Can a smartphone app replace doctor visits for chronic pain?
NCT ID NCT06647576
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether remote monitoring through the Neurosphere app could improve pain relief and lower healthcare costs for people with chronic pain using spinal cord stimulators. Thirty-two adults were split into two groups: one had in-person clinic visits, the other used remote monitoring. Over six months, researchers measured pain levels, quality of life, and expenses to see if the virtual approach works as well as traditional care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Spinal cord stimulation device (Abbott Proclaim and Eterna SCS systems) with remote monitoring via Neurosphere platform
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that remote monitoring is as effective as in-person visits for managing chronic pain, potentially saving time and money for patients, especially those in rural areas.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 32 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The remote approach might not work as well for some patients, and technical issues could arise.
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.
- Participants
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32 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study will include adult participants aged 19 years and older who are experiencing chronic neuropathic pain that is refractory to medical treatment and are eligible for SCS therapy based on FDA-approved indications. Participants will be recruited from a rural population, with effort made for including individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Study will enroll patients who can legally provide consent and are willing to adhere to the study protocol, including remote monitoring or in-person follow-up visits.
- Ages
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19 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 19 years and older experiencing chronic neuropathic pain that is refractory to medical treatment and eligible for SCS based on FDA-approved indications. * Individuals who can legally provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients unable or unwilling to adhere to the requirements of remote monitoring, follow-up schedules, or other aspects of the study protocol. * Patients with uncontrolled psychiatric conditions, including severe depression or anxiety, which could interfere with their ability to participate fully in the study or accurately report outcomes. * Women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, as the safety and efficacy of SCS in these populations are not established. * Patients who have previously experienced significant adverse events or complications from SCS implantation or stimulation that would make further use unsafe or ineffective. * Patients with other active implantable devices (e.g., pacemakers or defibrillators) that could interfere with the functionality of the SCS system. * Patients with a documented history of substance abuse within * Patients with significant comorbid conditions (severe cardiovascular disease, unmanaged diabetes, uncontrolled infection, etc.)
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Grand Island Pain Relief Center
Grand Island, Nebraska, 68803, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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