Recruiting

MRgFUS

Sponsor:

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Code:

NCT07108257

Conditions

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Bipolar Depression

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

ExAblate Neuro 4000

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and initial effectiveness of MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) bilateral capsulotomy in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD).

Conditions

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Bipolar Depression

Study ID

NCT07108257

Start date

Jun 25, 2025

Status verified date

Jun, 2025

Completion date

Jul 16, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 16, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women ≥18 and ≤65 years of age, inclusive.
2. Patients who are competent and willing to give consent and able to attend study visits, as determined by both study Psychiatrist and the surgeon.
3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Type 1 or Type 2.
4. A minimum score of 20 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) when depressed (at least 2 weeks of major depression at the time the HAMD is conducted).
5. Treatment refractory bipolar depression indicated by at least two recommended monotherapy treatments or at least one monotherapy treatment and another combination treatment. The minimum duration for being on either of these regimens should be 4 weeks.
6. Ability to provide informed consent/competent to make medical decisions.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with unstable cardiac status \[e.g. Unstable angina pectoris on medication, Patients with documented myocardial infarction within six months, Congestive heart failure requiring medication (other than diuretic), Patients on anti-arrhythmic drugs, Severe hypertension (diastolic BP > 100 on medication)\] 2. Patients with standard contraindications for MR imaging such as non-MRI compatible implanted metallic devices including cardiac pacemakers, size limitations, etc.

3\. Laboratory biochemical evidence of abnormal bleeding and/or coagulopathy, including risk factors for intraoperative or postoperative bleeding (platelet count less than 100,000 per cubic millimeter or abnormal International Normalized Ratio) 4. Cerebrovascular disease (e.g. Cerebrovascular Accident within 6 months) or history of intracranial hemorrhage.

5\. Untreated, uncontrolled sleep apnea. 6. Receiving anticoagulant (e.g. warfarin) or antiplatelet (e.g. aspirin) therapy within one week of focused ultrasound procedure or drugs known to increase risk or hemorrhage (e.g. Avastin) within one month of focused ultrasound procedure.

7\. Individuals who are not able or willing to tolerate the required prolonged stationary supine position during treatment.

8\. Are participating or have participated in another clinical trial in the last 30 days.

9\. Patients unable to communicate with the investigator and staff. 10. Presence of significant cognitive impairment 11. History of psychosis on clinical evaluation. 12. Catatonic or psychotic or actively suicidal on clinical evaluation. 12. Patients with brain tumors already known or revealed on pretreatment MRI. 13. Currently pregnant (as determined by history and serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) or lactating.

14\. Chemical abuse or dependence within the previous six months

Study Design

Enrollment

10 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Capsulotomy in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

Participants in this arm will undergo MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) capsulotomy targeting the anterior limb of the internal capsule. The procedure is intended to thermally ablate this brain region to assess safety and initial effectiveness in reducing symptoms of treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). All participants will receive the same intervention and will be followed for 24 months post-treatment to evaluate clinical outcomes, adverse events, and quality of life.

Interventions

ExAblate Neuro 4000

ExAblate Neuro 4000 is an MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) device used to perform noninvasive thermal ablation of targeted brain tissue. In this study, ExAblate Neuro 4000 will be used to ablate the anterior limb of the internal capsule (capsulotomy) in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). The procedure is conducted under real-time MRI guidance and thermometry to assess safety and initial effectiveness in improving clinical symptoms and quality of life.

Primary outcome measure

  • Safety of Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound for patients with Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder [ Time Frame: From the treatment day visit through the 24-month post-treatment time points. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Recruiting

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

More Information

Sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Last update posted

Aug 6, 2025

Last verified

Jun, 2025

Keywords

  • TRBD
  • FUS
  • MRgFUS
  • capsulotomy
  • Focused Ultrasound
  • MR-guided Focused Ultrasound
  • refractory Bipolar Depression

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on 2025-08-06.