Simpler and Safer Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease (SPARKS)

The aim is to improve availability and acceptability of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson by shortening and simplifying the implantation procedure, thereby reducing time in surgery, complexity, post-surgery complications and cost, and increasing patient satisfaction.

To facilitate the shortening and simplifying of the implantation procedure, a miniaturised skull-mounted DBS device (Picostim) has been developed which is optimised to generate waveforms needed for stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and STN region, employing a unique method of controlling stimulation current. The planned study is a single centre, open label, non-randomised design with the primary objective of showing similarity in control of motor symptoms for the Picostim device compared with previously published data for existing DBS devices.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Parkinson's Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Bioinduction "Picostim" Deep Brain Stimulation system

Detailed Description

High-frequency DBS of the STN and STN region is an established treatment for moderate to advanced Parkinson with motor fluctuations, reducing motor symptoms in late stage levodopa responsive patients, who are not adequately controlled by optimal medical therapy alone. However, DBS is presently employed in less than 2% of Parkinson patients. Although a proportion of Parkinson patients are for various reasons not suitable for DBS, currently there is a significant under-utilisation of this approach and in part this is due to perceived surgical risk. Other limitations to adoption are availability of surgeons and infrastructure, particularly outside the USA, and expense.

The objective of this project is to collect and assess safety data for a new DBS device for treatment of Parkinson and validate a new surgical technique employing a skull mounted device. The device, called Picostim, is highly miniaturised and optimised for Parkinson, with current controlled outputs and a rechargeable battery. In typical use, an inductive recharge is required once per week for one hour and service-life is projected to be 17 years. This project aims to advance the technology of DBS so that it is possible to treat a greater proportion of patients more easily, by shortening and simplifying procedures thereby reducing surgical time, complexity and cost, while increasing patient satisfaction and quality of life. Up to 25 patients will receive the Picostim implantation and will be followed up over a one-year period.

This pilot study will be sufficient to make an application for a CE mark in Europe and should inform future studies that are envisaged to be required to prepare an FDA pre-market application.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 25
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Bristol, United Kingdom, BS10 5NB
    • Bristol Brain Centre, Elgar House, Southmead Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients who report motor symptoms of Parkinson for at least 4 years;
• Patients eligible for DBS Surgery;
• Receiving stable medical therapy for 30 days or longer before screening assessments - as reported by the patient;
• Males and females aged 21 years or older;
• Be willing and able to comply with all visits and study related procedures (e.g., using the remote control, charging systems and completing the motor diary);
• Understands the study requirements and the treatment procedures and is able to provide written informed consent;
• Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at study entry and report using an effective method of contraception;

Exclusion criteria:

• Atypical Parkinsonian (Parkinson-plus) syndromes;
• Any prior movement disorder treatments that involved intracranial surgery or device implantation;
• Presence of or planned implant of any other active implanted device;
• Surgical contraindications (such as issues preventing safe anaesthesia);
• Contraindications for MRI scanning (such as presence of metal in the body which means scanning may be harmful);
• Active alcohol or drug abuse;
• Dementia or any neuropsychological condition or finding that would contraindicate DBS surgery. Mattis DRS-2 AEMSS of 6 or less;
• Previous brain surgery likely to interfere with DBS implant;
• Frequent falls when on adequate medication therapy in an "on" state, in the opinion of the PI/delegated clinician;
• A past or current psychiatric disturbance that in the opinion of the PI contraindicates DBS surgery;
• Use of anticoagulant medications that cannot be discontinued during perioperative period;
• Clinically problematic dopamine dysregulation syndrome in the opinion of the PI;
• Significant medical condition that is likely to interfere with study procedures or likely to confound evaluation of study endpoints, including any terminal illness with expected survival of less than 5 years;
• Participation in another trial concurrently or within 30 days preceding enrolment, that is deemed to interfere with this trial;
• Females who are pregnant, considering becoming pregnant during the study period, or who are breastfeeding.

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: Deep Brain Stimulation; Deep Brain stimulation using a novel device. Bioinduction "Picostim" Deep Brain Stimulation system	Device: Bioinduction "Picostim" Deep Brain Stimulation system; Neurostimulation of the subthalamic nucleus region.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in motor function.	Change in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score at 26 weeks post implantation with stimulation on without medication compared with baseline assessment (without medication). Standard range is from 0 to 108, lower score is better than higher score	26 weeks
Collection and recording of adverse events	Rate and type of adverse events including serious adverse events, procedure-related, device-related, stimulation-related, and other adverse events	26 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Surgical time to complete procedure	Surgical time to complete procedure. Range being between 2h and 2 days.	12, 26 and 52 weeks intra-operative post device implantation.
Post-operation complications: % of patients with infections and pain at the implantation site	% of patients with infections and pain at the implantation site	12 weeks
Tolerability and satisfaction with the head mounted device on a 1-10 range Patient satisfaction questionnaire	User assessment of the tolerability of the head mounted device and of the device's battery efficiency (length and frequency of charging, ease of use) for up to one year following surgery. Assessed through a 1-10 scale, 1 being the worst outcome, 10 the best outcome	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Motor functions assessed through recording of motor fluctuation diary	Assessment of change from baseline in motor fluctuation diary recordings at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation.	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Mentation, Behaviour and Mood assessed through standard UPDRS Test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in motor functions: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) I score at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. UPDRS I score can vary between 0 and 16, 16 being the worst outcome and 0 the best outcome	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Motor and cognitive functions	Assessment of change from baseline in L-dopa equivalent. Medication requirements at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Range between 300 mg/day and 2000 mg/day, best outcome is lower consumption (300 mg/day)	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Motor and cognitive functions assessed through standard Hoehn and Yahr test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in Hoehn and Yahr scores at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Scale is between 1 to 5, best outcome being 1, worst outcome being 5	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Non-Motor functions assessed through standard Dementia Rating Scale (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in non-motor symptom scores at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Dementia Rating scale 2 (DRS-2) score. Range from 0 to 144, 144 being the best outcome.	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Cognitive functions assessed through standard Beck Depression Inventory Test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in cognitive function and mood status scores at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Beck Depression Inventory score, range from 0 to 63, 0 being the best outcome, 63 being the worst outcome	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Quality of life assessed through standard Eq5D questionnaire (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in quality of life measures at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. EuroQuality of Life score (Eq5D) score ranging from 5 to 15, 5 being the best outcome, 15 the worst.	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Activities in Daily Living assessed through standard UPDRS Test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in motor functions: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II on and off stimulation at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Scores range from 0 to 52, 0 being the best outcome, 52 the worst outcome	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Motor examinations assessed through standard UPDRS Test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in motor functions: Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score on medications at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Scores range from 0 (best outcome) to 56 (worst outcome)	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Complications of Therapy assessed through standard UPDRS Test (see description)	Assessment of change from baseline in motor functions: (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) UPDRS IV score at 12, 26 and 52 weeks post implantation. Score range from 0 (best outcome) to 23 (worst outcome)	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.
Safety data assessed through analysis of adverse events occurence	Collection and assessment of adverse events (procedure-related, device-related, stimulation-related, and other adverse events) throughout the trial. % of patients having device-related or procedure related adverse events.	12, 26 and 52 weeks post device implantation.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: North Bristol NHS Trust
• Collaborators: Bioinduction
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alan Whone, PhD, North Bristol NHS Trust; Principal Investigator: Nik Patel, MD, North Bristol NHS Trust; Principal Investigator: Steve Gill, MD, North Bristol NHS Trust

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Study site and Sponsor
• Study funder

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 28, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): February 12, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 30, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 27, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neuromodulation; Deep Brain Stimulation; Parkinson's disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3174

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No