Testing Ultrasound Pulses on the Thalamus After Severe Brain Injury
Tests focused ultrasound pulses on the brain's thalamus in adults with prolonged disorders of consciousness.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Ultrasound Stimulation for Patients in a Disorder of Consciousness
Key facts
- Where
- Boston, Charlestown, Los Angeles, and Pomona, United StatesSee the 4 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 79 years old?
Source: NCT06939348, who can take part
Where in United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital (The General Hospital Corp.)Boston, United StatesTaking people
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation, Inc.Charlestown, United StatesNot yet recruiting
- The Regents of the University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, United StatesTaking people
- Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for HealthcarePomona, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Trial code
- NCT06939348
- Record updated
- 22 May 2026
- Original description
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.Read full original descriptionShow less
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.
Inclusion: Diagnosis of DoC, following international guidelines, as assessed with the CRS-R; Prolonged status (>28days post-injury); 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; legally authorized representative available to consent for the patient to participate in the study.
Exclusion: Participation in another concurrent clinical trial; History of neurological disorder (other than the brain injury); Metal implant or other condition precluding safe entry in the MR-environment; Manifest continuous spontaneous movement (which would prevent safe/successful imaging); Need for mechanical ventilation; Craniotomy (no bone flap); Cranioplasty spanning the left temporal bone window.