New Non-invasive Neuro System for treatment of Essential Tremors

INSIGHTEC, the leader in MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) therapy, announced today that the Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has approved its Exablate Neuro system for the treatment of essential tremor in patients who do not respond to medication.

Exablate Neuro uses focused ultrasound waves to precisely target and ablate tissue deep within the brain with no incisions. The treatment is done under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guidance which provides real-time imaging and temperature monitoring. Due to its non-invasive nature, the treatment carries minimal risk of surgical complications such as infections or bleeding. The treatment is performed in a single session with no anaesthesia, allowing patients to experience immediate tremor improvement.

The approval was based on data from a randomized, double-blind clinical study conducted in eight medical centres in North America and Asia. The study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of non-invasive thalamotomy with Exablate Neuro.

"This newly TFDA approved Exablate Neuro provides a new treatment option for patients with essential tremor without some of the complications associated with surgery," said Dr. Liu, President of Taiwan Society for Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery and Radiosurgery. "Furthermore, this technology holds promise for additional neurosurgical procedures," he concluded.

"INSIGHTEC is committed to expanding its footprint into global markets," said Qui Peng, Country Manager, Greater China at INSIGHTEC. "We are very pleased that Taiwanese essential tremor patients now have access to a non-invasive treatment which can greatly improve their quality of life," he added.

Exablate Neuro is also approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada for the treatment of essential tremor. Exablate Neuro is also approved in Europe and Israel.