BTL Emsella Chair Versus Sham for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Last updated: April 21, 2025
Sponsor: William Beaumont Hospitals
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Enuresis

Urinary Incontinence

Treatment

Sham BTL Emsella

BTL Emsella

Clinical Study ID

NCT04133675
2019-242
  • Ages 18-80
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a condition that affects both men and women. SUI is the involuntary leakage of urine caused by an increase in intra-abdominal pressure from activities such as exercise, coughing, laughing, or sneezing. It can significantly affect quality of life as patients avoid activities or behaviors that cause leakage. This clinical trial will compare the efficacy of the Emsella chair to sham and determine if electromagnetic technology is effective in the treatment of SUI.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated, informed consent prior toscreening, and be likely to comply with study protocol, including independentlycomplete study questionnaires and communicate with study personnel about AEs andother clinically important information.

  2. Females and males, 18 to 80 years of age, inclusive, at screening

  3. Positive Cough or Bladder Stress Test at screening

  4. Subject agrees not to start any new treatment (medication or otherwise) during thetreatment and follow-up periods.

  5. Subject agrees to maintain a stable dose of any medication known to affect lowerurinary tract function, including but not limited to anticholinergics, tricyclicantidepressants, beta-3 adrenergic agonist, or α-adrenergic blockers, throughout thetreatment and follow-up periods.

For Females Only:

  • Subject agrees to discontinue use of bladder support devices, including but notlimited to vaginal pessary, during the screening, treatment, and follow-up periods.

  • If of child-bearing age and female, agree to practice approved birth-control methods (oral contraceptives, condom barrier, injection, diaphragm or cervical cap, vaginalcontraceptive ring, IUD, implantable contraceptive, surgical sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation), vasectomized partner(s))

For Males Only:

  • Subject must be ≥ 4 months post radical prostatectomy

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pelvic floor physical therapy, including muscle training and/or electrostimulation,in a clinical setting within 30 days prior to screening

  2. Subject is morbidly obese (defined as body mass index 40 or greater)

  3. Pulmonary insufficiency, defined as difficulty breathing and fatigue, especiallyduring exercise; chest pain, such as squeezing, pressure or tightness; the sensationof 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)

  4. Any condition that causes a lack of normal skin sensation to the pelvis, buttocks,and lower extremities

  5. Implanted cardiac pacemaker or metal in the body, including, but not limited to drugpumps, neurostimulators, electronic implants, copper intrauterine devices (IUDs),and/or defibrillators

  6. Subject has a piercing between the waist and knees and is not willing to remove itbefore each treatment

  7. Active urethral diverticula

  8. Known vesicoureteral reflux

  9. Currently healing from surgical procedures where muscle contraction may disrupt thehealing process

  10. Treatment with urethral bulking agents within the 6 months prior to the ScreeningVisit

  11. Subject is currently receiving treatment for a malignant tumor that would interferewith study participation.

  12. Subject has used the BTL EMSELLA device previously

  13. Subject has urinary incontinence of neurogenic etiology, such as multiple sclerosis,spina bifida, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetic neuropathy etc.

  14. Clinically confirmed urinary tract infection, requiring treatment as determined bythe investigator, at the Screening Visit

  15. Currently participating in an investigational study that may impact study results orpreviously received an investigational drug or treatment within 30 days of theScreening Visit

  16. 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 For Females Only:

  17. Pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, at screening or anytime throughout thestudy period

  18. History of surgery with insertion of vaginal mesh for SUI

  19. Vaginal prolapse beyond the introitus

  20. Vaginal rejuvenation treatment, including laser treatments and radiofrequencytherapy, within the 6 months prior to the Screening Visit

  • Note for the sake of preserving scientific integrity, one or more of theeligibility criteria have been left off the list posted while the trial isongoing. A full list of eligibility criteria will be posted upon completion ofthe trial.

Study Design

Total Participants: 110
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Sham BTL Emsella
Phase:
Study Start date:
December 18, 2019
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2028

Study Description

This is a prospective, sham-controlled, observational study of subjects undergoing electromagnetic perineal stimulation for the treatment of SUI. Eligible subjects will be randomized to receive active treatment or sham in a 1:1 ratio. Eight treatments (2 treatments each week) for 4 weeks will be completed with the Emsella chair to the pelvic floor muscles.

Electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor is a FDA approved therapy whereby a coil generates pulsed electromagnetic fields that penetrate deep into the pelvic floor muscles inducing stimulation and providing rehabilitation of weak pelvic muscles.The Emsella Chair is a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for the treatment of SUI, in addition to other pelvic floor related disorders. HIFEM technology induces deep pelvic floor muscle contractions designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises over 28 minutes.This technology is typically not covered by insurance, is minimally invasive, and safe, but has limited data available.

Currently, there is no data available from sham controlled studies evaluating efficacy of this technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the Emsella Chair to sham and to determine whether electromagnetic technology is effective in the treatment of SUI.

Connect with a study center

  • Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak

    Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

    Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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