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NCT Number: NCT07311876

Clinical Lymphedema Evaluation - Advancing Reconstruction of Head and Neck Lymphatics With Symani

The objective of this study is to evaluate the Symani System's safety and effectiveness for microsurgical anastomosis during open lymphatic reconstruction in the head and neck.

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Key information

Age range

22 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Kiel, 24105, Germany

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Henning Wieker

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Martin Laudien

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49 431 500 21715

Valeria Rodau

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 22 years of age
  • Patients with acquired head and neck lymphedema with external lymphedema or both external and internal lymphedema
  • Patient agrees to participate in the study, return for all required follow-up visits, complete all study procedures, and has willingly provided written informed consent after receiving all information related to the study, its requirements, and the robotic-assisted procedure
  • Patient has a clinical indication for a microsurgical anastomosis of vessels between 0.1 and 2.5 mm in conjunction with lymphatic reconstruction of the head and neck
  • Patient has been compliant with complete decongestive therapy (CDT) for at least 4 weeks
  • Patient has undergone lymphatic mapping of the head and neck and functional lymphatic structures for reconstruction have been identified
  • Investigator deems the candidate acceptable for lymphatic reconstruction with a robotic-assisted microsurgical anastomosis in accordance with the Symani System's Instructions for Use (IFU)
  • Willingness to comply with recommended regimen of self-care, with consistent use of manual lymph drainage and/or appropriately sized compression garments from screening through the entire study duration (through the 6-month follow-up visit).

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient who is incapable and/or unwilling to provide informed consent
  • Patients with irreversible head and neck lymphedema, defined as stage 3 of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck Lymphedema Rating Scale
  • Active systemic infection under treatment with intravenous antibiotics
  • Clinically significant cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, or central nervous system disorders, previous mental disorders, or other disorders that may significantly affect the data collection or the ability to comply with the protocol per the investigator's discretion
  • Known history of significant bleeding, coagulopathy, or Von Willebrand's disease
  • Currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy (uncontrolled tumor)
  • A history of malignancy or cancer treatment within the past 6 months (tumor control)
  • Patient with unsatisfactory manual lymphatic drainage and/or compression garments for at least six months
  • Patient with prior lymphatic reconstruction in the targeted head & neck area
  • Patient's lymphatic disease is due to lipedema
  • Patients with other medical conditions that could result in symptoms which overlap symptoms of lymphedema (e.g., thrombosis in the external or internal jugular vein)
  • Current infection in the head & neck area in which lymphedema is present
  • Currently enrolled in any other investigational clinical studies that the investigator believes may impact patient safety or outcomes
  • Patient is ineligible to participate for other reasons in the judgement of the investigator

Treatment and study plan

Symani Surgical System

Device

Symani® Surgical System is intended to perform surgical techniques during open microsurgical procedures.

Primary outcomes

  1. Intraoperative anastomosis patency prior to closure.

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure.

    Intraoperative anastomosis patency prior to closure will be measured for each robotic anastomosis using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging and will be evaluated prior to closure of the procedure site during the index procedure.

  2. Freedom from device-related adverse events

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure through 30 days.

    All adverse events will be evaluated from the start of the index procedure through 30 days post index procedure.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in flow pathways

    Time frame: From the pre-operative visit through 6 months post index procedure.

    Change in flow pathways will be assessed by an ICG lymphangiography

  2. Change in MD Anderson Lymphedema Rating Scale for facial lymphedema

    Time frame: From the pre-operative visit through 6 months post index procedure.

    Scale ranges from 0-3, the higher score indicating worse disease state.

  3. Assessment of Lymphedema of the Head and Neck Area (ALOHA) method for lymphedema measurement

    Time frame: From the pre-operative visit through 6 months post index procedure.

  4. Change in Head and Neck Lymphedema and Fibrosis Symptom Inventory

    Time frame: From the pre-operative visit through 6 months post index procedure.

    It contains 33 items (symptoms) which are answered Yes or No. If the response is Yes to any given item, the patient is asked to rate the intensity of the symptom on a 5-point Likert scale. Each symptom then receives a score ranging from 0 (does not experience the symptom) to 5 (experiences the symptom with severe intensity).

  5. Change in internal lymphedema

    Time frame: From the pre-operative visit through 6 months post index procedure.

    Assessed by Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) Examination

  6. Technical Success

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure.

    as freedom from any device malfunction resulting in unplanned conventional (manual) suturing

  7. All-cause readmission rates

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure through 30 days post index proceudre.

  8. Procedure-related adverse events (AEs) rate

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure through 30 days post index proceudre.

  9. Serious adverse events (AEs) rate

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure through 30 days post index proceudre.

  10. Anastomosis-specific reoperation rate

    Time frame: The duration of the participants' index procedure through 30 days post index proceudre.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Clinical Operations

CONTACT

[email protected]

8336646276 ext. 5

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

MMI (Medical Microinstruments, Inc.)

Industry

Registry information

Acronym: CLEAR

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Dec 31, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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