Clinical Trial of Wireless CranioFacial Nerve Stimulation (CFNS) for the Treatment of CranioFacial Neuropathic Pain
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02729480 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : April 6, 2016
Last Update Posted : May 9, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Facial Pain | Device: Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System | Not Applicable |
Subjects will be randomized at enrollment into either a delayed or immediate continuation group. The immediate continuation group will immediately continue with the stimulation after a 30-day trial period and will be monitored for a total of 12 months. The delayed activation group will have their device turned off after the 30-day trial period for the next 3-months. At the 3-month visit, both groups be evaluated and the delayed activation group will have their devices reactivated.
Subjects will have neuropathic pain of various etiologies, including trauma, surgery or post-herpetic infections. Stimulators will be placed at the site target of the painful area, including the epifascial plane under the skin but above the muscles in the vicinity of the targeted branches of; A. Branches of Trigeminal Nerves in the Ophthalmic, Maxillary, or Mandibular B. Sensory branches of Facial Nerves C. Branches of the Occipital Nerves (Greater and/or Lesser) D. Branches of the Cervical Plexus (Superficial and/or Deep)
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 65 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Multi-center, Prospective, Controlled, Clinical Trial of Wireless CranioFacial Nerve Stimulation (CFNS) for the Treatment of CranioFacial Neuropathic Pain |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 1, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 1, 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | October 2022 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Continued Stimulation Group
Subjects randomized to this group will have the Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System activated immediately.
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Device: Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System
The Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System is a wirelessly powered neurostimulator for pain in the face or head (not for headaches or migraine). This technology includes an implanted stimulator with an embedded receiver. The energy source is a small, external, rechargeable transmitter, which is worn by the patient. The transmitter sends the therapy program and power through the skin to the receiver. |
Active Comparator: Delayed Continuation Group
Subjects randomized to this group with have the Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System activated after 90 days.
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Device: Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System
The Halo Craniofacial Nerve Stimulator System is a wirelessly powered neurostimulator for pain in the face or head (not for headaches or migraine). This technology includes an implanted stimulator with an embedded receiver. The energy source is a small, external, rechargeable transmitter, which is worn by the patient. The transmitter sends the therapy program and power through the skin to the receiver. |
- Pain Score [ Time Frame: 3 months ]To achieve a sustained 50% reduction in pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- Incidence and severity of adverse events [ Time Frame: 3 months ]
- Percentage change from baseline in VAS for facial pain [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]
- Percent change from baseline in the Brief Pain Inventory-facial (BPIF) Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]
- Subject satisfaction with the therapy as measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) [ Time Frame: 3 months ]
- Change from baseline in quality of life, Physical component score using Medical Outcomes Short Form SF-36 [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]
- Change from baseline in quality of life, Mental component score using Medical Outcomes Short Form SF-36 [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]
- Change from baseline in pain rating index from the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-SF-2) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subject is ≥ 18 years of age at time of informed consent
- Subjects have been diagnosed with Cranial-facial pain with an average VAS > 5 (on a 0-10 scale) over the course of the last month based on baseline pain diary.
- Subject diagnosis with neuropathic cranial-facial pain refractory to conventional medical management for at least 12 months prior to enrollment;
- Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, subject has a stable pain medication regimen for 3 months prior to study entry.
- Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, subject has a stable Tricyclic regimen for 3 months prior to study entry
- No medication overuse and not attributed to another causative disorder
- Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, there is no evidence of anatomic abnormalities that could jeopardize the placement of the device or pose a hazard to the subject;
- Based on the opinion of the Principal Investigator, subject is willing and able to operate the patient programmer, recharging equipment, diary and has the ability to undergo study assessments and provide accurate responses;
- Based on the opinion of the implanter, subject is a good surgical subject for the implant procedure;
- Subject is willing to undergo surgical implant procedure, attend visits as scheduled, and comply with the study requirements;
- Subject is male or non-pregnant female as determined with a negative pregnancy test at baseline visit, and if sexually active, must be using a medically acceptable method of contraception for the duration of their study participation;
- Subject is deemed to be neuro-psycho-socially appropriate for implantation therapies based of the assessment of a Clinical Psychologist, using face-to-face encounters and the psychological testing described in the measures;
- Patient is capable of giving informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- A. Subject has undergone botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injections of the head and/or neck in the last 3 months.
- Unresolved Malignancies in last six months;
- Subject has a history of migraine, headaches of central origin or trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias;
- Subject has postherpetic neuralgia (shingles);
- Complete deafferentation of all branches of the trigeminal, facial, occipital nerves and cervical plexus;
- Subject has an active systemic infection or is immune-compromised;
- Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, Psychologist and/or Psychiatrist, the subject has other psychological conditions (e.g., psychosis, suicidal ideation, borderline personality disorder, somatization, narcissism), other health conditions (e.g., substance abuse, another chronic condition requiring the regular use of opioid medication), or other legal concerns that would preclude his/her enrollment in the study or potentially confound the results of the study;
- Subject is currently enrolled in or plans to enroll in any concurrent drug and/or device study while participating in this study;
- Insulin-dependent diabetic who is not controlled through diet and/or medication (determined by the physician) or non-insulin dependent diabetic who is not well controlled through diet and/or medication;
- Bleeding complications or coagulopathy issues;
- Pregnant/lactating or not using adequate birth control;
- A life expectancy of less than one year;
- Any active implanted device whether turned off or on;
- A previous peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) experience for the treatment of facial pain including a failed trial or explanted device;
- Conditions requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation or diathermy procedures;
- Subject is currently involved in litigation regarding injury, or is receiving worker's compensation benefits.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02729480
United States, District of Columbia | |
International Spine, Pain & Performance Center | |
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20037 | |
United States, Indiana | |
Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University | |
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202 | |
United States, Michigan | |
Prizm Pain Management | |
Canton, Michigan, United States, 48187 | |
United States, New York | |
Minimally Invasive Pain Institute | |
Utica, New York, United States, 13502 | |
United States, Ohio | |
University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine | |
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106 | |
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Pennsylvania Hospital, Dept. of Neurosurgery | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19106 | |
United States, Texas | |
baylor College of Medicine | |
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030 |
Responsible Party: | Stimwave Technologies |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02729480 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
30-00208 |
First Posted: | April 6, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 9, 2022 |
Last Verified: | May 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | De-identified participant data for all primary endpoints will be made available within 6 months of study completion. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | Yes |
Device Product Not Approved or Cleared by U.S. FDA: | Yes |
Neuralgia Facial Pain Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases |
Nervous System Diseases Pain Neurologic Manifestations |