Targeting the Conus Medullaris With ECAP-Controlled Closed-Loop SCS for Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain: HOPE Trial

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using ECAP (electrically evoked compound action potential)-controlled CL (closed-loop) SCS (spinal cord stimulation) to treat chronic pelvic pain by stimulating an area in the spine called the conus medullaris (the lowermost tapering extremity of the spinal cord).

Primary Objective Evaluate the efficacy of ECAP CL-SCS in treating chronic pelvic pain.

Secondary Objectives Evaluate changes in impact of pain on activities of daily living, pain quality, quality of life, sleep, anxiety and depression, pain catastrophizing, patient satisfaction, and symptoms related to urinary urgency frequency.

Evaluate safety of using ECAP-controlled CL-SCS in treating chronic pelvic pain. Summarize and evaluate device performance and typical programming parameters.

Study design This protocol describes an observational, prospective, single-arm, single center study. Eligible subjects will undergo an implant procedure as per standard of care for SCS. The system will be used within its licensed use. Data will be collected prospectively from 1 US study center. Time points of data collection are at baseline, trial, device implant and at 3-, 6-, -12 months post-implant.

Study population Subjects with chronic, intractable pelvic pain will be screened for participation in this study.

Subjects who provide informed consent and meet the study eligibility criteria will be enrolled and will undergo a trial procedure.

Following the trial phase subjects may receive a permanent implant and be followed up at 3-, 6-, and 12-months following the permanent implant.

Enrollment will continue until 15 subjects receive a permanent implant. We estimate that up to 20 subjects will be enrolled in this study.

Statistical analyses will be conducted using an appropriate software package (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R, Statistics). Standard summary statistics will be used to summarize endpoints and key study variables. Categorical variables, including the incidence of adverse events, will be summarized via counts and percentages. Continuous variables will be summarized via mean, median, standard deviation, and range. 95% confidence intervals will also be included with summary statistics for primary and secondary endpoints as well as other variables where appropriate. Any p-values for secondary or other endpoints will be nominal and not adjusted for multiplicity.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is 18 years of age or older at the time of enrollment.
2. Subject has a minimum Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 60 mm or higher (where 100 mm pain) at baseline.
3. Subject has been diagnosed with chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs specifically related to pelvic/genital/perineal/anorectal pain, which has been refractory to conservative therapy for a minimum of 6 months.
4. Subject has pain resulting from a known injury (surgery or trauma).
5. Subject has been clinically diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain (pain that occurs in the region of the pelvis), including diagnoses such as, but not limited to, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS types 1 and 2), postsurgical pain, post-traumatic injury pain, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, post-hysterectomy pain, post-prostatectomy pain, vulvodynia, chronic ovarian pain, and pudendal neuralgia of a known cause.
6. Subject is an appropriate candidate for the surgical procedures required in this study based on the clinical judgment of the implanting physician.
7. Subject is willing and capable of giving informed consent.
8. Subject is willing and able to comply with study-related requirements, procedures, and visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is pregnant or nursing.
2. Subject is involved in a malignancy or injury claim under current litigation or has pending/approved worker's compensation claim.
3. Subject's mechanism of pain is unknown.
4. Suspected cause and onset of pain are more than 30 days apart.
5. Subject has history of small fiber neuropathy, mitochondrial disease, fibromyalgia, addiction, CRPS in secondary pain area, and/or atypical facial pain.
6. Subject has been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcerous colitis, or any other inflammatory disease that is ongoing.
7. Subject has a medical condition or pain in other area(s), not intended to be treated with SCS, that could interfere with study procedures, as determined by the Investigator.
8. Subject has a history of sexual abuse and/or sexual trauma.
9. Subject has a history of unmanaged depression or anxiety that pre-dates the onset of symptoms.
10. Subject is using greater than 100 MME (morphine milligram equivalents) of opioids at baseline.
11. Subject shows evidence of an active, disruptive psychological or psychiatric disorder or other known condition significant enough to impact perception of pain, compliance of intervention, and/or ability to evaluate treatment outcomes.
12. Subject has previous neuromodulation experience including SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulator) and/or DRG (Dorsal Root Ganglion).
13. Subject has an existing drug pump and/or SCS system, or another active implantable device such as a pacemaker, deep brain stimulator, or sacral nerve stimulator.
14. Subject is concomitantly participating in another clinical study.