Eye Muscle Needle Electromyogram (EMu) Pilot Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A data collection and analysis pilot study to indicate preliminary characterisation of the electromyogram signal in relation to needle position with respect to the extraocular muscles, as observed during electromyogram needle guided treatment of strabismus in adults
IRAS ID
249119
Contact name
Tristan Payne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 6 days
Research summary
In some cases, strabismus, or squint, is treated with injections of Botulinum toxin (BTX) to temporarily relax the eye muscle responsible for causing the eye to be pulled to one side. Due to the deep location of the muscles, electromyogram (EMG) needle guidance is used to help ensure the toxin is delivered accurately. EMG needle guidance involves listening to the EMG signal from the tip of the delivery needle. When the needle is in the right place, a sound akin to “rain on a tin roof” is heard and the BTX can be injected.
From previous research, it is clear that clinicians want to improve the technology of this procedure and improve the way the muscle is located. After all, the current procedure relies heavily on the clinician's interpretation of a complex sound, which does not always yield a clear indication that the needle is “on target”. The eye muscles are small, around 2.5 mm to 4.7 mm in diameter, so precise location of the needle is important to avoid likely side effects such as droopy eyelids when the toxin spreads beyond the target muscle.
There is a strong need for new knowledge to improve EMG needle guidance in this context. It is hypothesised that the EMG signal could be cleaned and mined for information in real time during the procedure, thus providing the clinician with better information to guide the positioning of the needle before injecting. This pilot study will deliver the knowledge essential to indicate the feasibility of doing this. If feasible, this study will inform a full study with the aim of benefitting patients by allowing new technology to be developed to improve the treatment of strabismus with BTX.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0585
Date of REC Opinion
13 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion