Zapping a neck nerve to rebuild Stroke-Damaged arms

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

Inclusion Criteria: 1. History of unilateral supratentorial ischemic stroke and in the subacute phase (3-6 months); 2. Age between 18-80 years, both male and female; 3. FMA-UE score of 20-50 (inclusive); 4. Ability to communicate, understand, and provide appropriate consent; participant can follow two-step commands; 5. Right or left upper limb weakness; 6. Active flexion/extension of the wrist or fingers; 7. Informed consent signed by the patient or a family member. Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of hemorrhagic stroke; 2. Persistent dysphagia or choking/coughing while eating or drinking; 3. Medications that, at study initiation, may significantly interfere with the effects of VNS on neurotransmitter systems; 4. Prior vagus nerve injury, bilateral or unilateral (e.g., injury during carotid endarterectomy); 5. Severe or more severe depression (Beck Depression Inventory \>29); 6. Candidates unsuitable for device implantation surgery (e.g., history of adverse reaction to anesthesia, deemed unsuitable as a surgical candidate by the surgeon, etc.); 7. Current use of any other stimulation device, such as a pacemaker or other neurostimulator; current use of any other investigational device or drug; 8. Preexisting neurological or psychiatric disorders before stroke onset that affect assessment of the condition; 9. Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or breastfeeding during the study period; 10. Severe upper limb spasticity (modified Ashworth ≥3); 11. Severe sensory loss. Sensory loss will be measured using the upper extremity sensory portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. The assessment involves light touch (two items) and proprioception (four items). The maximum score is 12; subjects with a score below 6 will be excluded from the study; 12. Other conditions that the investigator considers unsuitable for participation or that may pose a significant risk to the patient.