BTL Emsella Chair Versus Sham for the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence
Fecal Incontinence
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Fecal Incontinence focused on measuring Fecal smearing, Incomplete defecation, Fecal urgency
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated, informed consent prior to screening, and be likely to comply with study protocol, including independently complete study questionnaires and communicate with study personnel about AEs and other clinically important information.
- Women and men, 18 years of age or older
- Subject reported fecal incontinence
- Up to date on screening colonoscopy per guidelines (USPSTF)
- Willingness to comply with conservative dietary management
- Subject agrees to maintain a stable dose of any medication, prescribed or over the counter, known to affect bowel functioning.
- Subject agrees not to start any new treatment (medication or otherwise) during the treatment and follow-up periods.
- If of child-bearing age, agree to practice approved birth-control methods listed in appendix C
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, at screening or anytime throughout the study period
- Subject weighs more than 330 pounds
- Pelvic floor physical therapy, including muscle training and/or electrostimulation, in a clinical setting within 30 days prior to screening
- Pulmonary insufficiency, defined as difficulty breathing and fatigue, especially during exercise; chest pain, such as squeezing, pressure of tightness; the sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations); swelling of the legs or feet; dizziness or fainting; and/or bluish discoloration of the nails and/or lips (cyanosis)
- Any condition that causes a lack of normal skin sensation to the pelvis, buttocks, and lower extremities
- Major metal implants such as: metal plates, screws, joint replacements, implanted cardiac pacemakers, drug pumps, neurostimulators, electronic implants, copper intrauterine devices, defibrillators, and metal implants in the pelvic area. Patients with other metal implants will be evaluated by the investigator for inclusion in the study
- Subject has a piercing between the waist and knees and is not willing to remove it before each treatment
- Currently healing from surgical procedures where muscle contraction may disrupt the healing process
- Subject has a malignant tumor, in any location of the body
- Vaginal rejuvenation treatment, including laser treatments and radiofrequency therapy, within the 6 months prior to the Screening Visit
- Subject has used the BTL EMSELLA device previously
- Neurologic conditions deemed exclusionary by an investigator, including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetic neuropathy etc.
- Chronic pelvic pain > 4/10 VAS
- Undiagnosed/unmanaged disorders of motility, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Undiagnosed colorectal conditions
- Bowel surgery in the past 12 months
- Currently participating in an investigational study that may impact study results or previously received an investigational drug or treatment within 30 days of the Screening Visit
Current or history of any physical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, might put the subject at risk or interfere with study results interpretation
- To preserve the integrity of the study, some criteria have been omitted. All criteria will be available to the public at the close of the study.
Sites / Locations
- Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
Emsella Chair Active Treatment with Dietary Counseling
Emsella Sham Treatment with Dietary Counseling
Subjects will be asked to sit on the device and the height will be adjusted until the subject's feet are on the floor. The active treatments are individualized, since some subjects will be more sensitive than others. The Emsella Chair will be turned on and the setting gradually increased to the subject's sensory threshold; the maximum sensation the subject can tolerate. The setting will then be decreased slightly and stay unchanged for the remainder of the treatment time. The treatment threshold should be increased with every treatment until the subject reaches 100%. During the visit the subject will also receive dietary counseling.
Sham subjects will be positioned on the device in the same manner. The sham treatment will provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology. The programming for the sham treatment will have an amplitude limitation, with the setting below therapeutic level (<10% power). During the visit the subject will also receive dietary counseling.