RWJBarnabas Health has launched a focused ultrasound treatment program to help patients living with medication-refractory essential tremor and Parkinson’s Disease at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville.
The procedure, which is non-surgical and is delivered via guidance from an MRI, uses sound waves to precisely ablate deep brain targets without surgical incisions or burr holes.
Each treatment is performed in a single session using MRI guidance to provide high-resolution visualization of the patient’s brain. This enables precise targeting of the areas causing the tremors, real-time temperature monitoring and immediate confirmation of treatment outcomes.
Dr. Robert Gross, a senior vice president for neurosurgical services at RWJBarnabas Health, said many patients see immediate improvement of tremor with minimal complications.
“Focused ultrasound is an important intervention to offer patients whose movement disorders are no longer addressed by medication,” he said. “This technology complements an existing array of advanced treatment options that are helping to enable people to perform basic functions again, like holding a glass of water, dressing, or signing their names.”
RWJBarnabas Health has selected Insighttec’s Exablate Neuro platform, which was approved by the FDA in 2022 to treat both sides of the body in Essential Tremor patients, as the disease commonly affects more than one side of the body. Eligible patients can have their second side treated at least nine months after treatment of the first side.
“This new technology represents a significant advancement in how we approach treatment of movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease,” Dr. Ling Pan said. “By offering more precise and less invasive therapies, we can improve symptom management and enhance the overall quality of life of our patients.”
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