Restoration of Bladder Function in Spinal Cord Injury

November 14, 2025 updated by: University of Oxford

The aim of this study is to develop improved methods of restoring function to the neurogenic bladder, using electrical stimulation without cutting nerves in patients with spinal cord injury.

The investigators will test 5-10 subjects with existing sacral anterior root stimulation (SARS) devices and look at the effects of high frequency (up to 600Hz) compared to the usual low frequency stimulation on bladder function. The investigators are particularly interested in whether it is possible to reproduce a 'functional' dorzal rhizotomy using high frequency stimulation of the S2 efferent nerves

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Withdrawn

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

This is a proof of concept study of the effects on the urinary bladder and sphincter of high frequency stimuli applied to sacral efferent nerves. The effects on the bladder of low frequency stimuli applied to sacral afferent nerves will also be studied. It is also part of an academic collaboration between Oxford and Stanford University. The results will not be sold to Stanford but will be shared to enhance the development of therapies for patients with spinal cord injury. There is no intention to commercialise the findings at this stage nor to use the data for CE-marking.

Participants will be patients with clinically complete spinal cord injury who already have a commercially available implanted Finetech Brindley bladder stimulator with electrodes on the sacral nerves or roots, controlled by an external transmitter whose frequency can be adjusted by the investigator. This study will explore modified stimulation parameters and will deliver the stimulation pattern with a modified/experimental external stimulation control unit. The motivation for exploring these parameters is to see if clinical efficacy might be improved for future systems.

Primary outcome: Measurement of the effects of high and low frequency stimulation of the sacral efferent nerves on Bladder Pressure, rectal pressure, Detrusor pressure, Sphincter pressure, volume voided, post-void residual volume, voiding flow rate

Secondary measures: Effects of low frequency stimulation on bladder pressure, bladder capacity and reflex incontinence

The exploration of these novel stimulation parameters will require modification of the existing CE-marked system. The modifications will be limited to the external stimulation control unit, and will not compromise either the implantable system or its capability to continue normal operation with the existing CE-marked external control unit. The modified external stimulation control unit will be referred to as the "research stimulation controller." The use environment for the research stimulation controller will be a controlled hospital/laboratory setting, under clinical supervision. Outside of the clinic, the CE-marked system will be used to ensure normal therapy is provided to the subject. Access to the research stimulation controller will be controlled by the PI to prevent inadvertent misuse.

The development of the research stimulation controller will follow accepted good design practices. More specifically, the team will use a scaled version of 13845-compliant processes to 1) assess user needs 2) generate a risk analysis and plan 3) develop system requirements from design inputs 4) document and summarize design outputs 5) perform device verification tests and 6) perform user validation tests. These files will be maintained in a controlled document system.

The modified controller is similar to the CE marked device but will allow the investigators to explore a wider range of electrical stimulation parameters such as different waveforms and higher frequencies. Our intention is to use up to 600 Hz frequencies, compared to the existing frequencies in this device of up to 53 Hz. These changes are modest and are well within the energy delivery provided by existing commercial neuromodulation systems such as spinal cord stimulation (typical parameters for spinal cord stimulation include the Nevro® system that delivers up to 10kHz). Patients both with and without posterior sacral rhizotomy will also be included. No further surgery is required. Measurements of bladder function will be made in the urodynamic laboratory.

The study is prospective and unblinded. Each participant will serve as their own control; outcome measures will be compared with different frequencies of electrical stimuli and with no electrical stimuli.

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.
Observational

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
    • Oxon
      • Oxford, Oxon, United Kingdom, OX3 9DU
        • University of Oxford

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with clinically complete spinal cord injury who have undergone implantation of a Finetech Brindley Bladder Controller, with or without sacral posterior rhizotomy. John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford), Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore) and Walton Centre (Liverpool) will be both patient identification centres and research sites for this study. Stoke Mandeville Hospital will be an additional patient identification centre, but studies on patients identified there will be conducted at Oxford as patients are generally under joint care between Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Oxford.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with clinically complete spinal cord injury who have undergone implantation of a Finetech Brindley Bladder controller, with or without sacral posterior rhizotomy.
  • Male or female, aged 18 years or over.
  • Patients willing and able to give informed consent to involvement in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • External urethral sphincterotomy
  • Patients are taking part in any studies on drugs or devices that alter bladder or autonomic function
  • Any other significant comorbidity or illness that would preclude their participation or increase the risk to them of participating in the study

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

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
Bladder Pressure
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics testing - High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Rectal Pressure
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Detrusor Pressure
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Sphincter Pressure
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics1- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Volume voided
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
urodynamics- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Post-void residual volume
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Voiding Flow Rate
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics- High frequency SARS
2-3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bladder pressure
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics - Low frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Bladder Capacity
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics - Low frequency SARS
2-3 hours
Reflex incontinence
Time Frame: 2-3 hours
Urodynamics - Low frequency SARS
2-3 hours

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.
University of Oxford

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.
November 18, 2021

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.
October 14, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

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.
October 14, 2025

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).
July 20, 2023

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.
July 20, 2023

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.
August 1, 2023

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.
November 18, 2025

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.
November 14, 2025

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.
October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

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.
  • IRAS 260021

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

No

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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