Clinical trial Recruiting at 13 sites Interventional Ages 18 and up

Wireless neuromodulation for chronic knee pain relief

Official title: Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial of Knee Pain Utilizing Sub-Threshold Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Run by Curonix LLC · NCT03877653 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new wireless treatment to see if it can help people with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis feel less pain.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SponsorCuronix LLC
Industry-sponsored
Locations13 sites (Placentia, California and 12 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 1, 2021
Main results expectedOctober 2025
Study endsJune 2027
Registry record updatedFebruary 13, 2025
Trial IDNCT03877653 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults over 18 with chronic, function-limiting knee pain from osteoarthritis who have not found relief from at least two less invasive treatments.

Probably not a fit

Patients with acute knee pain or those who have not previously tried conservative treatment options 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 aims to evaluate the effectiveness of active sub-threshold stimulation using wireless neuromodulation in patients suffering from chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Participants will be screened and selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and those who qualify will undergo a diagnostic injection to assess their suitability for the trial. The primary endpoint is to measure pain relief, defined as a 50% reduction in pain on a visual analog scale, comparing baseline pain levels to those recorded one month after treatment. The study will involve a total of at least 84 subjects to ensure robust data for evaluation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide significant pain relief for patients suffering from chronic knee pain, improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: While the approach of wireless neuromodulation is relatively novel, similar neuromodulation techniques have shown promise in other studies for pain management.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

i. Subject is over 18 years of age; ii. Subjects with a history of chronic, function-limiting (m-MPS \>6/10) knee pain from osteoarthritis of at least three months in duration with or without prior surgeries; iii. Subject has been diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II or III knee osteoarthritis, confirmed by X-ray studies conducted in the last year; iv. Subject has been examined and has been deemed to be an appropriate candidate for the procedure, including chronic knee pain in patients post total knee replacement (TKR); v. Subjects who are able to understand this investigation, and give voluntary, written informed consent to participate in this study; vi. Subjects who are able to co-operate with the study procedures and are willing to return to the center for all the required post-operative follow-ups; vii. Documented failure of at least two less invasive treatment modalities including physical therapy, intra-articular steroids and/or oral NSAIDS; viii. Subject has not had recent invasive surgical procedures of the knee within the following intervals in relation to the time of signing Informed Consent:- 2 weeks for steroid injection - 4 weeks for radiofrequency, cryoablation or hyaluronic acid (HA) injection ix. Subject noted good (\> 75%) but only temporary relief for at least 2 hours from an infrapatellar saphenous nerve injection with local anesthetic; x. Subject is deemed to be neuro-psycho-socially appropriate for implantation therapies based of assessment of a Clinical Psychologist.

Exclusion Criteria:

xi. Significant contralateral knee pain that would influence their level of activity greater to 6 on the modified-Mankosky Pain Scale; xii. Hip or foot pain greater than knee pain; xiii. Neurogenic or vascular claudication; xiv. Subject has been diagnosed with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade IV knee osteoarthritis, confirmed by X-ray studies conducted in the last year; xv. Uncontrolled major depression or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders; xvi. Uncontrolled or acute medical illnesses including coagulopathy, renal insufficiency, chronic liver dysfunction, progressive neurological deficit, infection, unstable angina, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; xvii. Chronic severe conditions that could interfere with the interpretations of the outcome assessments for pain and bodily function (eg. Rheumatoid arthritis, severe spinal stenosis, activity-limiting cardiac disease); xviii. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, lactating; xix. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 (morbid obesity); xx. Subjects with multiple complaints involving concomitant knee, foot, or ankle pathology or radiculopathy, that will not be amenable to study due to the overlap of pain complaints; xxi. Subject has been examined and has been deemed to be inappropriate for the procedure based on anatomical restrictions; xxii. Lymphedema or stasis ulcers or other conditions that would compromise the surgical site; xxiii. History of adverse reaction to local anesthetic drugs; xxiv. Worker's compensation claimants; xxv. Incarcerated or has an ankle position locator; xxvi. Documented allergy to device material components; xxvii. Known or suspected substance abuse within the last 2 years; xxviii. Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator; xxix. Participation in another clinical study that could confound the results of this study; xxx. Based on the opinion of the investigator any legal or medical concerns that would preclude his/her enrollment in the study or potentially confound the results; xxxi. Any other implanted active medical devices in the same site.

Where it's running

  • Western Clinical Research
    Placentia, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Colorado Pain Care, LLC
    Denver, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
  • Holy Cross Hospital, Inc
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Florida Joint Care Institute
    Trinity, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Southern Pain and research
    Jasper, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Vista Clinical Research/Summit Spine & Joint Centers
    Newnan, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
Show 7 more locations
  • Desert Orthopaedic Center
    Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
    Recruiting
  • Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio
    Dayton, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting
  • Premier Pain Treatment
    Loveland, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting
  • Kettering Health
    Miamisburg, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting
  • Austin Orthopedic Institute
    Austin, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Performance pain and sports medicine
    Houston, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Advanced Spine and Pain Center
    San Antonio, Texas, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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

  • Medial knee osteoarthritis: inside vs outside corticosteroid injection

    This study tests whether injecting a steroid inside the knee joint leads to different pain results than injecting it on the outside of the knee in people with medial knee osteoarthritis.

    Recruiting at 5 sites University of Chicago · Bolingbrook, Illinois and 4 other locations · NCT07804446

  • Modular powered knee braces to help move better and reduce knee pain

    A device with partial motor support is being tested in adults with knee OA to see if it can ease pain and reduce effort during daily activities.

    Recruiting University of Michigan · Ann Arbor, Michigan · NCT07673328

  • Catheter embolization of small knee arteries to relieve osteoarthritis pain

    This study will try using a catheter procedure to block small arteries around the knee to reduce chronic pain in adults 40–80 with knee osteoarthritis or persistent pain after knee replacement who haven't found enough relief from standard treatments.

    Recruiting Masarykova Nemocnice v Usti nad Labem, Krajska Zdravotni a.s. · Ústí nad Labem · NCT07361198

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.