An interventional study of Stimulating nerve electrodes and intramuscular recording electrodes in Amputation, sponsored by Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-06.
Sponsored by Louis Stokes VA Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Device feasibility
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of providing sensation of the missing limb to individuals with lower limb loss, including above and below knee amputees. The approach involves delivering small electrical currents directly to remaining nerves via implanted stimulating electrodes. These small electrical currents cause the nerves to generate signals that are then transferred to your brain similar to how information about the foot and lower limb used to be transferred to your brain prior to the amputation.
Individuals also have the option to have recording electrodes implanted within muscles of the lower limb(s) in an attempt to develop a motor controller that would enable the user to have intuitive control of a robotic prosthetic leg.
Electrodes are surgically implanted on one to four nerves of the residual limb. An external wearable device controls the delivery of electrical pulses to the implanted system. The participant will be asked to verbally describe the perceived sensations and highlight their locations on a drawing of a foot presented to them on an electronic screen. An instrumented prosthesis will be developed such that perceived sensations would correspond to prosthesis interactions with the floor. This instrumented prosthesis, also known as a sensory neuroprosthesis, will be worn while the participant is engaging in various functional tasks, such as standing, walking, or climbing stairs, or with visual or mental distractions.
Intramuscular recording electrodes can be implanted in the lower limb(s) and/or hip muscles in order to obtain electromyography (EMG) signals. The EMG recordings from the residual muscles will be used to develop an algorithm which can operate an advanced robotic prosthesis in which the movement of the joint(s) could be controlled.
163 studies on the registry are indexed under Phantom Limb; 35 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 15 is below the median of 30 across 125 interventional studies indexed under Phantom Limb.
Browse Phantom Limb studies →Louis Stokes VA Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
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Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Fifteen subjects with lower limb amputation will have multi-contact stimulating nerve cuff electrodes implanted around the nerves in their residual limb. These electrodes will be connected to temporary percutaneous leads. During experimental testing, a small amount of electrical current will be delivered to the nerves through multi-contact nerve cuff electrodes. Participants also have the option to have recording electrodes implanted within muscles in their lower limb(s). These muscles are associated with prosthetic movement, and recordings from these muscles will be used to develop a controller for a robotic myoelectric prosthesis.
Device: Stimulating nerve electrodes and intramuscular recording electrodes
See Arm Description
Stimulation Thresholds
Quantify the minimum stimulation required to evoke electrically induced sensations on the phantom limb.
Time frame: 9 months post implant
Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)
The Functional Gait Assessment is a 10 task test that measures postural stability. Each task is scored from 0 -3 with 0 indicating severe impairment in the task and 3 indicating normal ambulation. The scores are combined to give a total score. The maximum score is 30. A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Time frame: 1 year post implant
Plan to share: Yes — Data obtained through this study may be provided to qualified researchers with academic interest in neuroprostheses and amputee research. The shared data will be coded, with no PHI included. Approval of the request by local IRB and review of the PI(s) are prerequisites to the sharing of data with the requesting party.
Supporting information: Statistical analysis plan, Analytic code
Time frame: Upon request, IPD sharing will begin 6 months after publication and will be available for up to 1 year. Extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Access criteria: Access to IPD can be requested by qualified researchers engaging in independent scientific research, and will be provided following review and approval of the request. Based on the extent of the request, written approvals from local IRB and execution of a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) might be prerequisite. For more information or to submit a request, please contact Aarika.Sheehan@va.gov.
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Louis Stokes VA Medical Center