TUS-LFP: Investigating LFP Correlates of TUS in Patients With Movement Disorders

Sponsor
University Health Network, Toronto (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05965960
Collaborator
(none)
25
1
2
12.5
2

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation(NIBS) technique that can be used on both superficial and deep brain targets with a high spatial resolution as small as a few cubic millimeters. Neural correlates of TUS have yet been elucidated. To date, no intracranial recordings (i.e., local field potential [LFP]) have been captured during or after TUS in patients with movement disorders. In this study, we are aiming to profile basal ganglia LFP activity during and after TUS by using a DBS system that is capable of recording LFP. This can shed light on mechanisms of TUS, as well as allow identification of a neurophysiological biomarker that can be used to tune the TUS sonication parameters for future clinical trials.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: TUS Active
  • Device: TUS Sham
N/A

Detailed Description

Experiment 1: Subjects will be randomly assigned to either the sham or active stimulation group during the first study visit. In the second study visit, there will be a crossover between the groups, with all subjects undergoing one sham and one active stimulation visit before the study is completed. During the active stimulation visit, a theta burst protocol (Isppa: 30 W/cm2, burst length: 20 ms, period: 200 ms, focus: 35 mm, frequency 500 kHz) will be used to sonicate the bilateral primary motor cortices (M1) for 2 minutes. The sham group involves sonications performed with the power set to 0 watts over bilateral M1s. In both groups, the subjects will be masked using white noise transmitted through earbuds. The cortical targets will be identified anatomically using structural MRIs and a neuronavigation system.

The Percept PC DBS system will be used to record local field potentials (LFPs) from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPI) at various time points: before (baseline) and during the sonications, as well as at 10-, 30-, and 45-minute intervals after the sonications. These recordings will be obtained while the subjects engage in a finger tapping task monitored by an accelerometer, as well as during resting periods. The power of LFPs across different frequencies will be compared and correlated with the velocity observed during the finger tapping task.

Following the completion of sham and active stimulation visits, the subjects will have the opportunity to participate in an optional control group visit, which entails sonication of the occipital cortex utilizing the theta burst protocol.

Experiment 2: TUS will be utilized to target the area directly over the DBS lead, while concurrently recording LFPs to identify any stimulation artifact indicative of target area-sonication engagement.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
25 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Crossover Assignment
Masking:
Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description:
The subject will be blind to stimulation condition (sham/active TUS). The assessor will be blind to stimulation condition (sham/active TUS) while analyzing LFPs. The UPDRS examination will be video-recorded and blindly assessed by a research team member.
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
Investigating Local Field Potential Correlates of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation in Patients With Movement Disorders
Actual Study Start Date :
May 18, 2023
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Jun 1, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Jun 1, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Active Comparator: Active Low Intensity Transcranial Focused Ultrasound

NeuroFUS device stimulation with 4 channel transducer Stimulation target = M1 Stimulation parameters = Theta burst protocol and 30 Watts

Device: TUS Active
Bilateral M1s will be sonicated using NeuroFUS device for two minutes per hemisphere with theta burst protocol and 30 W/cm2 Isppa

Sham Comparator: Sham Low Intensity Transcranial Focused Ultrasound

NeuroFUS device stimulation with 4 channel transducer Stimulation target = M1 Stimulation parameters = Theta burst protocol and 0 Watts

Device: TUS Sham
Bilateral M1s will be sonicated using NeuroFUS device for two minutes per hemisphere with theta burst protocol and 0 W/cm2 Isppa

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. LFP power (Experiment 1) [5 minutes long recordings during both study visits at 1) Baseline (20-30 minutes before sonication), 2) during sonication, 3) 10 minutes after sonication, 4) 30 minutes after sonication, and 5) 45 minutes after sonication]

    The change of power of LFPs across different frequencies

  2. Stimulation artifact (Experiment 2) [Online during sonications]

    Presence of a stimulation artifact during LFP recordings

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. UPDRS (Experiment 1) [Two assessments will be conducted during each study visit: one at baseline (within the first minute of the study) and the other upon completion of the study visit (between 120 and 130 minutes after the study visit initiation).]

    Change of UPDRS score

  2. Finger tapping task (Experiment 1) [LFPs during finger tapping will be recorded at each visit for half minute at 1) Baseline (20-30 minutes before sonication), 2) 10 minutes after sonication, 3) 30 minutes after sonication, and 4) 45 minutes after sonication]

    Correlation of LFP power change with the velocity change during finger tapping task as recorded by an accelerometer

  3. Adverse effect profile (Experiment 1 and 2) [From the initiation of the study up to 1 day after its completion.]

    Presence of adverse effects as reported subjectively by the patient

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  1. Adult patients with movement disorders (diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist)

  2. Implantation of a Percept PC DBS system at least one month before the sonications

  3. Stable dopaminergic medication dose for a minimum of 4 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:
  1. Concomitant neurological conditions (stroke, seizure, dementia, major depression / psychiatric disorders, active drug abuse/addiction and major neuromuscular/musculoskeletal diseases)

  2. Declined cognitive scores (MoCA score < 22)

  3. Implants (cardiac pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, intracranial devices other than DBS system such as shunts and MR-unsafe devices)

  4. History of intracranial lesioning procedures

  5. Major systemic illness, infection or pregnancy

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Toronto Western Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada M5T 2S8

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Robert Chen, MBBS, University Health Network, Toronto

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Robert Chen, Senior Scientist, University Health Network, Toronto
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05965960
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 20-5740#2
First Posted:
Jul 28, 2023
Last Update Posted:
Jul 28, 2023
Last Verified:
Jul 1, 2023
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jul 28, 2023