Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02881151 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : August 26, 2016
Last Update Posted : November 10, 2021
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) | Device: Deep brain stimulation | Not Applicable |
This preliminary safety study evaluates the use of the Medtronic Activa PC+S system and Medtronic Nexus-E system for central thalamic deep brain stimulation (CT-DBS) in the treatment of cognitive impairment secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI). It involves a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in the brain, connected to an implanted pacemaker-like device in the chest. The proposed study, if successful, will provide supporting evidence for the development of a novel therapeutic approach utilizing CT-DBS to improve these enduring cognitive impairments arising in persons with multi-focal structural brain injuries. This research will address the critical gap of the lack of any available treatments. CT-DBS targets well-defined neuronal populations within the central thalamus that have known anatomical and physiological specializations, which not only provide a key role in arousal regulation during cognitively-mediated behaviors, but also exhibit a particular vulnerability to dysfunction in the setting of multi-focal, non-selective brain injuries.
Our proposed study aims to support development of CT-DBS as a novel therapeutic avenue for accessing cognitive reserve in patients with acquired brain injuries. In the proposed feasibility study of 6 subjects at a single investigational site, we will test the safety of CT-DBS in the severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) population with GOSE 6-7 level recovery and collect data to establish the translation of preclinical studies into human application of CT-DBS.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 6 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | CT-DBS for Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Medtronic Activa PC+S System |
Actual Study Start Date : | April 20, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | October 13, 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | August 2022 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Treatment
Subjects will be treated with deep brain stimulation throughout the study, with the exception of a brief, 21 day blinded withdrawal phase that will be undertaken to assess for any possible therapeutic effect.
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Device: Deep brain stimulation
Delivery of continuous, low-voltage electrical pulses to deep portions of the brain via an implantable pacemaker-like device.
Other Names:
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- Trail Making Test [ Time Frame: 1 year ]The Trail Making Test is a measure of attention, speed and mental flexibility
- Measures of cognition [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Assessed using the Ruff 2 and 7
- Physical symptoms [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Assessed using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire
- Psychological health [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
- Traumatic Brain Injury Quality of Life [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Assessed using the Traumatic Brain Injury Quality of Life scale
- Measure of global function [ Time Frame: 1 year ]Assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 22 Years to 60 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- History of moderate to severe TBI based on worst GCS score within first 48 hours of injury (acceptable GCS range = 3-12)
- Age 22-60
- At least 24 months from date of onset
- Fluent in English and able to independently provide consent
- Rating of upper moderate disability to lower good recovery on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) at time of enrollment (acceptable GOSE range 5-7)
- Failure to return to pre-injury level of vocational or educational function
- Either receiving no CNS stimulants or other medications known to affect cognitive function, or on stable doses of these medications for the last three months
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of major developmental, neurologic, psychiatric or substance use disorder with evidence of disability prior to onset of TBI
- Major medical co-morbidities including: end stage renal failure, severe heart failure, coagulopathy, severe respiratory problems, severe liver failure, uncontrolled hypertension or other significant medical co morbidities
- Have had a documented seizure within 3 months of study screening (subjects may re-screen if seizure free after initial screen failure)
- Malignancy with < 5 years life expectancy
- Untreated / uncontrolled (severe at the time of enrollment) depression or other psychiatric disorder
- Women of childbearing age who do not regularly use an accepted contraceptive method
- Inability to stop anticoagulation therapy or platelet anti-aggregation therapy before, during and after surgery
- Previous DBS or other brain implants
- Previous ablative intracranial surgery
- Implantable hardware not compatible with MRI
- Condition requiring diathermy after DBS implantation
- Hardware, lesions or other factors limiting placement of electrodes in optimal target location in the judgment of the operating surgeon
- Concurrent enrollment in any other clinical trial
- Any condition or finding that, in the judgment of the PI, significantly increases risk or significantly reduces the likelihood of benefit from DBS

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): NCT02881151
United States, California | |
Stanford Health Care | |
Stanford, California, United States, 94305 |
Study Director: | Jaimie M Henderson, MD | Stanford University |
Responsible Party: | Jaimie M. Henderson, John and Jene Blume - Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor, Stanford University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02881151 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
37280 |
First Posted: | August 26, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 10, 2021 |
Last Verified: | November 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | Yes |
Deep brain stimulation DBS Central thalamus TBI Traumatic brain injury |
Brain Injuries Brain Injuries, Traumatic Wounds and Injuries Brain Diseases |
Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Craniocerebral Trauma Trauma, Nervous System |