Optimizing spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain relief
Official title: Improving Spinal Cord Stimulation With ECAPS
Run by University of Minnesota · NCT04938245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to personalize spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain by measuring how it affects the nerves in patients with spinal cord implants.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 22 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 18, 2021 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 17, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04938245 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are medically stable patients scheduled for externalization of spinal cord stimulation who are English-speaking.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients scheduled for permanent implantation without a trial or those with pacemakers or other neurostimulators may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the optimization of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) using evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) in patients with spinal cord implants. SCS has been utilized for over 50 years to manage chronic pain by modulating spinal cord activity, yet personalization of therapy remains a challenge. The study aims to address this by measuring the effects of stimulation on spinal circuits through ECAPs, which may provide insights into individual pain circuits and improve treatment outcomes. Participants will be monitored during their scheduled externalization of spinal cord stimulation to assess the efficacy of this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more personalized and effective pain management strategies for patients with chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: While spinal cord stimulation has been widely used, the specific approach of utilizing ECAPs for optimization is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Medically stable as determined by the principal investigator * Scheduled to undergo externalization of spinal cord stimulation * English-speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Scheduled for permanent implantation only without trial * Have pacemakers or other neurostimulators * Pregnancy
Where it's running
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Darrow, MD, MPH — University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurosurgery
- Study coordinator: David Darrow, MD, MPH
- Email: darro015@umn.edu
- Phone: (612)-634-6666
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.