Could a simple ultrasound replace the painful lumbar puncture?
NCT ID NCT06571786
First seen Oct 31, 2025 · Last updated Jun 21, 2026 · Updated 34 times
Summary
This study tested a noninvasive ultrasound technique called SHAPE to estimate pressure inside the skull. Nineteen adults scheduled for a lumbar puncture received an IV contrast agent (Definity) while doctors used ultrasound to measure pressure in the eye's artery. The SHAPE readings were compared to the standard needle-based pressure measurement. If proven accurate, this method could offer a safer, painless alternative for monitoring brain pressure.
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Perflutren lipid microsphere (Definity)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a needle-free way to measure brain pressure, reducing the need for lumbar punctures.
What could go wrong
This was a small pilot study with only 19 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The technique is still experimental and not ready for routine use.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.