Wearable Therapeutic Ultrasound Study for Knee Osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of a wearable therapeutic ultrasound device to reduce pain and increase mobility for subjects with knee osteoarthritis.

Up to 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of chronic pain, and 60% of these Americans are under 65 and have limited mobility because of knee or hip Osteoarthritis (OA). Pharmaceuticals currently dominate the treatment options due to widespread insurance coverage and convenience. However, there are a myriad of public health problems associated with analgesic use, including costs, untoward side effects, and addiction potential with opioid analgesics.

Ultrasound therapy for pain and healing has been approved by the U.S. FDA and has been in use around the globe for the last 60 years. Traditionally, ultrasound-mediated pain treatment has been delivered in clinics and has been limited to short and confined periods of 5-15 min at acoustic intensities from 1-4 W/cm2 over a course of weeks to months. Over the past decade, research has increasingly focused on lower-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (30-1000 mW/cm2) delivered over extended 1-8 hr periods. (mW = milliwatt) Recent animal studies using low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (LITUS) have demonstrated successful inflammation reduction, reduced cartilage degeneration, and tendon and fracture healing. It is believed that using a lower-intensity ultrasonic treatment regimen over extended treatment periods works with the body's natural healing process and minimizes acoustic insult as compared with traditional, higher intensity treatments. This study proposes to evaluate clinically the first wearable low intensity ultrasound system for noninvasive treatment of arthritis pain. This technology has the potential to measurably increase the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis pain by providing a safe, effective, and easy-to-use treatment.

The pilot study will test the versatile ultrasound therapy system in a clinical study that will enroll up to 60 patients with mobility-impairing knee OA. The goal of the study is to establish statistically significant data that daily 4 hour LITUS treatment decreases participant pain (Visual Analog Scale \[VAS\]) and improves patient mobility (measured by an accelerometer worn by each participant) over placebo devices.

Eligibility Criteria:
Individual will be included if they:

1. Have physician-diagnosed mild to moderate knee OA (OARSI atlas grades 1-2) based on fixed-flexion x-ray radiological findings for osteophytes and joint space narrowing within the past 12 months,
2. are between 35-65 years of age
3. report a frequent pain score between 4-7 (range: 0-10) during the week preceding enrollment
4. report mobility limitations because of their knee pain
5. are currently not taking any prescription pain medication other than nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). All pain medication taken during the study should be documented.
6. are willing not to use any cream, gel, or topical solution during the administration of treatment other than the approved ultrasound gel provided to the subject at the initiation of the study
7. are deemed appropriate by their physician to participate.

Individuals will be excluded if they:

1. cannot successfully demonstrate the ability to put on and take off the device
2. are cognitively impaired
3. have bone-on-bone crepitus
4. have severe OA or patients with little to no cartilage on the knee
5. have knee replacement or other surgical intervention
6. take variable prescription medication
7. are non-ambulatory
8. participated in a clinical trial for an investigational drug and/or agent within 30 days prior to screening
9. are currently taking neuropathic medications (ie: Neurontin, Lyrica or Topamax) and/or antidepressants (ie: Amitriptyline).