Restoring Motor and Sensory Hand Function in Tetraplegia Using a Neural Bypass System

This is a single-cohort early feasibility trial to determine whether an investigational device called the Bidirectional Neural Bypass System can lead to the restoration of movement and sensation in the hand and wrist of up to seven individuals with tetraplegia.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries; Spinal Cord Injury Cervical
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Bidirectional Neural Bypass System

Detailed Description

This study consists of the following three phases: baseline visit, surgical procedure, and restoration sessions.

At the baseline visit, participants will undergo a medical history review, physical and neurological examination, functional assessment of motor and sensory capabilities, a functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI), diffusion tensor image (DTI), and a transcutaneous neuromuscular and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation test.

Participants deemed eligible for continued participation will then undergo a craniotomy under anesthetic sedation to implant the investigational device. The surgeon will implant microelectrode arrays into the primary motor cortex to record neural activity associated with desired movements and into the primary somatosensory cortex to deliver stimulation in order to provide sensory perception.

While in surgical recovery, participants will have their vital signs monitored, be provided pain medication and antibiotics, and undergo a computed tomography (CT). The participants may also undergo electromyography and microneurography while in recovery. After being evaluated by a physician, the participants will be discharged from the hospital to continue their recovery.

After fully recovering, participants will attend restoration sessions at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research's Center for Bioelectronic Medicine. Participants will attend up to 3 study sessions a week for approximately 48 months, with each session lasting up to 4 hours. The sessions will progressively focus on identifying neural activity related to desired movements, restoring volitional control of the hand and wrist, restoring tactile perception, and then restoring volitional control and tactile perception of the hand and wrist simultaneously.

During the sessions, participants will have brain signals recorded from electrodes implanted in the brain, receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the arm and/or spinal cord, and receive a small amount of electrical current to the electrodes implanted in the brain. The participants may also undergo electromyography and microneurography during some of the sessions.

The study will be considered complete after completion of enrollment (up to 7 participants), completion of study procedures by all participants, and the completion of analysis of identifiable study data.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 7
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Erona Ibroci, MPH; Phone Number: 516-562-3634; Email: eibroci@northwell.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Manhasset, New York, United States, 11030
      • Recruiting
      • Northwell Health's The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
      • Principal Investigator: Chad E Bouton
      • Contact: Erona Ibroci, MPH; Phone Number: 5165623634; Email: eibroci@northwell.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 22 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females between 22 and 65 years of age
2. Individuals with a stable cervical spinal cord injury that have International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) motor scores for fingers of 0 - 2 (non-functional) and ISNCSCI sensory scores of 0 - 2 (not normal) on the palmar side
3. Individuals at least one year from initial spinal cord injury
4. Individuals that are considered English Proficient due to the study requirements to follow verbal commands during testing sessions
5. Individuals that are able to comprehend the study goals and procedures, and are able to provide informed consent for participation.
6. Individuals that are willing and able to visit the study center for study procedures that will be 1-3 sessions a week for up to 48 months at 1-4 hours per session.
7. Have the ability and willingness to undergo upper limb electrodiagnostic and nerve conduction studies
8. Demonstrate typical amplitude, latency, and conduction velocity in the distal median, ulnar, and radial nerves of at least one upper limb

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals participating in another research study that may affect the conduct or results of this study

2. Individuals having or exhibiting any of the following:

   1. Medical contraindications for diffusion tensor imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, computed tomography, cortical stimulation, or craniotomies/surgeries
   2. Prior difficulties or allergy to general anesthesia
   3. Active wound healing or skin breakdown issues
   4. Stage III-IV pressure ulcers
   5. Chronically-implanted electronic medical device (e.g. baclofen pump, deep brain stimulator, epidural stimulator, cardiac pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, or other)
   6. Prior tendon transfer to enhance hand function
   7. History of autoimmune disease
   8. Cancer
   9. Biochemical abnormalities of the liver, kidney, or pancreas
   10. Ventilator dependence
   11. History of serious mood or thought disorder
   12. Significant residual clinically evident traumatic brain injury or cognitive impairment
   13. Uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia
   14. Spasticity in the upper extremities that is uncontrolled by pharmacological methods
   15. Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest within previous 6 months
   16. Individuals with any type of destruction and/or damage to the motor cortex region as determined by fMRI.
   17. History of a neurological ablation procedure
   18. History of hemorrhagic stroke
   19. History of infectious or chronic diseases, such as HIV or tuberculosis

3. Individuals with any of the following co-morbid conditions that would interfere with study activities or response to treatment:

   1. Life expectancy < 3 years
   2. Severe chronic pulmonary disease
   3. Intractable seizure disorders
   4. Local, systemic acute or chronic infectious illness
   5. Life threatening cardiac arrhythmias
   6. Severe collagen vascular disorder
   7. Kidney failure or other major organ systems failures
4. Individuals with a substance abuse (alcoholism or other) problem
5. Pregnant women
6. Prisoners

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Spinal Cord Injury Participants; This group consists of individuals with tetraplegia receiving an investigational device called the Bidirectional Neural Bypass System.	Device: Bidirectional Neural Bypass System; These participants will receive the investigational device called the Bidirectional Neural Bypass System. The study intends to use this device to restore volitional movement and sensation to the hand and wrist of an individual during its use in the laboratory.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Restoration of Movement	The primary outcome of restoring movement will be evaluated through Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility & Prehension. The performance will be graded on a numeric scale from 0-92, where a higher number indicates a better outcome. Participants will complete 10 distinct arm, wrist, and finger movements. The movements will be evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from no movement to normal movement for a total of 0-50. Participants will be asked to perform a cylindrical grasp, key pinch, and a thumb-index pinch. The movements will be evaluated on a 4-point scale ranging from an inability to position wrist and fingers to able to perform movement with normal force for a total of 0-12. Participants will be asked to pour water, unscrew lids, place pegs on a board, open a lock, drop coins in a slot, and screw nuts. The movements will be evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0% completed to 100% completed with expected grasp and no difficulties for a total of 0-30.	The primary outcome will be assessed over the course of 48 months during the study's restoration sessions.
Restoration of Sensation	The primary outcome of restoring the perception of tactile sensation of the hand will be evaluated through the 5-Point Likert Scale. Participants will be asked whether they perceive sensation in response to objects being placed against the hand and fingertips. Participants will indicate whether they feel the object by selecting either strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), neutral (3), agree (4), or strongly agree (5). A higher total response score indicates an improvement in outcome.	The primary outcome will be assessed over the course of 48 months during the study's restoration sessions.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chad Bouton
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chad E Bouton, MS, Northwell Health

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bouton CE, Shaikhouni A, Annetta NV, Bockbrader MA, Friedenberg DA, Nielson DM, Sharma G, Sederberg PB, Glenn BC, Mysiw WJ, Morgan AG, Deogaonkar M, Rezai AR. Restoring cortical control of functional movement in a human with quadriplegia. Nature. 2016 May 12;533(7602):247-50. doi: 10.1038/nature17435. Epub 2016 Apr 13.
• Sharma G, Friedenberg DA, Annetta N, Glenn B, Bockbrader M, Majstorovic C, Domas S, Mysiw WJ, Rezai A, Bouton C. Using an Artificial Neural Bypass to Restore Cortical Control of Rhythmic Movements in a Human with Quadriplegia. Sci Rep. 2016 Sep 23;6:33807. doi: 10.1038/srep33807.

Helpful Links

• Restoring Cortical Control of Functional Movement in a Human with Quadriplegia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 30, 2019
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 19, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): September 21, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Spinal Cord Stimulation; Paralysis; Tetraplegia; Quadriplegia; Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; Biomedical Engineering; Movement Restoration; Muscle Stimulation; Tactile Sensation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Trauma, Nervous System; Spinal Cord Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Spinal Cord Injuries; Paralysis; Quadriplegia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17-0840

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Currently, there are no plans to make individual participant data available.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes