The FDA approved the Exablate Neuro device for treating essential tremor at the end of 2016.
More than 2,000 essential tremor patients have been treated.
In order to have the Neuravive focused ultrasound treatment, you must have a confirmed diagnosis of essential tremor that does not respond to medication (such as propranolol or primidone). It is estimated that 30-50% of patients do not get acceptable tremor relief from medication. If you do not get tremor relief from medication, then Neuravive may be an option. Please discuss with your neurologist.
The treatment is FDA approved for unilateral treatment – treating one side, usually the dominant hand.
For short periods of time during the treatment you may experience nausea, pain or other sensations. For more on safety information, click here
Your feedback is necessary as you will be asked to do tasks such as drawing spirals. This is so the physician can evaluate the improvement of your tremor and identify any potential side effects that you may be experiencing during the treatment.
There is a small risk that you could develop temporary or permanent muscle weakness, unsteadiness when walking, sensory loss, or numbness or tingling in your fingers or elsewhere in your body. For more on safety information, click here.
The treatment usually takes between 3-4 hours. The treatment is usually performed on an outpatient basis, however the treating physician will decide when the patient can return home.
There is the possibility that your tremor may return months or even years after the Neuravive treatment, or that the tremor may not improve at all. And while the treatment may improve your tremor, it’s important to understand that it does not treat the underlying disease nor prevent its progression.