Safety and Efficacy Study of BrainPort® Balance Device in Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction.

A Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of the BrainPort® Balance Device When Used to Improve Balance in Subjects With Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of the BrainPort balance device in improving balance and gait as measured by clinically accepted standardized balance assessments in subjects with peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Vestibular Diseases; Gait Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Training with the BrainPort balance device

Detailed Description

Peripheral vestibular dysfunction can be caused by inner ear disorders, drug toxicity, neuritis, or a number of other causes. In the absence of a fully functional vestibular system, the brain often requires retraining to correctly utilize visual and proprioceptive cues to maintain postural stability. People with vestibular dysfunction experience multiple problems with posture control and movement, including an unsteady gait and various balance-related difficulties. These effects make it very difficult to walk in the dark or on uneven surfaces without risk of falling. They are typically referred for conventional vestibular therapy. Many patients improve with therapeutic intervention. Some patients reach a plateau and do not return to their previous level of function. The BrainPort balance device transmits head position information via electrotactile stimulation of the tongue. With training, patients learn to use the positional information to correct their balance.

Participants meeting the study criteria will be randomized to the perceived stimulation or subliminal stimulation group. All participants will be given baseline assessments of postural stability, balance, and subjective well being according to standardized tests. After completing the baseline assessments, each participant will be trained in the clinic using a standard training protocol with the BrainPort balance device. Each participant will participate in 6 clinical training sessions, over a period of 3 consecutive days. Upon completion of the clinic training sessions, participants will continue with a 7½ week period of home use. During this period, the participant will train with the device for 20 minutes 2 times per day and the clinicians will contact the participants weekly. At the end of the home training period (8 weeks from the beginning of the study), all participants will again undergo the tests given at baseline.

Following the data analysis, subjects that have completed the 8 week study and were originally assigned to the group with inferior results will be given the opportunity to use the device that showed superior results in the data analysis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 147
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 92840
      • England Physical Therapy
  • Colorado
    • Centennial, Colorado, United States, 80111
      • South Valley Physical Therapy, PC
  • Florida
    • Jupiter, Florida, United States, 33458
      • Sensory Therapeutics, Inc.
    • N. Miami Beach, Florida, United States, 33160
      • NBC Rehabilitation
  • Georgia
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30342
      • Atlanta Ear Clinic
    • Augusta, Georgia, United States, 30912
      • Medical College of Georgia
  • Idaho
    • Boise, Idaho, United States, 83702
      • Elks Hearing & Balance Center
  • Kansas
    • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
      • Kansas University Medical Center
  • Massachusetts
    • Burlington, Massachusetts, United States, 01805
      • Lahey Clinic
  • Missouri
    • Springfield, Missouri, United States, 65897
      • Missouri State University
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10010
      • New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
    • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
      • University of Rochester Medical Center
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77024
      • Houston ENT Clinic
  • Virginia
    • Norfolk, Virginia, United States, 23507
      • Eastern Virginia Medical School
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98195
      • University of Washington School of Medicine
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109
      • Pacific Balance and Rehabilitation Clinic
  • Wisconsin
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53215
      • Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Confirmed diagnosis of peripheral vestibular dysfunction by the following (within 12 months of study enrollment):

   1. Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (BVH)-Sinusoidal rotary chair results at least 2 SD below normal across the frequency range of 0.01 to 0.32 Hz, and at least 60 deg/s peak velocity.
   2. Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (UVH)-Bithermal caloric test results of > 25% unilateral weakness.
2. Minimum post 3 months diagnosis with residual balance problems.
3. Previously treated with conventional physical therapy, and discharged and/or reached a plateau.

4. Functional Ability:

   1. Able to ambulate independently or with an assistive device for 20 feet.
   2. Ability to stand independently for 2 minutes with no or minimal upper extremity support.
   3. Dynamic Gait Index ≤ 19/24.
5. Able to read and sign the informed consent form.
6. Fluent in English.
7. Willing and able to complete all testing, training, and follow-up evaluations required by the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current oral health problems as determined by health questionnaire and an examination of the oral cavity.
2. Any medical condition that would interfere with performance on the assessments.
3. Known neuropathies of the tongue.
4. Prior exposure to BrainPort balance device.
5. History of seizures or epilepsy.
6. If female, pregnant. Subject must deny pregnancy and agree to use appropriate birth control to prevent pregnancy for the duration of the study.
7. People with implanted electrical medical devices (i.e. pacemaker, deep brain stimulator).
8. People currently taking any vestibular suppressant medication (i.e. barbiturates, benzodiazepines, betahistines or cortisone).
9. People with a previous diagnosis of a central nervous system lesion (e.g. stroke or brain injury).

10. Current diagnosis of any of the following:

    1. Bilateral areflexia (no response to ice water caloric testing bilaterally)
    2. Progressive neurological disease (such as Multiple Sclerosis)
    3. Cervicogenic dizziness
    4. Pre-syncope/syncope episodes
    5. Orthostatic hypotension
    6. Mood Disorders (such as Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder)
    7. Anxiety disorders
    8. Hydrops / Ménière's
11. Principal Investigator, in his or her medical judgment, does not believe the subject is a good candidate for the trial.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Perceived stimulation; When subjects assigned to the perceived stimulation group increase the intensity of the stimulus, they will feel a tingling sensation on the tongue. The tingling will move on the tongue in relation to where the head/body moves.	Device: Training with the BrainPort balance device; Subjects are randomly assigned to one of two groups, the perceived stimulation group or the subliminal stimulation group. Some of these devices provide a stimulus that you can feel. Others provide a stimulus that is below conscious awareness. We are conducting this study to determine if one type of stimulation is more effective than the other.; Other Names: BrainPort Balance Device
Experimental: Subliminal stimulation; When subjects assigned to the subliminal stimulation group increase the intensity of the stimulus, the device provides a stimulus that is below their conscious awareness, so they will not be able to perceive it. The stimulus will move on the tongue in relation to where the head/body moves.	Device: Training with the BrainPort balance device; Subjects are randomly assigned to one of two groups, the perceived stimulation group or the subliminal stimulation group. Some of these devices provide a stimulus that you can feel. Others provide a stimulus that is below conscious awareness. We are conducting this study to determine if one type of stimulation is more effective than the other.; Other Names: BrainPort Balance Device

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
To assess the efficacy of the BrainPort balance device in improving balance and gait as measured by the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) in subjects with documented peripheral vestibular dysfunction	Baseline and 8 weeks (end of study)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
To assess the safety of electrical stimulation of the tongue during the use of the BrainPort balance device in subjects with documented peripheral vestibular dysfunction.	Baseline and ongoing for the duration of the study (8 weeks).
To assess improvement in the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC).	Baseline and 8 weeks (end of study)
To assess improvement in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI).	Baseline and 8 weeks (end of study)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wicab
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: James O. Phillips, PhD, University of Washington

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Danilov YP, Tyler ME, Skinner KL, Hogle RA, Bach-y-Rita P. Efficacy of electrotactile vestibular substitution in patients with peripheral and central vestibular loss. J Vestib Res. 2007;17(2-3):119-30.
• Bach-y-Rita P, W Kercel S. Sensory substitution and the human-machine interface. Trends Cogn Sci. 2003 Dec;7(12):541-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2003.10.013.
• Tyler M, Danilov Y, Bach-Y-Rita P. Closing an open-loop control system: vestibular substitution through the tongue. J Integr Neurosci. 2003 Dec;2(2):159-64. doi: 10.1142/s0219635203000263.
• Bach-Y-Rita P. Emerging concepts of brain function. J Integr Neurosci. 2005 Jun;4(2):183-205. doi: 10.1142/s0219635205000768.
• Danilov YP, Tyler ME, Skinner KL, Bach-y-Rita P. Efficacy of electrotactile vestibular substitution in patients with bilateral vestibular and central balance loss. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006;Suppl:6605-9. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260899.
• Danilov Y, Tyler M. Brainport: an alternative input to the brain. J Integr Neurosci. 2005 Dec;4(4):537-50. doi: 10.1142/s0219635205000914.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 6, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 6, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): October 8, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 28, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2012
• Last Verified: June 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Vestibular; Physical Therapy (Specialty); Balance dysfunction or disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Vestibular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: WCB1-005; NIH: 2R44 DC004738