🌐 EnglishEN

AI Cure is a research tool showing open data. Not medical advice. Discuss with your doctor. Terms

← Trials
🧪

AuriculoTherapy NeuroImaging

RecruitingNAAges 18 Years - anyAllKeith M Vogt
NCT06825390 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
💬

In plain words

What the trial is, and whether it could suit you

This is a clinical study of patients who have low back pain (for at least 6 months). The goal is to understand, with brain imaging, how auriculotherapy (an acupuncture-like stimulation of the ear) may work to relieve pain. There are 4 total study visits, divided into two pairs of visits that occur before and 5-7 days after receiving either a real or sham auriculotherapy treatment. The cryo-IQ device will be used, to stimulate 7 small areas on both ears with a focused jet of cold as a small amount of compressed gas is released. This is generally not painful, and less invasive, compared to using needles for auriculotherapy.

Sign in to get the eligibility rules as simple questions to take to your doctor.

Sign in
📋 Eligibility rules (as published)
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult, at least 18 years old 2. Episodes of chronic low back pain at least daily for at least 6 months, with an average pain score within the last week of 3/10. Exclusion Criteria: 1. active lesions, skin disruptions, or neuropathy of either ear; 2. recent (\<1 month) analgesic procedures or surgery; 3. recent (\<1 month) start of new analgesic or psychoactive medication (including marijuana, opioids, tramadol, methadone, gabapentinoids, anti-depressants, anti-epileptics, mood-stabilizers, anti-psychotics, or stimulants); 4. history of chronic pain in shoulder or thumb (to avoid confounding at control stimulation points); 5. recent (\< 3 months) illicit drug use; 6. prior substance misuse/abuse; 7. cold-activated diseases (including: agammaglobulinemia, cold urticaria, cold agglutinin disease, cryofibrinogenemia, cryoglobulinemia, immunosuppression, Raynaud's disease, collagen or autoimmune diseases, multiple myeloma, platelet deficiency disorders, pyoderma gangrenosum.) \- MRI-specific exclusions additionally include: 8. Pregnancy or active attempts at conception; 9. Implanted metal or electronic device; 10. severe claustrophobia
💊

What it tests

  • Cryo-auriculotherapy
  • Sham auriculotherapy
  • Experimental auricular stimulation
📍

Where

1 site
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States
🤝 Taking part is your choice, and you can leave at any time. Only the trial team can confirm you are eligible — always decide together with your own doctor.
🛡️

AI Cure shows public evidence (Open Targets, ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, openFDA, DepMap, AlphaFold) with its source, and AI summaries that cite it — not medical advice and not a cure. Treatment decisions belong with your doctor. Research ideas are shared only with approved researchers and labs, who can test them. In an emergency call your local emergency number (112 in India and Europe, 911 in the US). AI Cure Terms of Use · Privacy