Rectal balloon test may reveal hidden consciousness

NCT ID NCT07208942

Recruiting now Diagnosis Sponsor: YiLin Zhao Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study explores whether measuring brain activity during a brief rectal balloon inflation can help doctors tell the difference between patients who are minimally conscious and those who are unresponsive. Researchers will record EEGs in 45 patients with disorders of consciousness and healthy volunteers. The goal is to develop an objective test for diagnosing levels of awareness.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Rectal balloon stimulation device
What this could lead to: If successful, this could provide a new, objective way to classify consciousness levels in patients with disorders like unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 45 participants. The approach is experimental and may not reliably distinguish between patient groups or translate to broader clinical use.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Consciousness Disorders disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

DISORDERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hangzhou Normal University
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
The Second People's Hospital of Hefei
RECRUITING

Hefei, Anhui, 230000, China

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