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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07160049

Wearable Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Peripheral Nerve Pain Management

This study will evaluate the feasibility of a novel wearable focused ultrasound (FUS) device for peripheral nerve stimulation in healthy volunteers. The aim is to assess device operability, usability, tolerability, and physiological responses during standardized sensory tests. Each participant will complete nine ~1-hour study sessions across multiple days, including cold pressor and algometry tasks performed under baseline, sham, and active FUS conditions.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Management Agnosia Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Signs and Symptoms

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Biomedical Enginering Building - UT Austin

Austin, Texas, 78705, United States

About this study

This feasibility study will evaluate a wearable focused ultrasound (FUS) system designed for non-invasive peripheral nerve stimulation of upper and lower extremity nerves. The primary objective is to determine device feasibility - operability, tolerability, usability, and physiological responses - during standardized pain sensitivity tasks.

Each participant will complete nine sessions on separate days (~1 hour each) in a within-subject crossover design:

  • Cold pressor test (baseline, sham, active FUS) - 3 days
  • Upper limb algometry (baseline, sham, active FUS) - 3 days
  • Lower limb algometry (baseline, sham, active FUS) - 3 days

Sessions will be scheduled at least 24 hours apart to avoid carryover effects. Approximately 12-15 participants will be enrolled. Although feasibility studies often include fewer than 10 participants, this sample size was chosen to ensure variability across limb anatomy and usability testing. No efficacy hypotheses or clinical outcomes will be tested.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy adults aged 20-40, willing and able to undergo FUS experiments.

Exclusion criteria

  • Major physical illnesses.
  • Diagnosis of a cognitive disorder.
  • Cardiovascular conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, heart disease, or dysrhythmia), history of fainting or seizures, or history of frostbite.
  • Open cuts, sores, or bone fractures on the limb to be immersed in water, or a history of Raynaud's phenomenon.
  • Diagnosis of hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to bodily sensations (temperature, vibrotactile, nociception).
  • Inability to provide informed consent for FUS stimulation.

Treatment and study plan

Cold Pressor Task - Upper Limb

Device

This study uses a three-session cold pressor paradigm to evaluate feasibility of a wearable focused ultrasound (FUS) device for peripheral nerve stimulation.

Session 1 (Baseline): After consent, participants immerse the dominant hand in 0-1 °C water (~10 cm depth) in an insulated bucket. Time to first pain is recorded, with 5 min rests between immersions (12 total; max single immersion 6 min). Water temperature is digitally monitored, with ice added as needed.

Session 2 (Sham): The median/ulnar/radial nerve in the dominant forearm is located by ultrasound. The FUS device is applied with hydrogel but set to sham (no output). The cold pressor protocol is repeated.

Session 3 (Active FUS): After nerve localization, active FUS (650 kHz, 60-100% intensity, 20-30% duty cycle) is delivered for 5 min. The cold pressor test is repeated to record pain tolerance as an exploratory physiological response during feasibility testing.

Algometry Pain Tests in the Upper Limb

Device

This session records pressure pain thresholds in the dominant hand with a wearable FUS device and a pressure algometer during feasibility testing.

Session 1 (Baseline): After consent and briefing, the median, ulnar, and radial nerves at three points on the dominant hand (wrist, palm, finger) are located via ultrasound and marked. A pressure algometer is applied to each site, with pressure gradually increased until pain is first reported. Thresholds are recorded, with each location tested three times with short breaks.

Session 2 (Sham): The same nerve sites are identified and marked. The wearable FUS device is applied with hydrogel but set to sham (no active output). The baseline algometry protocol is repeated.

Session 3 (Active FUS): Following nerve localization, active FUS (650 kHz, 60-100% intensity, 20-30% duty cycle) is delivered for 5 min. The algometry test is repeated to record pressure pain thresholds as exploratory physiological responses during feasibility testing.

Algometry Pain Tests in the Lower Limb

Device

This session records pressure pain thresholds in the dominant foot with a wearable FUS device and a pressure algometer during feasibility testing.

Session 1 (Baseline): After consent and briefing, the tibial, saphenous, and peroneal nerves at three standardized points on the dominant foot are located via ultrasound and marked. A pressure algometer is applied to each site, and pressure is gradually increased until pain is first reported. Thresholds are recorded, with repeated trials and short breaks between tests.

Session 2 (Sham): The same nerve sites are identified and marked. The wearable FUS device is applied with hydrogel but set to sham (no active output). The baseline algometry protocol is repeated.

Session 3 (Active FUS): Following nerve localization, active FUS (650 kHz, 60-100% intensity, 20-30% duty cycle) is delivered for 5 min. The algometry test is then repeated to record pressure pain thresholds as exploratory physiological responses during feasibility testing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Completion Rate of Study Sessions

    Time frame: Through study completion (9 study visits over approximately 3 weeks).

    Proportion of participants who complete all nine planned sessions (baseline, sham, active FUS for cold pressor, upper limb algometry, and lower limb algometry) without withdrawal or device malfunction.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cold Pressor Pain Onset Time

    Time frame: 3 separate study visits (~1 hour each) over approximately 1 week.

    Time (seconds) from immersion of the hand in ice water until pain is first reported; measured during baseline, sham, and active FUS sessions to characterize physiological response during feasibility testing (not powered for efficacy).

  2. Upper Limb Algometry Pain Threshold

    Time frame: 3 separate study visits (~1 hour each) over approximately 1 week.

    Maximum tolerated pressure (kgf) at standardized points on the hand and forearm before pain is reported, measured using a pressure algometer during baseline, sham, and active FUS sessions. Recorded as an exploratory physiological response during feasibility testing.

  3. Lower Limb Algometry Pain Threshold

    Time frame: 3 separate study visits (~1 hour each) over approximately 1 week.

    Maximum tolerated pressure (kgf) at standardized points on the foot before pain is reported, measured using a pressure algometer during baseline, sham, and active FUS sessions. Recorded as an exploratory physiological response during feasibility testing.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Evan (Huiliang) Wang

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Focused Ultrasound Stimulation of Peripheral Nerves in Limbs

Acronym: PERNEUS

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 8, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 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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