StrokeStroke-BSINCT07610850
Brain-controlled Spinal Cord Stimulation in Participants With Chronic Stroke for Lower and Upper Limb Rehabilitation
A study testing ARC-BSI Stroke system in people with Stroke and Hemiplegia, run by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the preliminary safety and effectiveness of using a cortical recording device (ECoG) combined with cervical and lumbar targeted epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord to restore voluntary motor functions of upper and lower limbs in participants with… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke, Hemiplegia
- What is being tested?
- ARC-BSI Stroke system
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 3 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to Oct 2032
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Must be between 18-70 years old at the time of enrolment.
- Must have suffered from a subcortical including brain stem stroke that occurred at least 9 months but not more than 10 years prior to enrolment.
- Must have a score lower than 25 on the Fugl-Meyer upper-limb scale.
- Must be able to stand with or without assistive device for 30 seconds.
- Must have a score higher than 22 at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
- Must present right or left hemiplegia.
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- Must have completed primary standard of care rehabilitation.
- Must provide and sign the study's Informed Consent prior to any study-related procedures.
- Must be able to understand and interact with the study team in French or English.
- Must agree to comply in good faith with all conditions of the study and to attend all scheduled appointments.
- Must use effective contraception for women of childbearing capacity.
- Must be able to withhold antiplatelet/anticoagulation agents perioperatively for the time of the surgeries (if applicable).
Who cannot join
- Must not be pregnant or breast feeding (if applicable).
- Must not have the intention to become pregnant during the study (if applicable).
- Must not have any diseases and conditions that would increase the morbidity and mortality of the implantation surgery.
- Must not have any mental instability, including a diagnosis of personality disorder, psychosis, substance abuse, or severe depression as assessed by the psychologist.
- Must not have any other medical conditions that would make the subject unable to participate in testing in the judgment of the investigators (e.g., major cognitive disorder, renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, epilepsy, etc.).
- Must not have ongoing significant dysphagia or aspiration difficulties or require ventilator support.
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- Must not have any active implanted device, such as a pacemaker or other neurostimulator.
- Must not have any spinal anatomical abnormalities or incompatibilities with the implanted system precluding surgery.
- Must not have severe spasticity of the upper limb or lower limb (Modified Ashworth Scale > 3).
- Must not have indication requiring frequent MRIs.
- Must not participate in another clinical study using drugs or medical devices that might interfere with the outcomes of the study.
- Must not be the investigator him/herself, his/her family members, employees, and other dependent persons.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Switzerland1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV)
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1005
Jocelyne Bloch, +41 79 556 2951, jocelyne.bloch@chuv.ch
About this study
The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the preliminary safety and effectiveness of using a cortical recording device (ECoG) combined with cervical and lumbar targeted epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord to restore voluntary motor functions of upper and lower limbs in participants with chronic stroke suffering from mobility impairment.
The goal is to establish a direct bridge between the motor intention of the participant and the spinal cord, which should not only improve or restore voluntary control of arm and leg movement and support immediate mobility, but also promote neurological recovery when combined with neurorehabilitation.
Read the detailed description
In a current first-in-human clinical trial, called STIMO (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02936453), Electrical Epidural Stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord is applied to enable individuals with chronic severe spinal cord injury (SCI) to complete intensive locomotor neurorehabilitation training. In this clinical feasibility study, EES immediately enhances walking function and, with repeated use as part of the EES-assisted neurorehabilitation program, improves leg motor control and neurological recovery in severe SCI participants to a certain extent. Linking brain activity to spinal stimulation, as shown in preclinical and clinical studies, enhances usability of EES and neurological recovery.
Clinatec (CEA, Grenoble, France) has developed an implantable electrocorticogram (ECoG) recording device with a 64-channel epidural electrode array called WIMAGINE capable of recording electrical signals from the motor cortex for an extended period and with a high signal to noise ratio. This ECoG-based system allowed tetraplegic patients to control an exoskeleton (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 02550522) with up to 8 degrees of freedom for the upper limb control. This device has been implanted in 5 chronic participants so far; one of them has been using this system both at the hospital and at home for more than 3 years.
The WIMAGINE ECoG technology has been integrated with epidural electrical stimulation (EES) across multiple clinical trials exploring implantable brain-spine interfaces. In the STIMO-BSI trial (NCT04632290), real-time decoding of cortical motor intentions for leg movements was used to modulate lumbar EES, enabling a chronic SCI participant to regain volitional control of standing and walking, with neurological improvements persisting even without the system after three years. In the UP2 trial (NCT05665998), two participants with incomplete C3/C4 SCI received cervical EES arrays and a WIMAGINE implant to decode up to six upper-limb motor states; brain-controlled cervical EES was shown to be safe, feasible, and supportive of neurological recovery of arm and hand function. In the Think2Go trial (NCT06243952), two participants with complete motor paraplegia received a WIMAGINE implant paired with the ARC-IM lumbar EES system, enabling lower-limb movement within days and leading to restored voluntary leg control and unsupported walking after months of rehabilitation. Together, these studies demonstrate that implantable ECoG-based brain-spine interfaces can safely decode motor intentions and drive targeted EES to restore multi-limb motor functions and promote neurological recovery across a range of SCI severities.
In this study, the investigators will assess the preliminary safety and effectiveness of ECoG-controlled EES in individuals with chronic stroke who suffer from hemiplegia, to establish a direct bridge between the motor intention and the spinal cord. This could improve or restore voluntary control of arm and leg movement as well as promote neurological recovery when combined with neurorehabilitation. The WIMAGINE ECoG system will be coupled with the ARC-IM purpose-built spinal cord stimulation technology in the ARC-BSI Stroke system, which is equivalent technology to systems currently used in the UP2 (ARC-BSI Cervical system) and Think2Go (ARC-BSI Lumbar system) clinical studies.
- Conditions
- Stroke, Hemiplegia
- Being tested
- ARC-BSI Stroke system
- Keywords
- Spinal cord stimulation, Brain computer interface, Brain spine interface
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke, Hemiplegia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ARC-BSI Stroke systemDevice
Implantation of a 64 channel - ECoG array over the sensory motor cortex of one side's upper and lower limbs, combined with an implantation of two 16 channel spinal cord stimulation system, one over the cervical region and one over the lumbar region. The decoded motor intentions are driving the implanted spinal cord stimulation system. Brain-controlled spinal cord stimulation is used for training and rehabilitation to recover voluntary movements.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| All participants | Experimental | All participants receive the same intervention. Receives: Device: ARC-BSI Stroke system |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Preliminary safety
Occurrence of Serious Adverse Events (SAE) and Adverse Events (AE) that are deemed related or possibly related to the procedure or to the ARC-BSI Stroke System.
Measured: From enrollment until End of the Study timepoint (at 5 years)
Secondary outcomes (14)
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Lower Extremities
A performance-based measure used to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation, joint range of motion and joint pain in upper and lower limbs of stroke patients.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
10 Meters Walk Test (10MWT)
Clinical measure to assess walking speed (in m/s) over 10 meters.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT):
Submaximal test to assess endurance during 6 minutes of walking.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Timed Up and Go (TUG):
Timed test of functional mobility (stand-up, walk, turn around, sit-down)
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
EMG-based Gait Analysis
Evaluation of locomotion parameters during different tasks, assessing biomechanics of movement through the acquisition of electromyographic data (electrical activity, in millivolts, associated to muscular fibers contraction) with placement of wearable sensors on the legs muscles.
The tasks performed will be the following:
- Walking overground.
- Parkours: the participant will be asked to perform tasks such as: change the walking speed, walk with head turns, stepping over and turn around obstacles, walk on a soft surface and climb stairs, walk with cognitive load (e.g., counting backward by threes). For this task, a parkours with obstacles, different surfaces, and a staircase will be prepared.
- Balance: the participant will be asked to perform a series of balance exercises - such as heel and toe raises, side stepping, single-leg standing, weight shifting, and sit-to-stand movements - to assess balance and symmetry.
Measured: Baseline, 6-Months measures, 1-Year Measures, then Yearly Measures until 5 years.
Kinematics-based Gait Analysis
Evaluation of locomotion parameters during different tasks, assessing biomechanics of movement through the acquisition of kinematic data (displacement in the 3 directions of space) with placement of wearable markers on the legs joints; only the 3D displacement of these markers placed on each joint is assessed, and all measurements are expressed in millimeters across the following tasks:
- Walking overground.
- Parkours: the participant will be asked to perform tasks such as: change the walking speed, walk with head turns, stepping over and turn around obstacles, walk on a soft surface and climb stairs, walk with cognitive load (e.g., counting backward by threes). For this task, a parkours with obstacles, different surfaces, and a staircase will be prepared.
- Balance: the participant will be asked to perform a series of balance exercises - such as heel and toe raises, side stepping, single-leg standing, weight shifting, and sit-to-stand movements - to assess balance and symmetry.
Measured: Baseline, 6-Months measures, 1-Year Measures, then Yearly Measures until 5 years.
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremities (FMA-UE)
A performance-based measure used to assess motor functioning, balance, sensation, joint range of motion and joint pain in upper and lower limbs of stroke patients
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)
An observational measure to assess the upper extremity performance (coordination, dexterity, and functioning) through four subscales (grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement).
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Box and Block Test (BBT)
Test composed of a wooden box divided into two compartments by a partition and 150 blocks. The participant has to move the maximum number of blocks within 60 seconds. It measures unilateral gross manual dexterity
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Range of Motion
It will be evaluated for the following movements for both unaffected and affected limbs: shoulder abduction, shoulder rotations, shoulder flexion, elbow flexion, elbow extension hand dorsiflexion and palmarflexion. The aim of this test is to assess the degree of joint mobility and functional limitations in the affected upper limb.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)
The participant's upper and lower limb spasticity levels are assessed by rating the resistance of a muscle to a passive range of motion about a single joint (6-points nominal scale).
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (CMSA)
An assessment tool utilized to measure physical impairment and activity of the participant in 6 domains (shoulder pain and stages of recovery of postural control, arm, hand, leg and foot), and an activity inventory, which assesses gross motor function (rolling, sitting, transferring, and standing) and walking.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Muscle Strength Testing (MST)
It will be assessed during different single joint movements of the upper and lower limbs. The aim of this test is to evaluate the residual voluntary muscle force and identify specific weaknesses that may impact functional movement.
Measured: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP)
An electrophysiological measure to evaluate the transmission of electrical activity resulting from touch stimulation.
Measured: Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 May 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionOct 2032 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (14)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- monocentric, single-arm, non-blinded, non-randomized, interventional
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 3 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jocelyne Bloch, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
- Investigators
- Jocelyne Bloch, MD, Principal investigator, CHUV
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07610850
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Stroke-BSI
- Acronym
- Stroke-BSI
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Ajiboye AB, Willett FR, Young DR, Memberg WD, Murphy BA, Miller JP, Walter BL, Sweet JA, Hoyen HA, Keith MW, Peckham PH, Simeral JD, Donoghue JP, Hochberg LR, Kirsch RF. Restoration of reaching and grasping movements through brain-controlled muscle stimulation in a person with tetraplegia: a proof-of-concept demonstration. Lancet. 2017 May 6;389(10081):1821-1830. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30601-3. Epub 2017 Mar 28.
PubMed 28363483Hochberg LR, Bacher D, Jarosiewicz B, Masse NY, Simeral JD, Vogel J, Haddadin S, Liu J, Cash SS, van der Smagt P, Donoghue JP. Reach and grasp by people with tetraplegia using a neurally controlled robotic arm. Nature. 2012 May 16;485(7398):372-5. doi: 10.1038/nature11076.
PubMed 22596161Jovanovic LI, Kapadia N, Zivanovic V, Rademeyer HJ, Alavinia M, McGillivray C, Kalsi-Ryan S, Popovic MR, Marquez-Chin C. Brain-computer interface-triggered functional electrical stimulation therapy for rehabilitation of reaching and grasping after spinal cord injury: a feasibility study. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2021 Mar 19;7(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41394-020-00380-4.
PubMed 33741900Schirmer CM, Shils JL, Arle JE, Cosgrove GR, Dempsey PK, Tarlov E, Kim S, Martin CJ, Feltz C, Moul M, Magge S. Heuristic map of myotomal innervation in humans using direct intraoperative nerve root stimulation. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011 Jul;15(1):64-70. doi: 10.3171/2011.2.SPINE1068. Epub 2011 Apr 8.
PubMed 21476796Uchiyama S, Ishizuka N, Shimada K, Teramoto T, Yamazaki T, Oikawa S, Sugawara M, Ando K, Murata M, Yokoyama K, Minematsu K, Matsumoto M, Ikeda Y; JPPP Study Group. Aspirin for Stroke Prevention in Elderly Patients With Vascular Risk Factors: Japanese Primary Prevention Project. Stroke. 2016 Jun;47(6):1605-11. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.012461. Epub 2016 May 10.
PubMed 27165949Puentes S, Kaido T, Hanakawa T, Ichinohe N, Otsuki T, Seki K. Internal capsule stroke in the common marmoset. Neuroscience. 2015 Jan 22;284:400-411. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.015. Epub 2014 Oct 20.
PubMed 25453768Kato K, Sawada M, Nishimura Y. Bypassing stroke-damaged neural pathways via a neural interface induces targeted cortical adaptation. Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 16;10(1):4699. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12647-y.
PubMed 31619680Lorach H, Galvez A, Spagnolo V, Martel F, Karakas S, Intering N, Vat M, Faivre O, Harte C, Komi S, Ravier J, Collin T, Coquoz L, Sakr I, Baaklini E, Hernandez-Charpak SD, Dumont G, Buschman R, Buse N, Denison T, van Nes I, Asboth L, Watrin A, Struber L, Sauter-Starace F, Langar L, Auboiroux V, Carda S, Chabardes S, Aksenova T, Demesmaeker R, Charvet G, Bloch J, Courtine G. Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain-spine interface. Nature. 2023 Jun;618(7963):126-133. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5. Epub 2023 May 24.
PubMed 37225984Benabid AL, Costecalde T, Eliseyev A, Charvet G, Verney A, Karakas S, Foerster M, Lambert A, Moriniere B, Abroug N, Schaeffer MC, Moly A, Sauter-Starace F, Ratel D, Moro C, Torres-Martinez N, Langar L, Oddoux M, Polosan M, Pezzani S, Auboiroux V, Aksenova T, Mestais C, Chabardes S. An exoskeleton controlled by an epidural wireless brain-machine interface in a tetraplegic patient: a proof-of-concept demonstration. Lancet Neurol. 2019 Dec;18(12):1112-1122. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30321-7. Epub 2019 Oct 3.
PubMed 31587955Selfslagh A, Shokur S, Campos DSF, Donati ARC, Almeida S, Yamauti SY, Coelho DB, Bouri M, Nicolelis MAL. Non-invasive, Brain-controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation for Locomotion Rehabilitation in Individuals with Paraplegia. Sci Rep. 2019 May 1;9(1):6782. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43041-9.
PubMed 31043637Biasiucci A, Leeb R, Iturrate I, Perdikis S, Al-Khodairy A, Corbet T, Schnider A, Schmidlin T, Zhang H, Bassolino M, Viceic D, Vuadens P, Guggisberg AG, Millan JDR. Brain-actuated functional electrical stimulation elicits lasting arm motor recovery after stroke. Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 20;9(1):2421. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04673-z.
PubMed 29925890Kathe C, Skinnider MA, Hutson TH, Regazzi N, Gautier M, Demesmaeker R, Komi S, Ceto S, James ND, Cho N, Baud L, Galan K, Matson KJE, Rowald A, Kim K, Wang R, Minassian K, Prior JO, Asboth L, Barraud Q, Lacour SP, Levine AJ, Wagner F, Bloch J, Squair JW, Courtine G. The neurons that restore walking after paralysis. Nature. 2022 Nov;611(7936):540-547. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05385-7. Epub 2022 Nov 9.
PubMed 36352232Powell MP, Verma N, Sorensen E, Carranza E, Boos A, Fields DP, Roy S, Ensel S, Barra B, Balzer J, Goldsmith J, Friedlander RM, Wittenberg GF, Fisher LE, Krakauer JW, Gerszten PC, Pirondini E, Weber DJ, Capogrosso M. Epidural stimulation of the cervical spinal cord for post-stroke upper-limb paresis. Nat Med. 2023 Mar;29(3):689-699. doi: 10.1038/s41591-022-02202-6. Epub 2023 Feb 20.
PubMed 36807682Wist S, Clivaz J, Sattelmayer M. Muscle strengthening for hemiparesis after stroke: A meta-analysis. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2016 Apr;59(2):114-24. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2016.02.001. Epub 2016 Mar 8.
PubMed 26969343
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Brain-controlled Spinal Cord Stimulation in Participants With Chronic Stroke for Lower and Upper Limb Rehabilitation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07610850
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Stroke-BSI / Stroke-BSI
- Conditions
- Stroke, Hemiplegia
- Keywords
- Spinal cord stimulation, Brain computer interface, Brain spine interface
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 3 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Oct 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Oct 2032 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the preliminary safety and effectiveness of using a cortical recording device (ECoG) combined with cervical and lumbar targeted epidural electrical stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord to restore voluntary motor functions of upper and lower limbs in participants with chronic stroke suffering from mobility impairment.
The goal is to establish a direct bridge between the motor intention of the participant and the spinal cord, which should not only improve or restore voluntary control of arm and leg movement and support immediate mobility, but also promote neurological recovery when combined with neurorehabilitation.
Detailed description
In a current first-in-human clinical trial, called STIMO (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02936453), Electrical Epidural Stimulation (EES) of the spinal cord is applied to enable individuals with chronic severe spinal cord injury (SCI) to complete intensive locomotor neurorehabilitation training. In this clinical feasibility study, EES immediately enhances walking function and, with repeated use as part of the EES-assisted neurorehabilitation program, improves leg motor control and neurological recovery in severe SCI participants to a certain extent. Linking brain activity to spinal stimulation, as shown in preclinical and clinical studies, enhances usability of EES and neurological recovery.
Clinatec (CEA, Grenoble, France) has developed an implantable electrocorticogram (ECoG) recording device with a 64-channel epidural electrode array called WIMAGINE capable of recording electrical signals from the motor cortex for an extended period and with a high signal to noise ratio. This ECoG-based system allowed tetraplegic patients to control an exoskeleton (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 02550522) with up to 8 degrees of freedom for the upper limb control. This device has been implanted in 5 chronic participants so far; one of them has been using this system both at the hospital and at home for more than 3 years.
The WIMAGINE ECoG technology has been integrated with epidural electrical stimulation (EES) across multiple clinical trials exploring implantable brain-spine interfaces. In the STIMO-BSI trial (NCT04632290), real-time decoding of cortical motor intentions for leg movements was used to modulate lumbar EES, enabling a chronic SCI participant to regain volitional control of standing and walking, with neurological improvements persisting even without the system after three years. In the UP2 trial (NCT05665998), two participants with incomplete C3/C4 SCI received cervical EES arrays and a WIMAGINE implant to decode up to six upper-limb motor states; brain-controlled cervical EES was shown to be safe, feasible, and supportive of neurological recovery of arm and hand function. In the Think2Go trial (NCT06243952), two participants with complete motor paraplegia received a WIMAGINE implant paired with the ARC-IM lumbar EES system, enabling lower-limb movement within days and leading to restored voluntary leg control and unsupported walking after months of rehabilitation. Together, these studies demonstrate that implantable ECoG-based brain-spine interfaces can safely decode motor intentions and drive targeted EES to restore multi-limb motor functions and promote neurological recovery across a range of SCI severities.
In this study, the investigators will assess the preliminary safety and effectiveness of ECoG-controlled EES in individuals with chronic stroke who suffer from hemiplegia, to establish a direct bridge between the motor intention and the spinal cord. This could improve or restore voluntary control of arm and leg movement as well as promote neurological recovery when combined with neurorehabilitation. The WIMAGINE ECoG system will be coupled with the ARC-IM purpose-built spinal cord stimulation technology in the ARC-BSI Stroke system, which is equivalent technology to systems currently used in the UP2 (ARC-BSI Cervical system) and Think2Go (ARC-BSI Lumbar system) clinical studies.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- monocentric, single-arm, non-blinded, non-randomized, interventional
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| All participants | Experimental | Device: ARC-BSI Stroke systemAll participants receive the same intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Must be between 18-70 years old at the time of enrolment.
- Must have suffered from a subcortical including brain stem stroke that occurred at least 9 months but not more than 10 years prior to enrolment.
- Must have a score lower than 25 on the Fugl-Meyer upper-limb scale.
- Must be able to stand with or without assistive device for 30 seconds.
- Must have a score higher than 22 at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Must not be pregnant or breast feeding (if applicable).
- Must not have the intention to become pregnant during the study (if applicable).
- Must not have any diseases and conditions that would increase the morbidity and mortality of the implantation surgery.
- Must not have any mental instability, including a diagnosis of personality disorder, psychosis, substance abuse, or severe depression as assessed by the psychologist.
- Must not have any other medical conditions that would make the subject unable to participate in testing in the judgment of the investigators (e.g., major cognitive disorder, renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, epilepsy, etc.).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ARC-BSI Stroke systemImplantation of a 64 channel - ECoG array over the sensory motor cortex of one side's upper and lower limbs, combined with an implantation of two 16 channel spinal cord stimulation system, one over the cervical region and one over the lumbar region. The decoded motor intentions are driving the implanted spinal cord stimulation system. Brain-controlled spinal cord stimulation is used for training and rehabilitation to recover voluntary movements. | Device | All participants |
Primary outcome
Preliminary safety
Time frame: From enrollment until End of the Study timepoint (at 5 years)
Occurrence of Serious Adverse Events (SAE) and Adverse Events (AE) that are deemed related or possibly related to the procedure or to the ARC-BSI Stroke System.
14 secondary outcomes
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Lower Extremities
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
10 Meters Walk Test (10MWT)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT):
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Timed Up and Go (TUG):
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
EMG-based Gait Analysis
Time frame: Baseline, 6-Months measures, 1-Year Measures, then Yearly Measures until 5 years.
Kinematics-based Gait Analysis
Time frame: Baseline, 6-Months measures, 1-Year Measures, then Yearly Measures until 5 years.
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremities (FMA-UE)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Box and Block Test (BBT)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Range of Motion
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (CMSA)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Muscle Strength Testing (MST)
Time frame: Pre-implantation: Baseline (B) Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP)
Time frame: Post-implantation (counting from first surgery) :6-Months measures (M6), 1-Year Measures (Y1), then Yearly Measures until 5 years (Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5). All the timepoint Measures last 1 to 2 weeks.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 28363483Ajiboye AB, Willett FR, Young DR, Memberg WD, Murphy BA, Miller JP, Walter BL, Sweet JA, Hoyen HA, Keith MW, Peckham PH, Simeral JD, Donoghue JP, Hochberg LR, Kirsch RF. Restoration of reaching and grasping movements through brain-controlled muscle stimulation in a person with tetraplegia: a proof-of-concept demonstration. Lancet. 2017 May 6;389(10081):1821-1830. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30601-3. Epub 2017 Mar 28.
- Background: PubMed 22596161Hochberg LR, Bacher D, Jarosiewicz B, Masse NY, Simeral JD, Vogel J, Haddadin S, Liu J, Cash SS, van der Smagt P, Donoghue JP. Reach and grasp by people with tetraplegia using a neurally controlled robotic arm. Nature. 2012 May 16;485(7398):372-5. doi: 10.1038/nature11076.
- Background: PubMed 33741900Jovanovic LI, Kapadia N, Zivanovic V, Rademeyer HJ, Alavinia M, McGillivray C, Kalsi-Ryan S, Popovic MR, Marquez-Chin C. Brain-computer interface-triggered functional electrical stimulation therapy for rehabilitation of reaching and grasping after spinal cord injury: a feasibility study. Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2021 Mar 19;7(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41394-020-00380-4.
- Background: PubMed 21476796Schirmer CM, Shils JL, Arle JE, Cosgrove GR, Dempsey PK, Tarlov E, Kim S, Martin CJ, Feltz C, Moul M, Magge S. Heuristic map of myotomal innervation in humans using direct intraoperative nerve root stimulation. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011 Jul;15(1):64-70. doi: 10.3171/2011.2.SPINE1068. Epub 2011 Apr 8.
- Background: PubMed 27165949Uchiyama S, Ishizuka N, Shimada K, Teramoto T, Yamazaki T, Oikawa S, Sugawara M, Ando K, Murata M, Yokoyama K, Minematsu K, Matsumoto M, Ikeda Y; JPPP Study Group. Aspirin for Stroke Prevention in Elderly Patients With Vascular Risk Factors: Japanese Primary Prevention Project. Stroke. 2016 Jun;47(6):1605-11. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.012461. Epub 2016 May 10.
- Background: PubMed 25453768Puentes S, Kaido T, Hanakawa T, Ichinohe N, Otsuki T, Seki K. Internal capsule stroke in the common marmoset. Neuroscience. 2015 Jan 22;284:400-411. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.015. Epub 2014 Oct 20.
- Background: PubMed 31619680Kato K, Sawada M, Nishimura Y. Bypassing stroke-damaged neural pathways via a neural interface induces targeted cortical adaptation. Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 16;10(1):4699. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12647-y.
- Background: PubMed 37225984Lorach H, Galvez A, Spagnolo V, Martel F, Karakas S, Intering N, Vat M, Faivre O, Harte C, Komi S, Ravier J, Collin T, Coquoz L, Sakr I, Baaklini E, Hernandez-Charpak SD, Dumont G, Buschman R, Buse N, Denison T, van Nes I, Asboth L, Watrin A, Struber L, Sauter-Starace F, Langar L, Auboiroux V, Carda S, Chabardes S, Aksenova T, Demesmaeker R, Charvet G, Bloch J, Courtine G. Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain-spine interface. Nature. 2023 Jun;618(7963):126-133. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5. Epub 2023 May 24.
- Background: PubMed 31587955Benabid AL, Costecalde T, Eliseyev A, Charvet G, Verney A, Karakas S, Foerster M, Lambert A, Moriniere B, Abroug N, Schaeffer MC, Moly A, Sauter-Starace F, Ratel D, Moro C, Torres-Martinez N, Langar L, Oddoux M, Polosan M, Pezzani S, Auboiroux V, Aksenova T, Mestais C, Chabardes S. An exoskeleton controlled by an epidural wireless brain-machine interface in a tetraplegic patient: a proof-of-concept demonstration. Lancet Neurol. 2019 Dec;18(12):1112-1122. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30321-7. Epub 2019 Oct 3.
- Background: PubMed 31043637Selfslagh A, Shokur S, Campos DSF, Donati ARC, Almeida S, Yamauti SY, Coelho DB, Bouri M, Nicolelis MAL. Non-invasive, Brain-controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation for Locomotion Rehabilitation in Individuals with Paraplegia. Sci Rep. 2019 May 1;9(1):6782. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43041-9.
- Background: PubMed 29925890Biasiucci A, Leeb R, Iturrate I, Perdikis S, Al-Khodairy A, Corbet T, Schnider A, Schmidlin T, Zhang H, Bassolino M, Viceic D, Vuadens P, Guggisberg AG, Millan JDR. Brain-actuated functional electrical stimulation elicits lasting arm motor recovery after stroke. Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 20;9(1):2421. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04673-z.
- Background: PubMed 36352232Kathe C, Skinnider MA, Hutson TH, Regazzi N, Gautier M, Demesmaeker R, Komi S, Ceto S, James ND, Cho N, Baud L, Galan K, Matson KJE, Rowald A, Kim K, Wang R, Minassian K, Prior JO, Asboth L, Barraud Q, Lacour SP, Levine AJ, Wagner F, Bloch J, Squair JW, Courtine G. The neurons that restore walking after paralysis. Nature. 2022 Nov;611(7936):540-547. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05385-7. Epub 2022 Nov 9.
- World Health Organization (2025), Stroke, Cerebrovascular accident, World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean RegionLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Jocelyne Bloch, MD principal investigator
CHUV
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ARC-BSI Stroke system in people with Stroke and Hemiplegia, run by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jocelyne Bloch, MD (+41 79 556 29 51, jocelyne.bloch@chuv.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Preliminary safety (time frame: From enrollment until End of the Study timepoint (at 5 years)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07610850, which also lists 14 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jun 2026.