The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first focused-ultrasound device to treat essential tremor, the most common movement disorder, in patients who do not respond to medication. The scalpel-free approach has been pioneered by Dr. Jeff Elias at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who led an international clinical trial that demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the device.

“This is a monumental day for people with essential tremor,” he said. “All patients want more options that are less invasive when they are faced with a surgical procedure. Also, this decision represents a great advance for focused ultrasound technology, which is now capable and available to treat disorders of the brain. Soon we are likely to see this incredible technology applied to other conditions and diseases of the brain.”

The technology focuses sound waves inside the brain to create heat, much like a magnifying glass focuses light. That heat can then be used to carefully interrupt circuits of the brain that are responsible for the tremor. With magnetic resonance imaging, Elias can monitor the location and intensity of the procedure in real-time – an important safety feature when making a precise lesion deep inside the brain. He can actually watch as the tremor reduces.

Elias, a graduate oof the UVA School of Medicine, oversaw an international clinical trial of the device tested in 76 patients with severe tremor who had not responded to medication. Fifty-six participants in the double-blind study received the procedure, while 20 others were in a control group that received a sham procedure. The results were dramatic: Overall, those treated saw their tremor reduced by half after three months and by 40 percent after a year.

That’s comparable to the results of deep-brain stimulation, an invasive surgery that involves placing electrodes inside the brain. Unlike with deep-brain stimulation, patients who receive the focused-ultrasound procedure are treated without incisions or the implantation of neurostimulator devices.

The most common side effects of the procedures were sensory changes such as numbness or tingling, as well as balance disturbance that tended to be transient. Nineteen of the 20 patients who received the sham procedure during the trial went on to receive the focused-ultrasound procedure.

The FDA approval of the ExAblate focused ultrasound device, manufactured by InSightec Inc., means UVA can make the procedure available to eligible patients. It is important to note, however, that insurance plans do not yet cover the procedure. Once a new technology is deemed safe by the FDA, the next step for device approvals involves the determination of payment and reimbursement. The cost at UVA has not yet been determined.

People interested in the procedure can learn more here.

The procedure cannot be used in patients who cannot undergo magnetic-resonance imaging, including those with implanted metallic devices such as a pacemaker. It is also not available for pregnant women, people with heart conditions or very high blood pressure, patients with kidney disease or clotting disorders, patients on blood thinners, patients with a history of strokes or brain tumors and people with substance abuse issues. There are other exclusions as well. Doctors at UVA will evaluate potential patients to determine their eligibility and then recommend the best course of treatment.

UVA is a world leader in focused-ultrasound research. Elias and other scientists are testing the capability of focused ultrasound to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, brain tumors and benign breast tumors. The research has been supported by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and the BIRD (US-Israel Binational Industry R&D) Foundation.

“This milestone was accomplished as the result of the leadership of Dr. Elias in a collaborative effort between academic institutions, industry and philanthropic organizations,” said Dr. Neal F. Kassell, chair of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, which helped fund the studies leading to the approval for essential tremor.