Smiling Patients

NOW ENROLLING SLATE CLINICAL STUDY

Stereotactic laser ablation for temporal lobe epilepsy
FIND A STUDY CENTER

Join the fight against uncontrolled seizures

One in three people with epilepsy lives with uncontrolled seizures.

Help make an impact on epilepsy treatment. The SLATE clinical study for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy is enrolling subjects. Clinical trials are key to advancing the treatment of epilepsy. And we rely on volunteers for every trial.

For individuals with uncontrolled seizures, participation in a new clinical study for drug-resistant epilepsy may be an option. Participants may be compensated for time and/or travel and Medtronic will cover the cost of the study device and any tests or procedures done for the study.

A clinical study collects data through strict scientific methods to explore whether a medical strategy, treatment or device is safe, effective and/or beneficial for people.

TAKE THE 
NEXT STEP FOR PATIENTS  

If you think you’d like to participate, find a study center near you.

Have a question? Please email rs.slatestudy@medtronic.com or call (866) 493-8989.

TAKE THE
 NEXT STEP
 FOR PHYSICIANS  

If you have patients you think would benefit from participating in the SLATE study, please email rs.slatestudy@medtronic.com or call (866) 493-8989.

For additional  Study Information  

To learn more about this study, you may also visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for NCT02844465.

what is the slate study?

The SLATE study is evaluating the Medtronic Visualase™ MRI-guided laser ablation system for the treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Visualase™ stereotactic laser ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that targets and destroys areas of abnormal brain tissue.

ABOUT THE LASER ABLATION PROCEDURE

During the procedure the patient is in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner that allows the surgeon to see where to insert a tiny laser fiber through a small hole and into the brain. The laser heats and destroys the abnormal tissue, while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.

The Visualase™ system is currently considered an investigational device for treatment of drug-resistant MTLE. The FDA has cleared the use of the Visualase™ system in neurosurgery and other surgical specialties.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SLATE STUDY

Sixty percent of adults with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite anti-epileptic drugs.

Individuals may qualify to participate in this study if they have mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and uncontrolled seizures.

Candidates must:

  • Be between 18 and 70 years old
  • Have uncontrolled epileptic seizures, even though they’ve tried at least two anti-epileptic drugs
  • Have had at least 12 seizures in the last year
Rendering of Visualase laser being used on the brain.
Play Video This will play a video - Visualase™ Workflow Animation

Visualase™ Workflow Animation

Female patient receiving Visualase treatment.
The rate of drug-resistant epilepsy hasn't been significantly reduced for 20 years.

For those who qualify for the study and decide to participate, Medtronic will pay for the study device and any tests or procedures done just for the research study. However, participants or their insurance may be billed for standard medical care. Participants may be compensated for time and/or travel to study appointments.

The first step is to schedule an appointment to determine eligibility to participate. Those who are eligible will be asked to review the study informed consent form. The informed consent form outlines the study procedures as well as the risks and benefits of participating in the SLATE trial.

Those who qualify and decide to participate may have mental and cognitive function tests, an MRI, and an eye exam. Then, participants will have the Visualase™ procedure and come back to the study center approximately four times over 12 months for checkups, additional mental and cognitive function tests, eye exams, and MRI scans.

Participants must be willing to:

  • Take anti-epileptic drugs as prescribed
  • Complete a daily seizure diary
  • Complete the required testing and follow-up visits

Find a study center

Contact one of these study centers to see if you qualify and to learn more. Check back for additional updates on sites.

Expand All

CALIFORNIA

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Newport Beach, California, United States, 92663
Recruiting Contact: Laura Heim, BSN, RN, CCRP
phone: 949-764-8190
email: laura.heim@hoag.org
Principal Investigator: Vivek Mehta, MD

Stanford University

Palo Alto, California, United States, 94305
Recruiting Contact: Bharati Sanjanwala, MS
phone: 650-721-2830
email: bharatis@stanford.edu
Recruiting Contact: Anthony Bet
phone: 650-683-5823
email: abet0915@stanford.edu
Principal Investigator: Casey Halpern, MD

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
Recruiting Contact: Margaret Seaton
phone: 206-920-3975
email: Margaret.Seaton@ucsf.edu
Principal Investigator: Robert Knowlton, MD

COLORADO

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

MARYLAND

MICHGAN

MINNESOTA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

PENNSYLVANIA

TEXAS

WASHINGTON

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

As with any medical device or procedure, serious and even life-threatening risks and side effects can occur. The risks of this investigational therapy are listed in the informed consent document that potential patients review before participating in the study.

Caution: Federal Law (USA) restricts these devices for sale by or on the order of a physician. Refer to product instruction manual/package insert for instructions, warnings, precautions and contraindications. Healthcare professionals must review the product technical manual prior to use for detailed disclosure. 

For further information, please contact Medtronic at (866) 493-8989. 

1

WHO Fact Sheet No.999: Epilepsy. Accessed June 2014.

2

Tian II, Boring M, Kobau R, Zack MM. Croft JB. Active epilepsy and seizure control in adults—United States. 2013 and 2015. MMWR Morb Mortul Wkiy Rep. 2018;67(15):437-442.

3

Bordie MJ Epilesia, 54 (Suppl.S2): 5-8, 2013.