New Neuroscience Technologies

By Jason Merritt, vice president, Premier Physician Network specialty services and neuroscience service line

The Premier Health Neuroscience Service Line has long been a leader in advancing new technologies that improve the lives of the patients we serve. This commitment has been demonstrated through our early adoption of telemedicine for stroke patients, endovascular techniques to treat acute stroke patients, laser surgery to treat epilepsy patients, and numerous clinical trials in partnership with Wright State University. Following this commitment to new technology, Premier Health has joined Insightec’s Incisionless Neurosurgery Program and will now treat Essential Tremor and Tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease patients with Focused Ultrasound at Miami Valley Hospital.

Neuravive is an incisionless treatment for essential tremor patients who have not responded to medication. It uses focused soundwaves guided by MRI to treat deep in the brain with no incisions or permanent implants. Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological condition that causes shaking of the hands, head and voice, but it can also cause legs and trunk to shake. Some people even have a feeling of internal tremor. ET is often confused with Parkinson’s disease although it’s eight times more common, affecting an estimated 10 million Americans and millions more worldwide. During the Neuravive procedure, ultrasound waves safely pass through the skull without the need for an incision. The ultrasound waves are focused on a small point in the brain (Vim of the thalamus). The temperature at the target rises high enough to create a small ablation or burn, providing a therapeutic effect. The whole procedure is conducted inside an MRI scanner.

This program at Premier Health is under the direction of Daniel Gaudin, MD, Ph.D., division chief of CNSI neurosurgery. The program is scheduled to launch in April 2021.

Premier Health is partnering with Insightech to facilitate convenient evaluation for potential patients and referring providers. If you have a patient who could benefit from this new treatment, please call (800) 596-5936(800) 596-5936; questions for referral can also be sent via email to miamivalleytremor@insightec.com. We are excited to launch this new technology and look forward to sharing positive patient stories in the months ahead.

Back to the February 2021 issue of Premier Pulse