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CompletedNCT04567264StimrouterUpdated Sep 7, 2023

Wireless, Implantable Tibial Nerve Stimulator System for the Treatment of Refractory Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

An interventional study of StimRouter®, Self-activated and self-controlled neuromodulation device (Bioness Inc, CE0086). in Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, sponsored by Chiara Zecca. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-09-07.

Sponsored by Chiara Zecca · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
23
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) increases with disease duration. Current management of urinary clinical symptoms in MS is mainly conservative. Its long-term outcome is often poor because of the progressive disease course and the treatment related side effects. Alternative therapeutic options are botulinum toxin injections, electrical stimulation of dorsal penile/clitoral nerve, and sacral nerve modulation. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a second minimally invasive method of electrical stimulation. Multiple benefits may derive from the development and validation of a dedicated protocol of a new self-activated neuromodulation therapy, which may improve therapy compliance/effectiveness, quality of life and social life in MS patients with refractory LUTS. Furthermore, it may contribute to reduce outpatient visits, health costs and work absenteeism.

02

Conditions studied

  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Keywords

  • overactive bladder
  • posterior tibial nerve stimulation
  • lower urinary tract symptoms
03

In context

Multiple Sclerosis

3,460 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 661 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 23 is below the median of 50 across 2,342 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.

Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Chiara Zecca is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Male or female aged 18 - 80;
  2. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis according to McDonald [20];
  3. Clinical stability over the past 6 months (no relapses and no disability progression, defined as worsening of ≥1 point in the EDSS score if reference EDSS is ≤5.5, and ≥0.5 points if reference EDSS is>5.5);
  4. One or more of: urinary frequency greater than 8 times/24 hours, urinary urge incontinence at least 2 episodes in 24 hours on 3-day voiding diary;
  5. Urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor over-activity (DOA)and / or detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD);
  6. Previous failure of conservative treatments (challenge over ≥6 months) i.e. lifestyle modification-fluid consumption, behavioral modification, and pharmacological therapy and stable OAB medications for at least 30 days;
  7. No pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (antimuscarinics and beta-3 agonists) for 2 weeks prior to screening;
  8. Positive response to ongoing PTNS treatment defined as ≥50% reduction in urinary frequency, and/or ≥50% fewer incontinence episodes, or a return to normal voiding frequency (\<8 voids/day), based on retrospective diary review (treatment compliant and non-compliant patients) or PTNS treatment naïve able to sense tibial nerve stimulation (to be tested with TENS exam).
  9. Competent sphincter mechanism and normally functioning upper urinary tract;
  10. Leg circumference in the range of 20-30 cm at implantation site;
  11. No contraindications for surgical intervention (e.g. being immunocompetent, no anticoagulant treatment, no current infection);
  12. For female patients: using effective contraceptive methods;
  13. Ability to comply with study requirements;
  14. Having provided written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Previous participation in another study with any investigational drug or device within the past 90 days;
  2. Any metal implant in the area of StimRouter lead implantation site;
  3. Anatomical defects that preclude use of the device;
  4. Treatment with botulinum toxin injections, urinary incontinence surgery or implantation of artificial graft material, spinal or genitourinary surgery, abdominoperineal resection of the rectum or radical hysterectomy (female)/ prostatectomy (male) within the last 6 months;
  5. Previous treatment with sacral neuromodulation;
  6. Diagnosis of pelvic pain disorders, stress incontinence, current urinary tract infection, urinary stone and/or urinary tract malignancy; cystocele, enterocele or rectocele of grade 3 or 4;
  7. Critical limb ischemia;
  8. Previous or current pelvic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy;
  9. Severe uncontrolled diabetes;
  10. Being prone to excessive bleeding;
  11. Having a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator or other neural stimulation systems;
  12. Exposure to diathermy or electrocautery;
  13. Clinically significant peripheral neuropathy;
  14. Neutropenic or immune compromised;
  15. Pelvic radio- and/or chemotherapy;
  16. Morbid obesity (BMI >40);
  17. Pregnant or lactating women, or women planning a pregnancy during the study, \<9 months post-partum;
  18. Male: alpha-blocker for benign prostatic hyperplasia;
  19. Allergy to local anesthetic or adhesive;
  20. Life expectancy \<1 year.
05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    With stimulation

    Implantation of device electrodes subcutaneous in lower tibia area; stimulation of posterior tibial nerves.

    Device: StimRouter®, Self-activated and self-controlled neuromodulation device (Bioness Inc, CE0086).

Interventions

  • DeviceStimRouter®, Self-activated and self-controlled neuromodulation device (Bioness Inc, CE0086).

    Regimen 1 (weeks 0-12): one stimulation every 2 days, for a duration of 30 minutes each. Regimen 2 (weeks 12-24): Three stimulation treatments per week, for a duration of 30 minutes each.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in bladder volume

    filling volume at the time of the first uninhibited detrusor contraction during cystometry

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cystometric capacity (mL)

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Compliance (ml/cmH20)

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  3. Maximum detrusor pressure (cmH20) during storage phase

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  4. Maximum detrusor pressure (cmH20) during voiding phase

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  5. Voided volume (mL)

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  6. Maximum flow rate (mL/s)

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  7. Post void residual

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  8. Pelvic floor electromyographic activity (normal/detrusor sphincter dyssynergia/non-relaxing pelvic floor)

    Video-urodynamic parameter

    Time frame: 6 months

  9. Number of voids/day

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  10. Volume voided/void

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  11. Number of leaks per day

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  12. Degree of urgency prior to void

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  13. Number of CISC through the day

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  14. Residual urine volume

    3-day voiding diary

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  15. Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54)

    54 items, two summary scores: physical health and mental health, range 0-100, a higher score indicates a better quality of life

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

  16. Over active bladder questionnaire (OAB)

    Symptom severity of OAB range 6-36, higher score values indicate greater symptom severity or bother, lower scores indicate minimal symptom severity. Health related quality of life (HRQL) subscales (coping, sleep, and social), range 13-78, Higher scores indicate better HRQL.

    Time frame: 3, 4.5, 6 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland
    Lugano, Ticino 6903, Switzerland
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 7, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04567264
Lead sponsor
Chiara Zecca
Collaborators
ABREOC
Responsible party
Chiara Zecca (Principal Investigator, Deputy Head of Multiple Sclerosis Center, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Sep 28, 2020
Start date
Aug 26, 2020
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2022
Completion
Jun 30, 2022
Last update
Sep 7, 2023

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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