Electric nerve zap implant tested for severe arthritis
NCT ID NCT07017686
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This early study tests whether a device that electrically stimulates the abdominal vagus nerve is safe for people with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis that hasn't improved with medication. Five participants will have the device implanted via keyhole surgery and receive daily stimulation for 22 weeks. The main goal is to check for serious side effects, not to prove it works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- abdominal vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) device
- What this could lead to
- If safe and effective, this could point toward a new way to control rheumatoid arthritis without drugs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, tiny safety study with only 5 people. It may not show benefit, and the device requires keyhole surgery with possible risks like infection or nerve damage.
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
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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
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About 5 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Sep 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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. Male or female (18 - 75 years of age). 2. Adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (onset age 18 years or above) as defined by the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) or Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) Antibody/Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibody (ACPA) must be positive (above lab ranges). 3. Moderate-severe active RA defined by at least 4/28 tender and 4/28 swollen joints. 4. Have active disease that has not responded to a 3-month trial of, or has intolerance limiting a full 3 month trial of, at least 2 biologic and/or new targeted synthetic DMARDs (e.g. JAK inhibitors). 5. Using a stable, continuous dose of at least 1 biological and/or synthetic DMARD for \>8 weeks prior to study screening and for the duration of the trial. 6. Women of childbearing age must not be pregnant or trying to become pregnant and must agree to use an effective method of contraception for the duration of their participation in the trial. 7. Medicare eligibility. 8. Provision of informed consent, in the form of a signed and dated informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Unable or unwilling to provide written informed consent. 2. Current diagnosis of major psychiatric disorder/s, or meets criteria as such on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), with the exception of stable, well controlled Major Depression or Anxiety Disorder. 3. A medical condition that could interfere with study procedures, and/or confound evaluation of study endpoints, as determined by the Investigator. 4. Medical conditions that have resulted in severe autonomic neuropathy e.g. poorly controlled type 2 diabetes or metabolic disease. 5. History of previous surgical interventions including vagotomy, splenectomy, bariatric surgery. 6. History of gastric hiatus hernia. 7. Previously implanted active medical devices (e.g., dorsal root ganglion or spinal cord stimulators, cardiac pacemakers, automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, drug pumps), or likely need for implantation of such devices within 6 months after start of this study. 8. A condition that requires routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans 9. Is, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator/s not a suitable candidate for the trial.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Austin Health, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
RECRUITINGIvanhoe, Victoria, 3079, Australia
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Bionics Institute
RECRUITINGFitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
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St Vincent's Hospital, Department of Rheumatology
RECRUITINGFitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
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