Recruiting

Larynx Stimulation

Sponsor:

University of Minnesota

Code:

NCT05273190

Conditions

Cough

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Vibrotactile Stimulation

Study Details

Brief summary:

Researchers will test the effect of non-invasive vibrotactile stimulation of the larynx on symptom severity of unexplained chronic cough.

Conditions

Cough

Study ID

NCT05273190

Start date

Jul 13, 2021

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

Jun 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 1, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18-88
  • >8 weeks of cough
  • Cough visual analogue scale (VAS): Rating of 30 or greater on a 0-100 cough severity scale
  • Ability to provide informed consent and independently complete questionnaires
  • Ability to read and speak English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Electronic implants (e.g., pacemaker)
  • Currently doing speech therapy for cough
  • Contraindications to safe or effective VTS device use
  • No regular access to wifi internet Neuromuscular impairment that may affect cough/laryngeal sensation and/or function (e.g., multiple system atrophy, Parkinson, CVA, vocal fold paralysis or paresis)
  • Untreated carotid disease
  • BMI > 40 (for transmission of VTS through soft tissue)
  • Current or recent (quit < 3 months ago) smoking
  • Known currently infectious cause for cough (e.g., TB, pertussis, COVID)
  • History of known or suspected aspiration pneumonia
  • Diagnosis or clinical suspicion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Diagnosis or clinical suspicion of interstitial lung disease (ILD)
  • Unmanaged reflux
  • Unmanaged allergies/postnasal drip

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Vibrotactile Stimulation

Interventions

Vibrotactile Stimulation

Small electric motors, similar to a vibrating cell phone or gaming joystick, deliver vibration to the throat. Participants will assess cough symptoms throughout the study period.

Primary outcome measure

  • Assess usability of VTS device [ Time Frame: 3-7 weeks ]
  • Impact of VTS on cough symptoms [ Time Frame: 3-7 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Clinical Research Coordinators Ashley Ramaker, MS or colleagues

612-625-3278coughstudy@umn.edu

Ali Stockness

nicho656@umn.edu

Locations

University of Minnesota

Recruiting

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455

Contacts

Stephanie Misono

612-626-5526smisono@umn.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Minnesota

Last update posted

Jun 15, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Keywords

  • Chronic cough

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Minnesota on 2026-06-15.