Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, affecting an estimated 3% of the population, or approximately 10 million individuals in the United States. ET is commonly viewed as a relatively benign disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the associated disabling aspects of ET, such as significant tremor of the hands, can impair patients\u2019 ability to eat, shave, write, perform household activities, and function in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The underlying etiology of ET is unclear, but cases often run in families (familial tremor). It has been estimated that approximately 50% of all cases are due to a genetic mutation, and the pattern of inheritance is most consistent with autosomal dominant transmission (i.e. dominant trait).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with essential tremor. This novel technology focuses multiple beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How it Works<\/strong>
Where the focused ultrasound beams converge, they produce precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue), enabling ET to be treated noninvasively. The primary target is a region in the thalamus called the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim), but other adjacent targets and white matter pathways are also in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n