Micro-Implant zaps nerve pain: new hope for chronic sufferers?
NCT ID NCT05870124
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a small, implantable device that stimulates nerves to relieve chronic pain after injury or surgery. About 185 adults with peripheral neuralgia will either receive the stimulator plus standard medical care or standard care alone. The goal is to see if the device provides better pain relief and improves quality of life.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Nalu Neurostimulation System for PNS (a micro-implantable pulse generator that stimulates peripheral nerves)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new option for people with chronic nerve pain after injury or surgery, potentially reducing pain and improving daily function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a post-market study, so the device is already approved, but it may not work for everyone. Risks include device-related side effects, and the trial is still ongoing.
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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185 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2023
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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.
- Ages
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18 to 80 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. Subject is between 18 to 80 years of age at the time of enrollment. 2. Subject would have been prescribed PNS therapy regardless of participation in this study; the use of the Nalu device must be on-label. 3. Subject has been diagnosed with one or more of the conditions listed below in the low back, shoulder, knee, or foot (including ankle): * Post-surgical/post-traumatic peripheral neuralgia including but not limited to pain due to peripheral nerve injury, post-surgical scar formation, nerve entrapment * Mononeuropathy, specified or unspecified or in diseases classified elsewhere * Other neuralgia or neuropathic pain * Osteoarthritic pain 4. Subject has chronic (defined as at least 6 months duration), intractable peripheral neuropathic pain, exclusive of the craniofacial region; any nociceptive pain must be less prominent than the neuropathic pain. Pain should have a predominant neuropathic component as per the investigator's clinical assessment. 5. Subject should have a pain score of at least 6, in the target area of pain, as recorded on the BPI-Q5 (NRS) at screening. 6. Subject is willing to cooperate with the study requirements including, compliance with the study procedures and completion of all study visits. 7. Subject reported stable pain (non-escalating) for 60 days prior to signing informed consent. 8. Subject is currently receiving CMM and has had stable pain medication use and dosage for 30 days prior to signing informed consent. 9. Subject is psychologically qualified to receive a peripheral nerve stimulator as per the clinician's standard clinical practice and judgment and does not have clinically relevant psychological condition(s) that would interfere with their ability to accurately report outcomes or complete study procedures. 10. Subject has demonstrated the ability to appropriately place the adhesive clip in the location where the IPG is most likely to be implanted. Alternatively, subject is able to appropriately use the relief belt and/or limb cuff to keep the Therapy Disc in place. Exclusion Criteria: Subject currently has an active implantable medical device such as a drug pump, spinal cord stimulator, peripheral nerve stimulator, sacral nerve stimulator, deep brain stimulator, and/or cardiac pacemaker. 2\. Subject has previously failed PNS or Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) or Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) therapy (trial or permanent implant). See note below. 3\. Pain is completely absent at rest. 4. Patient has clinical evidence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), peripheral neuralgia of metabolic origin, post-herpetic neuralgia, biochemical evidence of a metabolic or genetic neuropathy (e.g., Charcot'- Marie- Tooth Disease) or mixed motor/sensory polyneuropathy. 5\. Subject has a medical condition that would prevent them from participating in the current study per investigator's or medical monitor's judgment. 6\. Subject has had a successful (≥ 50% pain relief) interventional procedure within the past 3 months to treat the same pain condition(s) being examined in this study including, nerve blocks. 7\. Uncontrolled depression or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders 8. Subject is currently participating in another clinical investigation with an active treatment arm. 9\. Subject is allergic or sensitive to materials used in the device components including, skin adhesives or does not tolerate the wearable aspect of the device. 10\. Subject has pending or ongoing legal issues (including unresolved worker's compensation claims or equivalent) or other conflicting secondary gain issues related to their chronic pain condition. 11\. Subject has a current diagnosis of a coagulation disorder, bleeding diathesis, or progressive peripheral vascular disease that has not been medically corrected. 12\. Subject has an active systemic infection. 13. Subject is unable to read and/or write in English or give informed consent. 14. Subject has a life expectancy of less than 1 year. 15. Subject has an active malignant neoplasm (metastatic or local) or evidence of paraneoplastic syndrome. 16\. Subject with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, showing signs of diabetic neuropathy, as evidenced by a neurological exam and a HbA1c test. 17\. Subject has evidence of an alcohol or drug dependency within the last 6 months prior to enrollment. 18\. Subject is pregnant (if female and sexually active, subject must be using a reliable form of birth control, be surgically sterile or be at least 1 year post-menopausal). 19\. Subject is nursing/breastfeeding. 20. Subject is on ≥90 mg-morphine equivalents per 24 hours. 21. Subject has undergone an ablative treatment of the target peripheral nerve, or proximal nerve trunk giving rise to the target nerve, or dorsal roots (and DRGs) that ultimately make up the target nerve. No ablative procedures directed at the spinal cord, dorsal roots, or peripheral nerve(s) being treated in the study. To note, subjects who have undergone RF ablation of the dorsal rami, cool pulsed RF of the facet innervation may be considered for enrollment.
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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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Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute
Freehold, New Jersey, 07728, United States
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Anesis Spine and Pain Care
Spokane, Washington, 99216, United States
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Coastal Spine & Pain Center
Jacksonville, Florida, 23305, United States
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Columbia Pain Management
Milwaukie, Oregon, 97222, United States
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Comprehensive Spine & Pain Physicians
Burbank, California, 91505, United States
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DBPS Research LLC
Denver, Colorado, 80111, United States
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Insight Research Institute
Flint, Michigan, 48507, United States
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Institute of Precision Pain Medicine
Corpus Christi, Texas, 78414, United States
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International Spine, Pain & Performance Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20037, United States
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Michigan Neurology & Spine Center
Port Huron, Michigan, 48060, United States
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NeuroInterventional Pain Management
Monroe, Michigan, 48161, United States
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Pacific Sports and Spine
Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States
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Pain Management and Injury Relief
Thousand Oaks, California, 91320, United States
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Pain Specialists of America
Austin, Texas, 78745, United States
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The Center for Clinical Research
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103, United States
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The Pain Institute of Southern Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, 85710, United States
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University of Kansas Health System, Bell Hospital Marc A. Asher Comprehensive Spine Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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