“This publication further affirms that focused ultrasound is a safe and effective alternative to treat the brain without incisions or radiation,” says Foundation Chairman Neal Kassell, MD. “Now that Insightec’s system is FDA approved, the important next step is to secure the appropriate level of reimbursement so that leading medical centers will invest in this technology and make it widely available to patients.”
The idea of using focused ultrasound to treat tremors was conceptualized at the Foundation's first brain workshop in March 2009. The Foundation then helped organize and fund a pilot study with Insightec and the University of Virginia that served as the predicate for this larger pivotal study. Read more >
The University of Virginia will host a Facebook chat this afternoon.
Principal Investigator for the study, neurosurgeon Jeff Elias, will take questions of the audience about the recent publication and focused ultrasound.
Neurosurgeons Michael Schwartz and Nir Lipsman at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto took to Facebook yesterday to discuss focused ultrasound for essential tremor. The event was broadcast on CBC News's Facebook page.
