Charlene Aldrich
University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA
Title: Clinical Trials using MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound ( ExAblate Transcranial System) for the management of Medically-Refractory Dyskinesia Symptoms of advanced Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease and in patients with Benign Essential Tremorsrs
Biography
Biography: Charlene Aldrich
Abstract
The UMD is participating in collaborative studies for treatment of ET and PD. MRI guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an attractive modality for non-invasive, thermal ablation of soft tissue and brain. This novel technology utilizes the combination of diagnostic imaging with high-intensity focused ultrasound. It concentrates energy from a source outside of the body on a small target-for PD and ET deep inside the brain. “Think sun–magnifying glass–leaf” PD and ET are caused by dysfunction of a circuit and system imbalance caused by functioning parallel circuits. Interruption of a specific parallel circuit using FUS rebalances the system, reducing symptoms (tremor/rigidity). Historical FUS lacked necessary precision; today precision have been overcome by coupling FUS to MRI simultaneous imaging of the target and the applied energy. The studies are designed as prospective, multi-center, single-arm feasibility studies to evaluate the safety and initial clinical effectiveness of ExAblate Transcranial unilateral thermal ablation of the globus pallidus of subjects suffering from medication-refractory advanced idiopathic PD.To Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS Thalamotomy Treatment of Medication Refractory Essential Tremor Subjects
Subjects age 30 and older with confirmed medication-refractory, advanced idiopathic Parkinson’s disease or benign essential tremors are eligible for these studies.