For most of those patients, deep brain stimulation will still likely be a good option.ĭr.
While it is expected that most people with essential tremor will be able to take advantage of this technology, there are a few limitations which may not allow certain patients to undergo this procedure. This uses otherwise harmless ultrasound energy, not radiation, so there are none of the typical radiation-related risks. Since the procedure is non-invasive, there is a greatly reduced risk of complications related to open surgery. No single wave damages surrounding brain tissue, but the sum of the energy reaching the focus is enough to eliminate - or greatly reduce - the tremors. The device uses MR thermometry to measure the temperature at the target and elsewhere in the brain during the procedure, and adjusts the energy emanating from each of the 1,000 sources so that precisely the right amount of energy reaches the target. The patient, who is awake throughout the procedure, is fitted with a helmet that holds an array of 1,000 sources of ultrasound energy, each beam so small and low-energy that it passes harmlessly through healthy brain tissue on its way to the target. The new procedure relies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to pinpoint the exact location in the brain where tremors originate, then uses MRI guidance to focus the many ultrasound waves on that location. The technology is still being used under a study that Weill Cornell is participating in, but it was approved by the FDA just last week for use on patients with essential tremor and should be available to any qualified patient in the next few months. Adapting this to the brain required more advanced technology to overcome the obstacle of sound penetration through the skull and to ensure the precision necessary to accurately reach the desired target without the ultrasound affecting the rest of the brain. The new focused ultrasound procedure takes advantage of a technology that was successfully used in the past to treat uterine fibroids and breast and prostate cancer. Kaplitt and the Weill Cornell team have been national leaders in DBS for essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and a variety of other disorders for more than 15 years. The tip of this wire sends the electrical impulses generated by the neurotransmitter into the precise spot in the brain that regulates the activity of the key circuits in essential tremor. The tremors, which are often most severe in the hands, can interfere with everyday activities such as eating, drinking, writing, or tying shoelaces.Ĭurrent treatment options include medication as well as deep-brain stimulation (DBS), which involves implanting a battery-operated neurotransmitter under the collarbone connected to a wire that runs up the length of the neck into the scalp, where it is guided to the brain through a small hole in the skull. Harini Sarva from Neurology, were able to watch as the patient's tremor diminished visibly during the procedure.Įssential tremor may be mild in some individuals, but in others it can become debilitating over time. Kaplitt and his neurosurgical team, along with Dr.
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOR ESSENTIAL TREMOR TRIAL
The procedure is part of a new clinical trial testing the use of this technology to eliminate the source of tremors in a completely non-invasive way. Michael Kaplitt became the first doctor in New York to use high-intensity focused ultrasound to relieve a patient's essential tremor.
Stronger Together in the Face of COVID-19ĭr.Coronavirus (COVID-19) Toggle Coronavirus (COVID-19) menu options.Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills.Advancing Patient Care Toggle Advancing Patient Care menu options.About Doctors at WCM Toggle About Doctors at WCM menu options.Myra Mahon Patient Resource Center Toggle Myra Mahon Patient Resource Center menu options.Health Podcasts Toggle Health Podcasts menu options.Patient Education Toggle Patient Education menu options.Weill Cornell Connect Toggle Weill Cornell Connect menu options.WCM OnDemand Second Opinion Toggle WCM OnDemand Second Opinion menu options.Video Visits Toggle Video Visits menu options.Digital Health Services Toggle Digital Health Services menu options.
0 kommentar(er)
