Can a smart brain implant outsmart chronic pain?

NCT ID NCT04144972

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 31, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether a new type of deep brain stimulation (DBS) can better relieve chronic pain that hasn't responded to other treatments. Unlike traditional DBS, which delivers constant stimulation, this approach uses a device that adapts stimulation in real time based on brain signals, targeting multiple pain-related regions. The study involves 12 adults with various chronic pain conditions and will compare adaptive (closed-loop) stimulation to standard (open-loop) and sham stimulation to see if it's more effective and safe.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) using the Medtronic Summit RC+S or Percept RC device
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a more effective, personalized brain stimulation therapy for people with chronic pain that doesn't respond to other treatments.
What could go wrong: This is an early, small trial (12 participants) focused on feasibility, so results may not apply broadly. Risks include those of brain surgery and device implantation, such as infection or bleeding.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Chronic Pain complex regional pain syndrome Neuralgia, Postherpetic Pain, Postoperative persistent idiopathic facial pain postherpetic neuralgia radiation-induced plexopathy radiculopathy spinal cord injury traumatic neuropathy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROMES NERVE INJURY NERVE ROOT AVULSION PAIN, POSTOPERATIVE POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA POST RADIATION BRAIN INJURY POST RADIATION PLEXOPATHY POST STROKE PAIN SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of California, San Francisco
RECRUITING

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

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