treatment Block (Week 0 [Arm 1] or Week 6 [Arm 2]), Post-Active VNS Treatment Block (Week 6 [Arm 1] or Week 12 [Arm 2])

Percent change in Ipsilesional CST MEP Size after Sham VNS

Timeframe: Pre-Sham VNS Treatment Block (Week 0 [Arm 2] or Week 6 [Arm 1]), Post-Sham VNS Treatment Block (Week 6 [Arm 2] or Week 12 [Arm 1])

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06716112

SponsorNYU Langone Health

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-04-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chronic Stroke trials