The Penn State Health Approach to Focused Ultrasound
Focused Ultrasound—also called Magnetic Resonance‑Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) —is an incisionless treatment option for patients with essential tremor or tremor‑dominant Parkinson’s disease who have not improved with medications. Using sound waves precisely guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), physicians treat a small area deep in the brain to reduce tremor—without incisions or permanent implants.
Incisionless care with quick recovery and lasting tremor control
Because there are no surgical cuts, the risk of infection and bleeding is low, and most procedures are done as outpatient procedures. Many people return to normal activities within a few days. Clinical studies show tremor improvement right away, lasting up to five years for the first‑side treatment and at least one year for the second‑side treatment in patients with essential tremor.
FDA-approved staged treatment for both sides
Focused Ultrasound is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat both sides of the brain in eligible patients. Treatments are staged at least nine months apart for essential tremor and six months apart for Parkinson’s disease.
Who is a Candidate?
Your Penn State Health physician will evaluate your tremor severity, overall health and imaging. Candidates for MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound have essential tremor or tremor dominant Parkinson’s disease that has not improved with medications.
What to expect before, during and after treatment
Before: Your head will be shaved, and a stereotactic frame—a metal frame that holds the head still—and a transducer cap, which holds the ultrasound device in the correct position, will be placed. CT and MRI are done prior to the treatment to make sure you are a good candidate.
During: You stay awake. The team does test sonications—short, low-power sound waves—and asks you to do simple tasks, like drawing spirals, to check how your tremor is improving and watch for side effects. The ultrasound energy is gradually increased to create a small lesion at the target area of the brain. Treatment usually takes about 2 hours.
After: Most patients go home the same day. You can expect to return to normal activities within a few days and go back to work in about a month, depending on your job and recovery.
Our Experts in Care
Penn State Health movement disorder specialists and neurosurgeons deliver multidisciplinary care with advanced MR imaging and the Exablate Neuro system.
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Find a doctor near youWhy Choose Penn State Health for Focused Ultrasound
Only Exablate Neuro provider in Central PA
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is currently the only location in central Pennsylvania that offers the Exablate Neuro Focused Ultrasound procedure using the latest Prime software.
Precision targeting and continuous MRI guidance
MRI planning and real time temperature monitoring help the physician precisely focus ultrasound energy to the thalamus, a small part of the brain that helps control movement. Targeting this area reduces tremor while minimizing effects on nearby tissue.
Comprehensive candidacy and safety evaluation
Candidates receive special CT and MRI scans to check if their skull is suitable for the treatment. Your care team also reviews your medical conditions and MRI safe implants to make sure the treatment is right for you.
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Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
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