NCT05961072

Vibrotactile Stimulation With Saphenus Device

Vibrotactile Stimulation for Improved Gait and Pain After Major Lower Extremity Amputation Using a Non-invasive Vibration Device

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

To determine the benefit of the vvibrotactile sensory feedback device.

Detailed description

In the United States, approximately 150.000 patients undergo a lower extremity amputation annually. With a high change of developing neuropathic pain, decreased mobility due to the missing limb and therefore depressed mental wellbeing, lower extremity amputations are debilitating the patient on multiple facets. From the usage of non-mechanical prosthetic wear, meaningful improvements have been made in surgical amputee care in the recent decades. Osseointegration, and later regenerative nerve surgical techniques like targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) have led to major improvements in the mobility of lower limb amputees, by introducing myoeletric prosthetics. Although technological advances have let to improved motoric function and motor control over artificial limbs, sensory feedback is still a very complex aspect of regaining full control over the missing limb. Recently, introduced as a technical variation on TMR, Targeted Sensory Reinnervation is based on reinnervation of a defined skin area by another sensory nerve. Recently, application of vibrotactile feedback, connected to the lower extremity prosthetic socket, has shown promising results in regaining proprioception in the missing limb, resulting in improved walking ability and pain. However, Targeted Sensory Reinnervation (TSR) is a novel surgical technique which is not always possible to perform and not available to every lower extremity amputee. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether this vibrotactile sensory feedback device improves gait and pain in major lower limb amputee population regardless of whether TSR has been conducted.

Conditions

• Amputation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Vibrotactile sensory feedback device	The company Saphenus Medical Technology GmbH will provide all of the devices for this study. The non-invasive vibrotactile sensory feedback device consists of 4 vibration -motors, which are placed in a cuff or pant on the patient's residual limb (RL). Furthermore, the system consists of a foot sole with integrated sensors and transmitters. The patient will put the sole of their foot into the shoe of the amputated side. There are 4 sensors matching the vibration motors - 3 under the forefoot and 1 on the heel - in the foot sole. Depending on whether the patient loads their forefoot or their heel while walking, the assigned vibration motor vibrates on the skin of their RL. The patient will learn which vibration motor is assigned to their forefoot and which to their heel. This gives the patient sensory feedback without having to check with their eyes which part of the prosthetic foot is currently touching the ground.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2023-12-01
• Completion: 2024-05-01
• First posted: 2023-07-27
• Last updated: 2023-07-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study