VALOR Registry: Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Recovery

This study, called the VALOR Registry, is looking at the safety of a treatment called Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) using the Vivistim device for people who have had a chronic ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by a blood clot) and still have weakness in their arm. VNS involves a small device surgically placed to send mild electrical pulses to a nerve in your neck. The study will monitor patients at Mount Sinai Health System who are already planning to get this device. We want to see if there are any serious problems from the surgery or the rehabilitation that goes with it. Success will be measured by improvements in arm movement, specifically using a test called the Fugl Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) over about a year. The study plans to enroll 40 participants.

Study design
This is an observational study, meaning researchers will watch and collect information from participants already undergoing VNS treatment. It plans to enroll 40 participants.
What's involved
After one month of pre-rehabilitation training, you would undergo surgery to implant the Vivistim VNS device. You would then participate in a rehabilitation program.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your arm movement will be assessed from the start of the study up to day 390 after the device is implanted.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05694663

Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Enhanced Stroke Recovery: The VALOR Registry

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
~40 participants
Updated 2026-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Vivistim

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Fugl Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)
Measured over Baseline up to day 390
Chronic Ischemic Stroke
1 sites across 1 states
New York1
  • Christopher P Kellner, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • David Putrino, PT, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Fedor Panov, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Jenna Tosto, PT, DPT, NCS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
Stated willingness to comply with all procedures in the VNS-Enhanced Stroke Recovery Program
Aged 18 or older
History of ischemic stroke
Upper extremity weakness
Planned to undergo VNS implantation

Exclusion

Unfavorable candidacy for device implant surgery (e.g., history of adverse reactions to anesthetics, poor surgical candidate in surgeon's opinion, prior injury to the vagus nerve etc.).
Medical or mental instability (diagnosis of personality disorder, psychosis, or substance abuse) that would prevent the subject from meeting protocol timeline.
  • Fugl Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FMA-UE)Baseline up to day 390

    The Fugl-Meyer Assessment - Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index for the upper extremities. It is designed to assess motor functioning in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia of the upper limbs. Scoring is based on direct observation of performance. Scale items are scored on the basis of ability to complete the item using a 3-point ordinal scale where 0=cannot perform; 1=performs partially; and 2=performs fully. The total scores range from 0-66, where higher scores indicate better performance.