Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients Undergoing Electrophysiological Study (VNS-EPS)

April 14, 2026 updated by: Northwell Health

Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients Undergoing Electrophysiological Study (VNS-EPS)

The Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients Undergoing Electrophysiological Study is a single center, pilot, prospective study that aims at evaluating the effects of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) on the human cardiac conduction system.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients Undergoing Electrophysiological Study is a single center, pilot, prospective study that aims at evaluating the effects of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) on the human cardiac conduction system. In this study, we will enroll 10 healthy individuals presenting to the electrophysiology laboratory for an electrophysiological study (EPS). Patients will undergo a standard EPS with 4 catheters (coronary sinus catheter, His catheter, right ventricular catheter, and right atrial catheter). Following the standard EPS, patients will be hooked up a Parasym device to provide transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
10

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10075
        • Kristie Coleman

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Primary indication for EPS for the evaluation of cardiac conduction system or supraventricular tachycardia.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous EPS with ablation
  • Previous failed ablation
  • Known conduction system disease, right or left bundle branch block on EKG
  • Pregnant women
  • History of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
  • Patients who have had prior cervical vagotomy
  • Patients with skin on the tragus that is broken or cracked
  • Patients with a history of baseline cardiac disease or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure (CHF), known severe coronary artery disease or recent myocardial infarction (within 5 years) and patients diagnosed with narrowing of the arteries (carotid atherosclerosis)
  • Patients with an active implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, hearing aid implant, or any implanted metallic, implanted vagus nerve stimulator or electronic device.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Patients will undergo a standard EPS with 4 catheters. Following the standard EPS, patients will be hooked up a Parasym device to provide transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, EPS will be repeated.
Device: Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
The Parasym device will be placed on the patient's left tragus to provide transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Sinus Cycle Length
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Sinus cycle length (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in A-H Interval
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
A-H Interval (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in H-V Interval
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
H-V interval (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in QRS Duration
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
QRS Duration (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in QT Duration
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
QT Duration (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in Sinus Node Recovery Time
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Sinus Node Recovery Time (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in AV Node Wenckebach Cycle Length
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
AV Node Wenckebach Cycle Length (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in AV Node Effective Refractory Period
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
AV Node Effective Refractory Period (ERP) (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in Atrial Effective Refractory Period
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Atrial Effective Refractory Period ERP (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in Right Ventricular Effective Refractory Period ERP
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Right Ventricular Effective Refractory Period ERP (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in retrograde block cycle length
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Retrograde Block Cycle Length (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in Accessory Pathway Anterograde Effective Refractory Period ERP
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Accessory Pathway Anterograde Effective Refractory Period (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Change in Accessory Pathway Retrograde Effective Refractory Period ERP
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Accessory Pathway Anterograde Effective Refractory Period (msec)
Pre procedure/procedure
Supraventricular Tachycardia induction
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Supraventricular Tachycardia induction
Pre procedure/procedure
Supraventricular Tachycardia Termination
Time Frame: Pre procedure/procedure
Supraventricular Tachycardia Termination
Pre procedure/procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Northwell Health

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Oklahoma

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Stavros E Mountantonakis, MD, Northwell Health

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 22, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 1, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 21, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 27, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 21-1109

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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