Motor-Point Stimulation for Conditioning the Diaphragm of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the NeuRX RA/4 Diaphragm Pacing Stimulation (DPS) System in conditioning the diaphragm of an ALS patient to improve the quality of life and slow the progression to respiratory failure.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or Motor Neuron Disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause. One of the most important effects of progressive neuromuscular weakness in patients with ALS is the effect on respiration. Although ALS has no direct effect on the lung, it has devastating effects on mechanical function of the respiratory system. ALS affects all of the major respiratory muscle groups: upper airway muscles, expiratory muscles, and inspiratory muscles. Therefore, all patients with ALS are at significant risk for respiratory complications. Progressive inspiratory muscle weakness in ALS inevitably leads to carbon dioxide retention, inability to clear secretions and hypercarbic respiratory failure, the major cause of death in ALS.

Synapse Biomedical, in conjunction with Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland, have evaluated activating the diaphragm with percutaneous intramuscular electrodes implanted laparoscopically. This eliminates any direct contact with the phrenic nerve, allows all circuitry and electronics to remain outside the body, and provides direct, selective activation to each hemidiaphragm. The NeuRx-RA/4 DPS System provides an electrical signal to the motor point of the muscle that causes the diaphragm to contract and allows patients to breathe more naturally.

The NeuRx RA/4 DPS System has been implanted in over 10 individuals with ALS, in a pilot study at the University Hospitals of Cleveland that began January, 2005.

The NeuRx RA/4 DPS System platform, also used for respiratory support for individuals with high-level spinal cord injury, has over 56 years of cumulative active implantation time. The longest term patient was implanted March 6, 2000 and has been using the DPS System as his sole means of respiratory support for over six years.

Given patient results to date the data supports safety and efficacy to proceed to pivotal study in this patient population. With no unexpected significant adverse events reported, the NeuRx RA/4 DPS System has performed reliably and safely.

Device Description: The NeuRx RA/4 Respiratory System is manufactured by Synapse Biomedical. The NeuRx RA/4 System comprises the following components: an external, battery powered Stimulator Device, an associated Programmer/Controller, Intramuscular Electrodes, associated percutaneous Lead Wires, a Surgical Placement Tool Set, and a surgical Mapping Station.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 or older
Participants with familial or sporadic ALS diagnosed as laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial criteria will be eligible
Bilateral phrenic nerve function clinically acceptable as demonstrated by bilateral diaphragm movement with fluoroscopic sniff test or with EMG recordings and nerve conduction times
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) between 50 - 85% of predicted values to begin screening procedures.
FVC greater than 45% of predicted value at time of surgery.
No underlying cardiac or pulmonary diseases that would increase the risk of general anesthesia greater than the expected risk of the patient with ALS
Negative pregnancy test in females of child-bearing potential
Informed consent from patient or designated representative

Exclusion Criteria:

Preexisting implanted electrical device such as pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator.
Underlying pulmonary diseases that were present prior to ALS that would effect pulmonary tests independent of ALS.
Active cardiovascular disease that would increase the risk of general anesthesia
Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
Hospitalization for a treated active infection within the last 2 months
Significant decision making incapacity preventing informed consent by the subject due to a major mental disorder such as major depression or schizophrenia, or dementia such as having Alzheimer's disease.
Marked obesity