Drawings courtesy of FocusNeuro, Melbourne
Patients living with Essential Tremor or Tremor-dominant Parkinson’s Disease are being treated on a regular basis at more than 60 leading global medical centers. More than 10,000 patients around the world have been treated with Insightec’s Exablate Neuro system. It is the first and only treatment, approved in Australia, that uses Focused Ultrasound to precisely treat deep in the brain in a single procedure with no incisions, implants or radiation.
Focused Ultrasound is an incisionless treatment for essential tremor and tremor dominant parkinson’s disease patients performed in an MRI suite.
During the treatment, the patient’s head will be positioned in the focused ultrasound helmet which is filled with water to maintain scalp temperature and facilitate transfer of the ultrasound waves. Ultrasound waves pass through the skull and are focused on a specific target in the brain. After each application of ultrasound energy, the patient will be asked to do tasks such as drawing spirals. This is so the physician can evaluate the improvement of the tremor and any potential side effects. When the location is confirmed and the therapeutic effect is confirmed, the temperature at the target is raised high enough to create a small ablation, or burn and provide a therapeutic effect, reducing the hand tremor.
The MRI scanner provides images for the physician to clearly see the treatment area and to show changes in temperature at the target. The medical team will be in the control room and the patient will be conscious and able to communicate with them.
Although individual results may vary, the patient should notice improvement during the treatment itself. At the end of the procedure a final MRI scan will be done to assess the treatment. The frame will be removed and the patient taken to a recovery room. The treating physician will determine when the patient can go home and when they will need to return for any follow-up visits. Within days patients typically return to normal activities.
Before Treatment
After Treatment
Treatment Centres
Melbourne
Precision Brain, Spine & Pain in collaboration with Future Medical Imaging Group
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Melbourne
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre
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