An interventional study of The Brainsonix BX Pulsar 1002 was designed to deliver low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsations (LIFUP) to the human brain. in Consciousness Disorders and Disorders of Consciousness Due to Severe Brain Injury, sponsored by University of California, Los Angeles. Recruiting at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 79 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-22.
Sponsored by University of California, Los Angeles · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The overall aim of this study is to develop an intervention that can help recovery in patients surviving severe brain injury but failing to fully recover. In particular, this multicenter project aims to (1) establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment, (2) establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients and (3) explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.
Aim 1 - Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment. Investigators will use a multicenter sham-controlled randomized double-blind design to test the efficacy of tFUS for the recovery of consciousness in prolonged DoC, secondary to TBI. Specifically, The investigators will use a sham that is identical to a previous procedure (NCT04921683), except the gel pad used to couple the transducer to the patient's head is "non-transmitting" (as opposed to "transmitting"), thus preventing any penetration of ultrasound inside the head. Approach overview: 40 patients in a prolonged DoC due to TBI (> 28days post injury) will be randomized into one of two conditions: (a) the tFUS-tFUS group will receive 2 sessions of tFUS and (b) the Sham-tFUS group will receive sham sonication in the first session and tFUS in the second session. Measurements: Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The investigators will assess two endpoint measures: one DoC-specific (i.e., the Coma Recovery Scale Revised - CRS-R; primary measure) [17] (Aim 1a) and one specific to TBI functional outcome (i.e., the Disability Rating Scale; secondary measure) [18] (Aim 1b). Hypotheses Compared to the sham condition, tFUS will lead to a statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery (Aim 1a) and in functional recovery (Aim 1b).
Aim 2 - Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients. Approach overview: The investigators will assess and compare safety and efficacy data in both conditions (ie, the tFUS-tFUS group who will receive 2 tFUS sessions and the Sham-tFUS group who will receive one tFUS session). Measurements: Safety. Proportion of (severe) adverse events (primary measure) will be documented using the Adverse Event Questionnaire (AEQ, also used in NCT04921683) and the Vital signs Care Report Form (CRF) (Common Data Element F0026), [6] within one week of intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group and in the Sham-tFUS group (Aim 2a); Efficacy. Changes will be assessed, one week after intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group as compared to the Sham-tFUS group using the CRS-R (secondary measure) (Aim 2b). Hypotheses: Aim 2a: Applying 2 sessions of tFUS will not lead to (higher proportion of) adverse events; Aim 2b: A statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery will be observed when applying two versus one tFUS sessions.
Aim 3 - Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication. The investigators will assess pre-post intervention-related changes in brain activity using electrophysiology in both conditions (i.e., tFUS-tFUS group vs. Sham-tFUS group) (Aim 3a). The investigators will also assess whether the effects of tFUS are TBI-specific by comparing the efficacy observed in our TBI group vs. a non-TBI group (Aim 3b). Approach overview: In addition to our two endpoint measures (i.e., DRS and CRS-R), a 15-minute resting electroencephalogram (EEG) will be collected immediately before and after each tFUS or sham session (Aim 3a). Efficacy (as described in Aim 1a) will be additionally tested in 20 patients in a prolonged DoC due to non-TBI causes (> 28days post injury due to stroke or anoxia) to help determine if tFUS is a TBI specific treatment (Aim 3b). Measurements: For Aim 3a, using the EEG recordings, power spectral density will be calculated within predefined frequency band and ABCD level classification (that reflects the degree of thalamocortical disconnection; primary measure) [7] will be applied based on spectral peaks in these frequencies. For Aim 3b, TBI specific efficacy will be tested based on the change observed one week after tFUS sessions as compared to sham sessions using the CRS-R (secondary measure) in both TBI and non-TBI groups. Hypothesis: Aim 3a: tFUS, but not sham will promote recovery of thalamocortical integrity as estimated by the ABCD level classification based on the Mesocircuit theory [2]; Aim 3b: Compared to sham, tFUS will lead to a statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery, particularly, in the TBI group vs. the non-TBI group.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Sham-tFUS group will receive sham sonication in the first session and tFUS in the second session
Device: The Brainsonix BX Pulsar 1002 was designed to deliver low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsations (LIFUP) to the human brain.
tFUS-tFUS group will receive 2 sessions of tFUS
Device: The Brainsonix BX Pulsar 1002 was designed to deliver low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsations (LIFUP) to the human brain.
The BX Pulsar 1002 consists of two main elements: the transducer and the ultrasound console. The transducer itself and the housing for it went through several iterations in order to be compatible with an MRI environment. Currently, the transducer and its housing are deemed MR-conditional at 3T with SAR ≤ 2W/kg. The design includes a solid acoustic coupling gel pad attached to the front of the transducer to provide good acoustic transmission into the scalp. An outer housing was designed to attach the transducer firmly to the head above the temporal window, and to allow it to be moved side to side to accurately target intended structures.
Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment.
Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The two endpoint measures used will be one DoC-specific measure: the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R). The Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) ranges from 0 to 23 points, with higher scores indicating better neurological function and level of consciousness. A score of 0 represents the lowest level of neurological functioning, while a score of 23 represents the highest level of neurological functioning.
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients.
Safety. Proportion of (severe) adverse events (primary measure) will be documented using the Adverse Event Questionnaire (AEQ, also used in NCT04921683) and the Vital signs CRF (F0026),22 within one week of intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group and in the Sham-tFUS group
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.
using the EEG recordings, power spectral density will be calculated within predefined frequency band and ABCD level classification (that reflects the degree of thalamocortical disconnection; primary measure) will be applied based on spectral peaks in these frequencies. This measure is calculated in percentage (%) of total power density.
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment
Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The two endpoint measures used will be one specific to TBI functional outcome: the Disability Rating Scale (DRS). The Disability Rating Scale (DRS) ranges from 0 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating more severe disability. A score of 0 represents no disability, while a score of 30 represents extreme vegetative state or death.
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients.
Efficacy. Changes will be assessed, one week after intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group as compared to the Sham-tFUS group using the CRS-R. The Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) ranges from 0 to 23 points, with higher scores indicating better neurological function and level of consciousness. A score of 0 represents the lowest level of neurological functioning, while a score of 23 represents the highest level of neurological functioning.
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.
TBI specific efficacy will be tested based on the change observed one week after tFUS sessions as compared to sham sessions using the CRS-R (secondary measure) in both TBI and non-TBI groups
Time frame: From Day 1 to 16
Plan to share: Undecided
Started Apr 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Mar 2028, 35 months after the start.
Of 89 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Consciousness Disorders, half reached primary completion within 20 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 52. This study's planned 35 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 94 studies reached it within 19 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 52.
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