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New developments

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:37 am
by adrianoconnor
Dear Gloria. I have tried to copy this article from the Telegraph newspaper (England). I think all the information has been copied.
See what you think. may be you could look at the Telegraph web page on line .
Regards Adrian

Parkinson's patients could be cured of tremors using new ultrasound machine
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The new ultrasound machine which can cure patients of tremors
This new ultrasound machine can cure patients of tremors according to research
Sarah Knapton, science editor
9 DECEMBER 2016 • 5:00PM
Parkinson’s patients and others suffering debilitating tremors could be cured of their shaking using a new ultrasound machine which targets their brain cells.

Doctors at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have treated the first patients using the new technique which avoids the need for invasive brain surgery.

Around one million people in the UK are affected by the condition of essential tremor, which causes uncontrollable shaking, while another 100,000 have tremors because of conditions like Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis.

The development of focused ultrasound techniques offers a new and promising tool for treating tremor.
Claire Bale, Parkinson’s UK
The shaking is thought to be caused by abnormal electrical circuits in the brain, which transmit tremors through the nervous system to the muscles.

The new treatment, known as ‘MRI-guided focused ultrasound for brain’ works by accurately applying heat energy from ultrasound waves to very specific parts of the brain to break the abnormal circuit causing the tremor. It is performed under local anaesthetic with no need for invasive brain surgery.

The machine works by targeting circuits of the brain which cause tremors
The machine works by targeting circuits of the brain which cause tremors
Selwyn Lucas, a 52-year old painter and decorator from St Austell in Cornwall, has lived with a tremor for 20 years and was one of the first people to receive the treatment as part of the trial in the UK.

“For many years I managed to live a relatively normal life with my tremor but over the last five years it had started to prevent me from leading the life I wanted to lead,” he said.

“It was also particularly difficult to continue my job as a painter and decorator as I had to learn to perform my job using my left hand.

“Since the treatment I have been able to write my own name for the first time in many years and taken my wife out for a lovely meal without fear of embarrassing myself. I will also be able to go back to using my right hand which will allow me to take on more painting and decorating jobs.”

Painter Selwyn Lucas
Painter Selwyn Lucas
Professor Wladyslaw Gedroyc, consultant radiologist and principal investigator for the latest trial of 20 patients, said: “We are pleased with the results of the trial so far.

"We anticipate that this new approach to therapy in essential tremor and other movement disorders, including Parkinson’s, will allow huge improvements in patients’ quality-of-life without the need for invasive procedures or expensive, poorly tolerated and often ineffective drug therapy.”

Claire Bale, Head of Research Communications and Engagement at Parkinson’s UK, said: “The development of focused ultrasound techniques offers a new and promising tool for treating tremor.

"It is particularly attractive because this therapy could provide similar benefits to deep brain stimulation but without the need invasive brain surgery which comes with risks of infection.”

Re: New developments

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 3:25 pm
by Nancy Linthicum
Ahh, if this is so. This non-invasive MRI, brain focused ultrasound with heat? might be able to simulate Deep Brain Surgery ? That would be a great step forward. Looking forward to hearing and reading more about this. Thanks Adrian for the information.

Re: New developments

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 3:55 pm
by admin
Here's another link to information about a related, or possibly the same device:

viewtopic.php?f=69&t=878