Non-invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation and Blood Pressure Regulation After Spinal Cord Injury

Conditions

• Autonomic Dysreflexia
• Orthostatic Hypertension
• Spinal Cord Injury

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation — DEVICE
  Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation (scTS) will be administered using the Biostim/Neostim (Cosyma Inc., Denver CO) device. Up to six pairs of self-adhesive conductive electrodes will be placed on the skin over the spinal cord (midline and/or just to the left and right of midline) as cathodes and up to six pairs of self-adhesive electrodes located symmetrically on the skin over the iliac crests, clavicles, shoulders, and/or abdominal muscles (left and right of the umbilicus) as anodes. During scTS mapping sessions, stimulation will be provided to assess the impact on functional outcomes and to refine stimulation parameters for training (e.g., blood pressure modulation, respiratory function) targeted for each arm. Using multi-variant combinations of electrode locations and different electrical configurations, the stimulation will be delivered at a level specific to each arm with frequency of up to 100 Hz, with incrementally increased intensity up to 200 mA.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if non-invasive spinal cord stimulation intervention improves blood pressure regulation in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can site specific spinal cord stimulation enhance blood pressure regulation? * Does this stimulation affect enzymes responsible for blood pressure regulation? Researchers will stimulate different sites of spinal cord and compare to see if site-specific stimulation provide blood pressure stability. Participants will have up to six pairs of self-adhesive conductive electrodes placed on the skin over the spinal cord (midline and/or just to the left and right of midline) as cathodes and up to six pairs of self-adhesive electrodes located symmetrically on the skin over the iliac crests, clavicles, shoulders, and/or abdominal muscles (left and right of the umbilicus) as anodes for stimulation of the spinal cord.

Key Dates

Start date

Apr 1, 2026

Status verified

Mar 2026

Primary completion

Feb 28, 2029

Completion

Feb 28, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Active Comparator: CV-scTS 1
  The participants in this arm will receive spinal cord stimulation at the thoracolumbar level (T10 to L1 spinal cord levels) targeted for blood pressure regulation. There will be mapping sessions where stimulation will be provided to assess the impact on functional outcomes and to refine stimulation parameters for training. Using multi-variant combinations of electrode locations and different electrical configurations, the stimulation will be delivered with frequency of up to 100 Hz, with incrementally increased intensity up to 200mA. During stimulation interventions, 5 mA-sub-motor threshold intensity with mapping-identified frequency, pulse width, and intensity will be delivered during interventional bouts.
• Active Comparator: CV-scTS 2
  The participants in this arm will receive spinal cord stimulation at the lumbosacral level (L1 to S1 spinal cord levels) targeted for blood pressure regulation. There will be mapping sessions where stimulation will be provided to assess the impact on functional outcomes and to refine stimulation parameters for training. Using multi-variant combinations of electrode locations and different electrical configurations, the stimulation will be delivered with frequency of up to 100 Hz, with incrementally increased intensity up to 200mA. During stimulation interventions, 5 mA-sub-motor threshold intensity with mapping-identified frequency, pulse width, and intensity will be delivered during interventional bouts.
• Active Comparator: Resp-scTS
  Qualifying participants of NCT06019949 (IRB #23.0570) randomized to the respiratory stimulation alone intervention group (Resp-scTS) will be invited to participate in this study to collect additional outcome measures. Overlapping assessments will be shared between the two studies. Participants in this arm will receive spinal cord stimulation at the thoracic level (T1 to T9 spinal cord levels) targeted for respiratory function. There will be mapping sessions where stimulation will be provided to assess the impact on functional outcomes and to refine stimulation parameters for training. Using multi-variant combinations of electrode locations and different electrical configurations, the stimulation will be delivered with frequency of up to 100 Hz, with incrementally increased intensity up to 200mA. During stimulation interventions, 5 mA-sub-motor threshold intensity with mapping-identified frequency, pulse width, and intensity will be delivered during interventional bouts.

Primary Outcome Measure

Baroreflex Sensitivity [ Time Frame: Within 4 weeks before an intervention; within 2 weeks after intervention #40; within 2 weeks after intervention #80; within 2 weeks after weeks after 8 weeks and 16-weeks follow-up period. ]

Central Contacts

• Andrea M Willhite
  1-502-581-8675
  [email protected]
• Kristin Benton
  1-502-581-8675
  [email protected]

Locations (2)

Find similar trials in Louisville, KY

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