Brain implant study aims to cut seizures in epilepsy patients
NCT ID NCT03900468
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a brain implant (deep brain stimulation) to reduce seizures in 29 adults with epilepsy whose seizures were not controlled by medication. Participants kept diaries to track seizure frequency over three years. The goal was to see if the device safely and effectively lowers the number of seizures.
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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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29 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2020
- Finished
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Feb 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.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- 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: * Focal (partial) onset seizures (based on International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2017 classification) that may or may not evolve to a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (secondary generalization). The final determination shall be made by the Investigator based on a clinical description of the seizures and previous diagnostic testing that includes, at a minimum, video EEG (inpatient or ambulatory) that captured at least one ictal event * Anticipated average of 6 or more focal (partial) onset seizures per month during CMM phase, with no more than 30 consecutive seizure-free days during the CMM phase * Refractory to at least 3 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) due to lack of effectiveness * Age 18 or older at the time of enrollment * Willing and able to complete the diary, with or without the assistance of a caregiver, in a reliable way as assessed by the clinical staff * Able to use the Patient Programmer with or without the assistance of a caregiver * Ability of the subject or legal representative to understand and provide signed consent for participating in the study * Willing and available to attend visits as scheduled and to comply with the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Generalized onset epilepsy type (based on International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2017 classification) * Seizure frequency is too frequent that subject is unable to provide daily count in order to maintain a reliable seizure diary * Any episode of convulsive status epilepticus within the 12 months prior to the Enrollment Visit * Previous diagnosis of psychogenic/non-epileptic seizures within the 12 months prior to the Enrollment Visit * Surgical candidate for and willing to undergo resective surgery * Evidence of a neurological condition that is likely to progress (e.g., brain tumor, arteriovenous malformations or cavernous angiomas) * Diagnosed with a progressive or degenerative neurological disorder affecting the brain * Significant medical condition that may impact study participation in the opinion of the investigator * Presence of any of the following within 1 year prior to the Enrollment Visit: psychiatric illness hospitalization, suicide attempt or symptoms of psychosis (hallucinations, delusions) unrelated to an ictal state, a post-ictal state or a medication * Malignancy or history of malignancy within 1 year prior to the Enrollment Visit (excluding resected basal cell carcinomas) * Presence of implanted electrical stimulation medical device anywhere in the body (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, spinal cord stimulator, RNS) or any metallic implants in the head (e.g., aneurysm clip, cochlear implant). In the case of an implanted vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), CMM study assessment collection may occur with the device implanted but may not begin until the VNS has been off for at least 30 days. The VNS generator must be explanted prior to or at the time of the DBS neurostimulator implant and the leads removed or trimmed and capped. In the case of a subject who had been previously implanted with a responsive neurostimulator (RNS) but had a full system explant, a subject cannot begin CMM study assessment collection until the RNS has been off for at least 30 days. * Risk factors that would put the participant at risk for intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. This includes administration of any antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication in the 7 days prior to surgery, chronic anticoagulant use, chronic aspirin use of greater than 325 mg/day, and any participant with a history of hemorrhagic stroke * History of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year * Condition or disease that is known to require repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) * Currently participating, or plans to participate, in another investigational study unless written approval is provided by the Medtronic study team Implant Criteria * Experienced an average of 6 or more focal (partial) onset seizures per month during CMM phase, with no more than 30 consecutive seizure-free days (all seizure types) * Completed a qualifying baseline diary. A qualifying baseline diary meets at least one the following criteria: 1) a study diary with at least 28 completed days; 2) a pre-existing diary with at least 70 completed days. * Completed 3-month CMM visit * No suicide attempt or other self-harm behaviors within past year (assessed by Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) at 3-month CMM Visit) * For female subjects of child-bearing potential, has negative pregnancy test and if sexually active continues using reliable form of birth control.
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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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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, 30303-3049, United States
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Fakultni nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně/ Milan Brazdil
Brno, 656 91, Czechia
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Mayo Clinic (Rochester MN)
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Los Angeles, California, 90095-1406, United States
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University of California San Francisco UCSF Medical Center
San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160-8500, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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