Focused ultrasound

Focused ultrasound (also called incisionless brain surgery or MR-guided focused ultrasound) is a highly effective procedure used to treat movement disorders like Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor. Essential Tremor (ET), a progressive neurological condition, causes shaking of the hands and arms or other body parts, which may worsen as you age. Nearly 10 million Americans are estimated to have ET, and living with tremors can make even simple activities challenging.

The non-invasive procedure takes place entirely inside an MRI scanner, and uses beams of ultrasound energy to target the part of the brain that controls the tremor, and makes it stop. The results are often immediate, and you can return to your normal activities within a few hours – tremor-free.

At UCF Lake Nona Hospital, we understand the difficulties of living with ET, which is why we are proud to offer this revolutionary procedure, both to our Orlando community and to others across the country.

After receiving this two-hour procedure, you can expect tremors to disappear or see a substantial reduction, and the incisionless process means you can go home the same day. Other benefits include:

• No incisions
• No radiation or general anesthesia
• No risk of infection or bleeding
• Real-time tremor monitoring throughout the procedure

Focused ultrasound has minimal side effects – our team will monitor you for a few hours since you may experience temporary side effects like nausea, headache, numbing in fingertips, difficulty swallowing and unsteadiness in walking.

If you experience Essential Tremor that cannot be controlled by medication, or if you have Parkinson’s Disease with tremors as the main symptom, you may be eligible for incisionless brain surgery. If you have ET, you must be over 22 years of age to have this procedure, and if you have Parkinson’s, you must be over 30 years of age. The treatment is approved for one side of the brain only. Complete the form below, or talk to your doctor if you think you may be a candidate...