Smartwatches and rings may help predict pain relief from spinal implants
NCT ID NCT05659836
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether wearable devices like the Apple Watch and Oura Ring, along with digital surveys, can predict outcomes for chronic pain patients receiving spinal cord stimulation. Twenty-eight adults with long-term pain were implanted with Abbott's spinal cord stimulators and used the wearables to track their progress. The goal was to see if objective data from these devices could match or predict how patients report their pain and how their treatment settings are adjusted.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Abbott Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Systems with Apple Watch and Oura Ring
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors better predict which chronic pain patients will benefit from spinal cord stimulation, improving treatment decisions.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early feasibility study with only 28 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It focuses on data collection, not on proving the treatment works.
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
-
28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2021
- Finished
-
Jun 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
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
Patients at Chronic Pain Specialty Clinics
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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 must provide written informed consent prior to any clinical investigation-related procedure. 2. Subject is at least 18 years of age or older at the time of enrollment. 3. Subject is scheduled to undergo trial of an Abbott neuromodulation system for chronic intractable pain at least 7 days after enrollment and commencement of the baseline data collection period. 4. Subject's scheduled trial duration for the Abbott neuromodulation system is at least 3 days. 5. Subject has a baseline (with no stimulation) pain NRS of ≥ 6. 6. Subject is willing to cooperate with the study requirements including completion of all office visits. 7. Subject agrees to wear the wearable sensing devices (Anne™ patch, Anne™ limb unit, Apple watch®, and Oura™ Ring). 8. Subject agrees to answer questionnaires regularly for the duration of the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is enrolled, or intends to participate, in a competing or confounding clinical study, as determined by Abbott. 2. Pregnant or nursing subjects and those who plan pregnancy during the clinical investigation follow-up period. 3. Subject is part of a vulnerable population. 4. Presence of other anatomic or comorbid conditions, or other medical, social, or psychological conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, could limit the subject's ability to participate in the clinical investigation or to comply with follow-up requirements of the clinical investigation results. 5. Subject has a current diagnosis of a coagulation disorder, bleeding diathesis, progressive peripheral vascular disease, post-herpetic neuralgia or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. 6. Subject has, or is scheduled to receive, implantation of another neuromodulation system (e.g. DRG or SCS system or intrathecal pump) to address their chronic pain. 7. Subject has already participated in a SCS trial period before enrolling in the study. 8. Subject engages in a profession or other activity that could be damaging to the wearable sensors, as determined by the investigator. 9. Subject has a skin condition that could be exacerbated by use of the adhesive Anne™ sensor or the other wearables (e.g. skin allergy to adhesives, metals, plastics, hydrogels), as determined by the investigator. 10. Subject has a physical condition that makes it difficult to wear the wearable sensors, as determined by the investigator. 11. Subject has tremors (e.g. Parkinson's disease or Familial tremors). 12. Subject has sleep/wake schedule that would present a challenge in completing all clinical site visits or in use of the wearable devices and engagement in the surveys via the mobile device. 13. Subject is bedridden. 14. Subject has evidence of an active disruptive psychological or psychiatric disorder or social condition as determined by the investigator. 15. Subject has a current diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease as determined by the Investigator. 16. Subject is immunocompromised. 17. Subject has history of cancer requiring active treatment in the last 12 months. 18. Subject has a documented history of substance abuse (narcotics, alcohol, etc.) or substance dependency in the 6 months prior to baseline data collection. 19. Subject has life expectancy of less than 6 months. 20. Subject is involved in an injury claim under current litigation.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Chronic pain are added.
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Coastal Pain & Spinal Diagnostics
Carlsbad, California, 92009, United States
-
Expert Pain
Houston, Texas, 77079, United States
-
Goodman Campbell Brain & Spine
Carmel, Indiana, 46032, United States
-
Pacific Research Institute
Santa Rosa, California, 95403, United States
-
St. Louis Pain Consultants
Chesterfield, Missouri, 63017, United States
-
The Orthopedic Institute
Gainesville, Florida, 32607, United States
-
iSpine Clinics
Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can difficulty naming emotions shape how much tailbone pain you feel?
- Can talk therapy rewire the brain to ease burn Survivors' pain?
- Can a video game teach cancer patients to tame their pain?
- Could a wearable zapper quiet cirrhosis pain without drugs?
- Can ketamine boost mindfulness therapy for people facing pain and PTSD?
- Can virtual walking trick the brain into easing chronic pain?