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ARPA-H Smart Band-Aid for Chronic Pain in Women

This study is testing a new way to measure chronic pain in women. It uses a "smart band-aid" called the A-Band, worn on your arm, to collect a natural body fluid (interstitial fluid or ISF) using tiny needles (microneedles). You would also wear a commercial smartwatch to gather information like heart rate and steps. The goal is to see if the information from these devices, combined with questionnaires, can accurately match the pain you report. This study is for women aged 18 or older who have a chronic pain condition, or healthy women without chronic pain. The study aims to see if the A-Band and smartwatch can help doctors understand and measure pain better. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is an observational study planning to enroll 115 women. It compares information from devices and questionnaires to self-reported pain.
What's involved
You would wear the A-Band and an Empatica Smartwatch for about 7 days, and complete several questionnaires.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your pain scores will be measured for 8 days (Day 0 through Day 7).

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

NCT06994988

ARPA-H Smart Band-Aid to Measure Chronic Pain in Women

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
Northwestern University
~115 participants
Updated 2026-06-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:A-Band (Smart Band-Aid)Empatica SmartwatchQuestionnaires: Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale, Central Sensitization Inventory, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Somatic Symptom Scale-8, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire-10, Athens Insomnia Scale

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Difference between patient-reported pain score and objective pain score as calculated by AI
Measured over Days 0 thru 7, for 8 total days

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Explore related trials

Chronic PainHealthy

Where it's being run

2 sites across 2 states
Illinois1
Maryland1

Who to contact

Jordan Wood, BS
[email protected]
312-695-0915
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Female, 18 years or older.
Diagnosis of chronic pain condition (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic lower back pain) as determined by the Principal Investigator.
Ability to provide informed consent.
Female, 18 years or older.
No history of chronic pain.

Exclusion

Ability to provide informed consent.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Substance abuse or psychiatric disorders that interfere with study participation.
Major medical conditions (such as severe cardiovascular, neurological, cancer or autoimmune diseases) or psychological conditions (e.g., active, poorly-controlled depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD, substance use disorder) that interfere with study participation.
Possibility of secondary financial gain from participation
Interventional pain treatment(s) within 6 weeks of baseline (injection, epidural, etc.)
Current opioid usage or usage within 2 weeks of baseline

What this trial measures

  • Difference between patient-reported pain score and objective pain score as calculated by AIDays 0 thru 7, for 8 total days

    We will measure the difference between the patient-reported pain scores and AI-generated objective pain score in subgroups of chronic pain patients (e.g., nociplastic pain, neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain, mixed pain) and healthy controls (if they have acute pain).