Focused ultrasound to treat tremors, Parkinson’s available soon at VUMC
Noninvasive procedure can be performed in outpatient clinic with MRI
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville will soon treat movement disorders such as tremor and Parkinson’s disease using a minimally invasive technology called focused ultrasound (FUS) that delivers sound waves to specific regions in the brain.
The approach, expected to become available in late summer or fall, uses MRI to guide the sound waves to the brain region thought to cause tremor. The waves generate enough heat to ablate (burn) the damaged tissue, while protecting the healthy surrounding tissue.
“This technology is rapidly growing in the treatment of essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, and other indications are being studied,” Dario Englot, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurological surgery and director of functional neurosurgery at VUMC, said in a university news story.
Essential tremor is neurological condition that causes involuntary shaking
Essential tremor is a neurological condition that causes involuntary shaking in the body, usually in the hands and during active movement, which makes simple daily tasks challenging. Parkinson’s also leads to tremor, usually at rest, as well as other motor symptoms, such as slow movements.
When medications are not effective at controlling tremor, FUS may offer a minimally invasive alternative. The treatment is performed in an outpatient setting, without the need for a surgical incision or anesthesia, which means that patients typically return home the same day.
“We are excited to now offer a state-of-the-art minimally invasive therapy option for our patients who are suffering from tremor and are looking for new definitive treatment alternatives,” Travis Hassell, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and clinical director of the deep brain stimulation and focused ultrasound program at VUMC.
Englot and Hassell are two of the doctors who are currently screening patients who may undergo FUS at the outpatient clinic. The name of the ultrasound device used at VUMC, or its developer, wasn’t disclosed.
“Vanderbilt’s movement disorder program is among the first in the country to be using the latest version of this focused ultrasound that was introduced this past year and is focused on improved patient experience,” Englot said.
Patients stay awake during focused ultrasound treatment
Unlike in deep brain stimulation, an approved Parkinson’s treatment that involves surgically implanting small electrodes in the brain to deliver electrical stimulation, patients stay awake during FUS, allowing doctors to monitor effects and make adjustments if needed.
An ultrasound device from Insightec, called Exablate Neuro, is approved in the U.S. to treat essential tremor, tremor-dominant Parkinson’s, and Parkinson’s with moderate-to-severe motor symptoms in patients who haven’t responded to standard medication. Its latest version is called Exablate Prime.
In a pivotal study (NCT03319485) with Exablate Neuro, Parkinson’s patients who underwent FUS experienced a sustained reduction in tremor and other motor symptoms compared with those who underwent a similar procedure but didn’t receive the ultrasound waves, supporting a role for the technology in Parkinson’s treatment.
“We are excited for the ways it can impact and improve patients’ quality of life,” Englot said.
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