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WithdrawnNCT02312752IESUpdated May 21, 2019

Intra-epidermal Stimulation (IES) of Small Nerve Fibers (A-delta Fibers)

An interventional study of Intra-epidermal stimulation electrode in Healthy, sponsored by University of Minnesota. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-05-21.

Sponsored by University of Minnesota · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

Why this study was withdrawn
Electrodes required gas sterilization before re-use which was not feasible
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
21 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a particular type of nerve fibers, A-delta fibers, can be tested in an Electromyography (EMG) lab on a routine basis. Normal, healthy volunteers will be enrolled in this study.

Read the detailed description

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin that includes skin cells and small nerve fibers called A-delta fibers. A-delta fibers send signals to the brain about pin-prick type of pain and temperature. The investigators want to study whether the investigators can stimulate A-delta fibers and document this by recording electrical potentials from the nerves in subjects' limbs.

Study Procedures:

A small piece of plastic will be applied to your foot and your hand. A tiny sharp tip protrudes from this piece of plastic. You will be barely able to feel this sharp tip when touching the piece of plastic. This is the electrode for intra-epidermal stimulation.

With stimulation, you will feel a pin-prick type of sensation. The stimulus will be adjusted so that you barely feel the pin-prick type of sensation. The investigators will record responses of stimulation from nerves in your skin.

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy

Keywords

  • Intra-epidermal stimulation in healthy control subjects
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Minnesota is the lead sponsor of 1,184 studies on the registry; 195 are open to participants now.

Of its 132 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 91 (69%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals aged 21 through 60 years with no history or clinical signs of neuropathy.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of peripheral nerve disease or disease of somatosensory pathways.
  2. Abnormalities on neurologic examination.
  3. Prior or current exposure to known neurotoxins, such as excessive alcohol use or chemotherapy.
  4. Neurologic or psychiatric conditions that would prevent the subject from being able to cooperate with testing.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Other
    Intra-epidermal stimulation

    A small piece of plastic with a tiny sharp protruding tip (the intra-epidermal stimulation electrode) will be applied to the foot and hand. Small "sticker" electrodes will be placed over nerves on the forearm or ankle. A stimulus will be applied to the electrode for intra-epidermal stimulation. The stimulus will be gradually increased from no stimulus to a stimulus that is barely felt as a pin-prick type of sensation. Thereafter, the stimulus will be applied 5-15 times per second for 10 periods of 40-60 seconds.

    Device: Intra-epidermal stimulation electrode

Interventions

  • DeviceIntra-epidermal stimulation electrode

    A small piece of plastic with a tiny sharp protruding tip (the intra-epidermal stimulation electrode) will be applied to the foot and hand. Small "sticker" electrodes will be placed over nerves on the forearm or ankle. A stimulus will be applied to the electrode for intra-epidermal stimulation. The stimulus will be gradually increased from no stimulus to a stimulus that is barely felt as a pin-prick type of sensation. Thereafter, the stimulus will be applied 5-15 times per second for 10 periods of 40-60 seconds.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility to selectively stimulate and record from A-delta nerve fibers using the intra-epidermal stimulation electrode as measured by electromyography (EMG)

    Stimulate and record from A-delta nerve fibers in normal individual using intra-epidermal stimulation electrode.

    Time frame: one year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 21, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02312752
Lead sponsor
University of Minnesota
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 9, 2014
Start date
Dec 2014
Primary completion
Jun 2018
Completion
Jun 2018
Last update
May 21, 2019

Study contacts

David Walk, MD
principal investigator · University of Minnesota

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is withdrawn, as verified in May 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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