Ultrasound Stimulation for Patients in a Disorder of Consciousness (tFUS)

May 18, 2026 updated by: Martin M Monti, University of California, Los Angeles

Safety and Efficacy of Thalamic Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (tFUS) for Promoting Recovery After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

The overall aim of this study is to develop an intervention that can help recovery in patients surviving severe brain injury but failing to fully recover. In particular, this multicenter project aims to (1) establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment, (2) establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients and (3) explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Aim 1 - Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment. Investigators will use a multicenter sham-controlled randomized double-blind design to test the efficacy of tFUS for the recovery of consciousness in prolonged DoC, secondary to TBI. Specifically, The investigators will use a sham that is identical to a previous procedure (NCT04921683), except the gel pad used to couple the transducer to the patient's head is "non-transmitting" (as opposed to "transmitting"), thus preventing any penetration of ultrasound inside the head. Approach overview: 40 patients in a prolonged DoC due to TBI (> 28days post injury) will be randomized into one of two conditions: (a) the tFUS-tFUS group will receive 2 sessions of tFUS and (b) the Sham-tFUS group will receive sham sonication in the first session and tFUS in the second session. Measurements: Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The investigators will assess two endpoint measures: one DoC-specific (i.e., the Coma Recovery Scale Revised - CRS-R; primary measure) [17] (Aim 1a) and one specific to TBI functional outcome (i.e., the Disability Rating Scale; secondary measure) [18] (Aim 1b). Hypotheses Compared to the sham condition, tFUS will lead to a statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery (Aim 1a) and in functional recovery (Aim 1b).

Aim 2 - Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients. Approach overview: The investigators will assess and compare safety and efficacy data in both conditions (ie, the tFUS-tFUS group who will receive 2 tFUS sessions and the Sham-tFUS group who will receive one tFUS session). Measurements: Safety. Proportion of (severe) adverse events (primary measure) will be documented using the Adverse Event Questionnaire (AEQ, also used in NCT04921683) and the Vital signs Care Report Form (CRF) (Common Data Element F0026), [6] within one week of intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group and in the Sham-tFUS group (Aim 2a); Efficacy. Changes will be assessed, one week after intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group as compared to the Sham-tFUS group using the CRS-R (secondary measure) (Aim 2b). Hypotheses: Aim 2a: Applying 2 sessions of tFUS will not lead to (higher proportion of) adverse events; Aim 2b: A statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery will be observed when applying two versus one tFUS sessions.

Aim 3 - Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication. The investigators will assess pre-post intervention-related changes in brain activity using electrophysiology in both conditions (i.e., tFUS-tFUS group vs. Sham-tFUS group) (Aim 3a). The investigators will also assess whether the effects of tFUS are TBI-specific by comparing the efficacy observed in our TBI group vs. a non-TBI group (Aim 3b). Approach overview: In addition to our two endpoint measures (i.e., DRS and CRS-R), a 15-minute resting electroencephalogram (EEG) will be collected immediately before and after each tFUS or sham session (Aim 3a). Efficacy (as described in Aim 1a) will be additionally tested in 20 patients in a prolonged DoC due to non-TBI causes (> 28days post injury due to stroke or anoxia) to help determine if tFUS is a TBI specific treatment (Aim 3b). Measurements: For Aim 3a, using the EEG recordings, power spectral density will be calculated within predefined frequency band and ABCD level classification (that reflects the degree of thalamocortical disconnection; primary measure) [7] will be applied based on spectral peaks in these frequencies. For Aim 3b, TBI specific efficacy will be tested based on the change observed one week after tFUS sessions as compared to sham sessions using the CRS-R (secondary measure) in both TBI and non-TBI groups. Hypothesis: Aim 3a: tFUS, but not sham will promote recovery of thalamocortical integrity as estimated by the ABCD level classification based on the Mesocircuit theory [2]; Aim 3b: Compared to sham, tFUS will lead to a statistically significant increase in consciousness recovery, particularly, in the TBI group vs. the non-TBI group.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
        • Recruiting
        • The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Martin Monti, PhD
        • Contact:
      • Pomona, California, United States, 91767
        • Recruiting
        • Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Caroline Schnakers, PhD
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
        • Recruiting
        • Massachusetts General Hospital (The General Hospital Corp.)
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Michael Young, MD
        • Contact:
      • Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02129-3109
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation, Inc.
        • Contact:
          • Jason Lew, DO
          • Phone Number: 617-724-9247
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jason Lew, DO

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Diagnosis of DoC, following international guidelines, as assessed with the CRS-R.
  2. Prolonged status (>28days post-injury)
  3. If on a psychotropic medication regimen, that regimen will be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study and the patient will be willing to remain on a stable regimen during the protocol.
  4. legally authorized representative available to consent for the patient to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of neurological disorder (other than the brain injury).
  2. Metal implant or other condition precluding safe entry in the MR-environment.
  3. Manifest continuous spontaneous movement (which would prevent safe/successful imaging).
  4. Participation in another concurrent clinical trial.
  5. Need for mechanical ventilation.
  6. Craniotomy (no bone flap).
  7. Cranioplasty spanning the left temporal bone window.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham-tFUS group
Sham-tFUS group will receive sham sonication in the first session and tFUS in the second session
Device: The Brainsonix BX Pulsar 1002 was designed to deliver low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsations (LIFUP) to the human brain.
The BX Pulsar 1002 consists of two main elements: the transducer and the ultrasound console. The transducer itself and the housing for it went through several iterations in order to be compatible with an MRI environment. Currently, the transducer and its housing are deemed MR-conditional at 3T with SAR ≤ 2W/kg. The design includes a solid acoustic coupling gel pad attached to the front of the transducer to provide good acoustic transmission into the scalp. An outer housing was designed to attach the transducer firmly to the head above the temporal window, and to allow it to be moved side to side to accurately target intended structures.
Active Comparator: tFUS-tFUS group
tFUS-tFUS group will receive 2 sessions of tFUS
Device: The Brainsonix BX Pulsar 1002 was designed to deliver low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsations (LIFUP) to the human brain.
The BX Pulsar 1002 consists of two main elements: the transducer and the ultrasound console. The transducer itself and the housing for it went through several iterations in order to be compatible with an MRI environment. Currently, the transducer and its housing are deemed MR-conditional at 3T with SAR ≤ 2W/kg. The design includes a solid acoustic coupling gel pad attached to the front of the transducer to provide good acoustic transmission into the scalp. An outer housing was designed to attach the transducer firmly to the head above the temporal window, and to allow it to be moved side to side to accurately target intended structures.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment.
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The two endpoint measures used will be one DoC-specific measure: the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R). The Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) ranges from 0 to 23 points, with higher scores indicating better neurological function and level of consciousness. A score of 0 represents the lowest level of neurological functioning, while a score of 23 represents the highest level of neurological functioning.
From Day 1 to 16
Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients.
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
Safety. Proportion of (severe) adverse events (primary measure) will be documented using the Adverse Event Questionnaire (AEQ, also used in NCT04921683) and the Vital signs CRF (F0026),22 within one week of intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group and in the Sham-tFUS group
From Day 1 to 16
Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
using the EEG recordings, power spectral density will be calculated within predefined frequency band and ABCD level classification (that reflects the degree of thalamocortical disconnection; primary measure) will be applied based on spectral peaks in these frequencies. This measure is calculated in percentage (%) of total power density.
From Day 1 to 16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Establish short-term efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic to promote recovery in patients with prolonged DoC as compared to sham treatment
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
Outcome measures collected prior to tFUS/sham sessions will be compared to outcome measures obtained one week after tFUS/sham sessions. The two endpoint measures used will be one specific to TBI functional outcome: the Disability Rating Scale (DRS). The Disability Rating Scale (DRS) ranges from 0 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating more severe disability. A score of 0 represents no disability, while a score of 30 represents extreme vegetative state or death.
From Day 1 to 16
Establish dose-related safety and efficacy of tFUS as a therapeutic intervention in prolonged DoC patients.
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
Efficacy. Changes will be assessed, one week after intervention/sham, in the tFUS-tFUS group as compared to the Sham-tFUS group using the CRS-R. The Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) ranges from 0 to 23 points, with higher scores indicating better neurological function and level of consciousness. A score of 0 represents the lowest level of neurological functioning, while a score of 23 represents the highest level of neurological functioning.
From Day 1 to 16
Explore preliminary predictors and biomarkers of susceptibility and response to thalamic sonication.
Time Frame: From Day 1 to 16
TBI specific efficacy will be tested based on the change observed one week after tFUS sessions as compared to sham sessions using the CRS-R (secondary measure) in both TBI and non-TBI groups
From Day 1 to 16

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Collaborators

Massachusetts General Hospital
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Martin M Monti, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

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

Helpful Links

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)

April 26, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 28, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 29, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 7, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 22, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB-24-1241
  • TP230324 (Other Grant/Funding Number: US Department of Defense-Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program--Clinical Trial Award (RL2))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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