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Sound waves aimed at the brain: a new way to treat movement disorders?

NCT ID NCT06232629

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study explores whether low-intensity ultrasound can safely and precisely stimulate deep brain regions in people with Parkinson's disease or dystonia. Ten participants who already have deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants will receive ultrasound pulses while researchers record brain activity from the implants. The goal is to understand how ultrasound affects brain signals, not to treat symptoms directly.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) via NeuroFUS device
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a noninvasive way to adjust brain activity in movement disorders, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a very early, small study (10 people) focused on safety and brain signals, not treatment effects. It may not lead to any clinical benefit, and ultrasound effects on deep brain areas are still uncertain.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 10 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Aug 2023

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult patients with movement disorders (diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist) 2. Implantation of a Percept PC DBS system at least one month before the sonications 3. Stable dopaminergic medication dose for a minimum of 4 weeks Exclusion Criteria: 1. Concomitant neurological conditions (stroke, seizure, dementia, major depression / psychiatric disorders, active drug abuse/addiction and major neuromuscular/musculoskeletal diseases) 2. Declined cognitive scores (MoCA score \< 22) 3. Implants (cardiac pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, intracranial devices other than DBS system such as shunts and MR- unsafe devices) 4. History of intracranial lesioning procedures 5. Major systemic illness, infection or pregnancy

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Dystonia dystonic disorder Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Dystonia Parkinson disease

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Toronto Western Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada

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