Gastric-focused ultrasound to see if it changes stomach activity and symptoms

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This exploratory, randomized crossover pilot uses active gastric focused ultrasound stimulation and sham stimulation in adults with gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying. Each participant undergoes both conditions, separated by at least 48 hours, with pre- and post-meal electrogastrography and symptom assessments. The trial collects data on gastric electrical activity after a liquid meal and documents symptoms via a standardized questionnaire. Up to 12 participants will be enrolled, and procedures include fasting, a liquid meal, and noninvasive ultrasound stimulation administered at each visit. The study aims to identify signal changes that could justify larger trials in noninvasive gastric neuromodulation.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 to 70 years.
* Delayed gastric emptying or gastroparesis diagnosed by a clinician and confirmed by gastric emptying scintigraphy or a gastric emptying breath test.
* Ability to understand the study procedures, provide informed consent, and complete two study visits.
* Ability to consume the two bottles of Ensure or Glucerna nutritional drink used in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy.
* Epilepsy.
* Cardiac pacemaker or another implanted electronic medical device.
* Peritoneal dialysis.
* Daily use of narcotic or opioid medications.
* Abdominal wall ulcers, open wounds, active infection, or significant skin irritation in the area where the electrogastrography electrodes or focused ultrasound transducer will be placed.
* Known allergy or contraindication to the available Ensure or Glucerna nutritional drinks.
* Any other medical or safety condition that, in the judgment of the study team, would make participation unsafe.

Medication Restrictions:

Participants using medications that may significantly affect gastric motility or gastric emptying may be rescheduled if those medications were used within the study-defined restriction period. Relevant medications include opioid analgesics, prokinetic agents, anticholinergic or antispasmodic agents, GLP-1 receptor agonists or related medications, and anti-nausea or antiemetic medications that may affect gastrointestinal function. Participants should not discontinue any medically necessary medication without first consulting their treating physician.

Where it's running

• Biomedical Engineering Building
  Austin, Texas, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Huiliang Wang, PhD — University of Texas at Austin
• Study coordinator: Mengmeng Yao, Ph.D.
• Email: mmyao1102@gmail.com
• Phone: 5732343390

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Gastric emptying and feeding tolerance in ICU patients by vasopressor dose

  This study tests whether vasopressor dose affects how well stomach contents empty during tube feeding in critically ill patients.

  Recruiting Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital · Istanbul · NCT07802379

• Virtual poetry workshops to boost well-being for people with digestive symptoms

  This study tests whether participating in online poetry workshops can improve emotional well-being for adults with chronic digestive symptoms and anxiety or depression.

  Recruiting Ohio State University · Columbus, Ohio · NCT07717541

• HbA1c and stomach emptying before anesthesia measured by gastric ultrasound

  This study will test whether adults having elective surgery with higher HbA1c have slower stomach emptying before general anesthesia.

  Recruiting Kutahya Health Sciences University · Kütahya, Kütahya · NCT07375680

• Risk prediction for gastric retention during sedated gastroscopy

  This study will test a simple grading system and prediction model to see if clinicians can identify which adults are likely to have significant stomach contents before sedated gastroscopy.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Zhejiang University · Hangzhou, Zhejiang and 2 other locations · NCT07104214

• Prokinetics and Body Surface Gastric Mapping in Dyspeptic Patients

  This study tests whether using Body Surface Gastric Mapping can help predict which medications will help people with gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia see improvement.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Auckland, New Zealand · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 2 other locations · NCT06854120

• Using Growth Hormone to Treat Gastroparesis

  This study is testing if Growth Hormone can help people with gastroparesis feel better when other treatments haven't worked.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Early Phase 1 Mayo Clinic · Phoenix, Arizona and 1 other locations · NCT06803589

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.