Effects of Peripheral Electrical Stimulation With Focused Ultrasound on Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Patients

Summary

Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation(NIBS) technique that can be used on both superficial and deep brain targets with a high spatial resolution as small as a few cubic millimeters. Functional Electrical stimulation is a peripheral stimulation technique researched and clinically used to restore motor function following conditions like stroke and Spinal cord injury. To date, there are no studies that have looked at the neuro modulatory effects of combining TUS and FES on motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. The current study aims to understand the neuromodulatory effects of combining tbFUS to bilateral primary motor cortex (M1) in Parkinsons's disease patients immediately followed by bilateral upper extremity FES of the hand muscles for improving motor symptoms.

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

DEVICE

Real TUS

2 channel transducer from Sonic Concepts will be used to deliver 120s train of 20ms ultrasound bursts, repeated every 200ms (Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)=5Hz).

DEVICE

Real FES

Twin Stim Plus EMS stimulator will be used to deliver FES to right and left hand opponens pollicis, first lumbrical and first dorsal interosseous muscles. Parameters of stimulation are 40 Hz frequency, 300 microsecs pulse duration, amplitude as per participant tolerance and total stimulation time 30 mins with "ON" time of 4 secs and "OFF" time of 4 secs.

DEVICE

Sham TUS

2 channel transducer from Sonic Concepts will be used to deliver 120s train of 20ms ultrasound bursts, repeated every 200ms (Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)=5Hz) however the ultrasound head will be flipped so that the active side faces away from the scalp.

DEVICE

Sham FES

Twin Stim Plus EMS stimulator will be used to deliver FES to right and left biceps and long finger flexors. Parameters of stimulation are 40 Hz frequency, 300 microsecs pulse duration, amplitude as per participant tolerance and total stimulation time 30 mins with "ON" time of 4 secs and "OFF" time of 4 secs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Health Network, Toronto

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Robert Chen · University Health Network, Toronto

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

90 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-06-13

Primary Completion

2024-12-13

Completion

2025-06-13

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations