Daily localized ultrasound patch to deliver NSAID for knee osteoarthritis
Official title: Daily & Localized NSAID Sonophoresis for Symptomatic Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Funded at Zetroz Systems, LLC · NIH-11194246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A daily wearable ultrasound patch that pushes an NSAID into the knee to help reduce pain for adults with knee osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Zetroz Systems, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Trumbull, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,359,304 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG061985-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (age 21+, especially people 65 and older) who have chronic knee pain and want a localized non-oral treatment option.
✕Less likely to help
People with a known allergy to NSAIDs/diclofenac, active skin infection or open wounds at application sites, inflammatory arthritides like rheumatoid arthritis, or medical conditions that preclude topical NSAID or ultrasound use may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear a daily ultrasound patch that uses sonophoresis to drive diclofenac, a common NSAID, deeper into your knee to relieve osteoarthritis pain. The device combines long-duration ultrasound with a topical diclofenac reservoir so the medicine reaches joint tissues while limiting how much enters your bloodstream. The team has already developed a Phase I/II prototype and will refine the patch and measure pain relief, joint function, and skin reactions in people with knee OA. If it works, the patch could offer localized pain control without the systemic risks of oral NSAIDs or frequent steroid injections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce knee pain and improve mobility by delivering NSAID directly to the joint while lowering systemic side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies of long-duration ultrasound and sonophoresis with topical NSAIDs have shown pain and function improvements, and the team's Phase I/II prototype produced encouraging results.
Where this research is happening
-
Zetroz Systems, LLC
Trumbull, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, George Kenneth — Zetroz Systems, LLC
- Study coordinator: Lewis, George Kenneth
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.