Gentle Focused Ultrasound Tested for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Tests gentle focused sound waves on the brain in adults with hard-to-control epilepsy.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Non-Invasive Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Key facts
- Where
- San Francisco, United StatesSee the site
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 21 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT07680842, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of California San FranciscoSan Francisco, 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, San Francisco
- Trial code
- NCT07680842
- Record updated
- 2 July 2026
- Original description
The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of a non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) stimulation on seizure frequency and the epileptogenic network in drug-resistant epilepsy. LIFU uses focused sound waves to modulate deep brain regions and to enable changes in brain network activity. Encephalography (EEG) and behavioral tasks will also be used to study how LIFU affects brain activity.Read full original descriptionShow less
Pilot Study of Non-Invasive Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound as an Adjunctive Treatment for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of a non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) stimulation on seizure frequency and the epileptogenic network in drug-resistant epilepsy. LIFU uses focused sound waves to modulate deep brain regions and to enable changes in brain network activity. Encephalography (EEG) and behavioral tasks will also be used to study how LIFU affects brain activity.
Inclusion: Male or female between 21 and 65 years of age at screening; Clinical diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy with on average, 4 or more seizures per month; Able to provide informed consent (or assent when applicable) by the subject or subject's legal representative; Be willing to undergo a brain MRI; Be able and willing to wear a headband during the treatment duration; Be able to complete scheduled visits and daily seizure logs.
Exclusion: Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data; Has any unstable medical or psychiatric disease; Has evidence of any other clinically relevant neurological disorder at the time of screening, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis; Has a craniotomy or pathologic intracranial lesion (e.g. vascular malformations) in the trajectory of the focused ultrasound beam; Pregnant, breastfeeding, is attempting pregnancy, or unwilling to practice birth control during participation in the study; Any contraindications for completing a brain MRI scan.