Investigating a wrist-worn device to treat tremor with electrical stimulation
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10416636 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10416636 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 296113 |
| Protocol serial number | 2022.0085, IRAS 296113, CPMS 54026 |
| Sponsor | St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 31/03/2022
- Registration date
- 14/04/2023
- Last edited
- 01/10/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The growing global ageing population projects very significant patient growth in all conditions causing tremor. Treatments are limited and symptomatic. They do not offer long-term benefits, and their effectiveness diminishes with time. The current approach to managing tremor is through lifestyle modifications followed by drug treatment (e.g. propranolol and primidone), botulinum toxin injections (BTI) or surgery consisting of stereotactic thalamotomy or deep brain stimulation (DBS). While established, all have serious drawbacks. Drugs induce side effects and lose effectiveness. BTIs are available in specialist centres with varied results. DBS is expensive, incurs risks and side effects, and requires long-term, regular follow-up. The source of tremor is abnormal muscle activation. Electrical stimulation (ES) is therefore a logical basis for treatment; it is non-invasive, easily applicable, and requires minimal hardware. In ES, electrodes are placed above muscles to be activated and pulses are delivered, causing contractions. A range of patient testing has shown promise, but clinical translation remains negligible. This study tests a simple wearable device (band) that senses and counteracts tremor by delivering low-level imperceptible electrical stimulation (ES) to nerves in the forearm or wrist. The system has the potential to replace and/or augment current treatment options and increase quality of life for a very large patient population. The aim of this study is to determine whether this device for delivering electrical stimulation can reduce tremor severity in people with Parkinson’s related tremor or essential tremor. Factors that exacerbate tremors include psychological drivers, thought at least in part to explain a significant placebo effect in tremor trials. To examine these effects, in addition to the primary outcome of tremor suppression, the trial is planned to be sham-controlled to allow direct comparison between the active and sham arms. Participants’ standard of care would not be impacted by taking part in this trial.
Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years and over who have been diagnosed with a tremor syndrome which affects their quality of life, either essential tremor or tremor related to Parkinson’s disease.
What does the study involve?
This study will test the device to see if the tremor can be suppressed for a longer period. The researchers do not yet know if the device which is tuned to deliver stimulation in time with tremor (active stimulation) is better than just delivering bursts of stimulation at any time (sham stimulation). To find out, they will compare the two methods. They will put people into two groups (the active stimulation group and the sham stimulation group) and give each group a different treatment. The results will be compared to see if one is better. To try to make sure the groups are the same to start with, each patient is put into a group by chance (randomly). Which treatment given to each individual will be decided by chance (like tossing a coin) and each individual will have a 50:50 chance of being on each treatment. This is a ‘blind trial’ so the participants will not know which treatment group they are in until after the trial has finished. Participants will undergo 10 stimulation sessions, each at least a day apart, measuring their tremor severity immediately before and after the intervention. After the 10-day trial intervention, two follow-up appointments will assess tremor severity on days 16 and 38 from the start of the intervention to look for longer-term effects.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The assessments and recordings that will be performed during the study are neither invasive nor harmful. They do not pose any risk to health or safety. The electrical stimulation, either delivered with varying parameters, the active stimulation or the sham stimulation, has been shown to be imperceptible or mildly uncomfortable. There is only a small risk of this occurring and the researchers do not expect any serious complications. The research team in this study includes experienced clinicians and they will monitor individuals carefully, so they can stop any procedures if they experience any unpleasant side effects. Participants may experience a temporary improvement of tremor during the trial. Participants may feel the benefit of contributing to research into a novel treatment. The information from the study will further our understanding of the electrical treatment of tremor and contribute to the development of the treatment device.
Where is the study run from?
St George’s University of London (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2021 to December 2024
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Fahd Baig
fbaig@sgul.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Room 0.136
Jenner Wing
St George's University Hospital
Blackshaw Road
London
SW17 0QT
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)20 8725 4627 |
|---|---|
| fbaig@sgul.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized sham-controlled single-blinded parallel-arm study |
| Secondary study design | Randomised parallel trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Closed-Loop Electronic stimulation - Mechanomyogram sensor system for Passive tremor Suppression treatment (CLEMPTS) |
| Study acronym | CLEMPTS |
| Study objectives | The Closed-Loop Electronic Stimulation (ES) - Mechanomyogram Sensor (MMG) System can acutely reduce tremor severity in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 17/11/2022, London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee (Health Research Authority, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London, SE1 6LH, UK; +44 (0)207 104 8387, +44 (0)207 104 8263; stanmore.rec@hra.nhs.uk), REC ref: 22/LO/0689 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Parkinson's disease-related tremor and essential tremor |
| Intervention | The trial is designed to determine whether the investigational device reduces tremor severity compared with sham electrical stimulation (ES) as measured by an accelerometer. The intervention has been shown in preliminary studies to reduce tremor for in the acute phase, the effects potentially lasting for up to 24 hours. The primary outcome is to assess the acute reduction in tremor. Further exploratory secondary endpoints include assessing for sustained effects and the neurophysiological effects of repeated stimulation. The researchers will recruit 20 participants: 10 with essential tremor and 10 with Parkinson’s disease-related tremor. Following device development, a trial will take place with 20 patients. Participants will be randomised to the active or sham ES sessions using simple block randomisation. Patients will undergo 10 ES sessions, each at least a day apart, measuring the tremor severity immediately before and after the intervention. After the 10-day trial intervention, two follow-up appointments will assess tremor severity at days 16 and 38 from the start of the intervention to look for longer-term effects. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Phase II |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Not provided at time of registration |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Tremor severity measured by an accelerometer immediately before and after each of the 10 active or sham ES sessions |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Patient-reported acute tremor suppression (measured using the Patient Global Impression of Change scale) and clinician-rated reduction in upper limb tremor (measured using relevant sub-scores of Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (FTM) and clinician global impression of change scale) measured immediately before and after each of the 10 ES sessions |
| Completion date | 31/12/2024 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 20 |
| Total final enrolment | 19 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adults aged over 18 years 2. Diagnosed with essential tremor or Parkinson's related tremor by a neurologist with expertise in movement disorders 3. Functional disability due to tremor reported by patient or clinician 4. Willing and able to give informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Cognitive impairment (judged by the clinician on the care team or in the research team as a participant not having sufficient mental capacity to understand the study and its requirements). This includes anyone who, in the opinion of clinicians on the care team or clinicians in the research team, is unlikely to retain sufficient mental capacity for the duration of their involvement in the study. 2. Subject has a severe medical or psychiatric illness that would interfere with completing initial and follow-up assessments 3. Participation in concurrent research which involves a novel therapeutic IMP or device 4. Although the device is not expected to interfere with pregnancy, women who are pregnant would not be eligible to take part 5. Active treatment with an implantable stimulation device (such as a cardiac pacemaker or deep brain stimulation implantable programmable generator) 6. Allergies to neoprene, mylar, electrode hydrogel or medical tape |
| Date of first enrolment | 20/04/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
London
SW17 0QT
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/10/2025: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/05/2025 to 01/05/2026, and the total final enrolment number was added.
25/03/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 31/01/2024 to 31/12/2024.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/05/2024 to 01/05/2025.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
10/08/2023: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 14/08/2023 to 31/12/2023.
2. The overall end date was changed from 01/09/2023 to 31/01/2024.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/12/2023 to 01/05/2024.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
31/03/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.
