Emory Healthcare 
Focused ultrasound in a non-invasive surgical procedure used to treat patients with medication-resistant essential tremors or tremors related to Parkinson’s disease.
This treatment is an alternative to invasive brain surgery and deep brain stimulation.
Patients with essential tremors face challenges with writing, eating, speaking and other aspects of everyday life. Focused ultrasound is a safe and effective way to improve your quality of life.
Emory Healthcare consistently ranks among the nation’s best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. We are also among the top recipients of National Institutes of Health research funding.
We offer specialized neurology centers and programs, and our physicians have exceptional training and expertise. Currently, Emory Healthcare is one of only a select number of locations in the Southeastern U.S. to offer focused ultrasound for tremors.
Focused ultrasound uses sound waves to target a small area of the brain responsible for tremors. The sound waves generate heat to remove or destroy (ablate) the cells causing the tremor without harming nearby tissue.
During the procedure, you lie in an MRI scanner with your head held still in a special frame to ensure accuracy. You stay awake the whole time so the care team can monitor you and ensure your safety.
Our neurosurgeons use MRI to identify the exact area to treat and measure temperature changes during the procedure. Between treatments, they ask you to draw simple shapes, like spirals and lines, to check how much your tremor is improving. They’ll repeat this process, increasing the treatment’s strength until they achieve the best possible results for you.
Most patients experience immediate, often dramatic, tremor improvement with focused ultrasound. It’s also an option for patients unable or unwilling to undergo invasive treatments.
Other benefits include:
Individual patient responses to treatment may vary.
Focused ultrasound is available for patients with essential tremor or moderate to severe motor complications from Parkinson’s disease that are resistant to medication.
To qualify for this treatment at Emory Healthcare, a neurologist must confirm the patient’s diagnosis. You must also have a medication-resistant tremor.
Our physicians perform a complete medical evaluation to determine tremor severity and assess each patient’s overall condition.
Duward “Mac” McDonald was the first to receive focused ultrasound therapy for tremors at Emory Healthcare. Watch his story and see how this revolutionary treatment transforms lives.
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Essential tremor is a condition that causes uncontrollable shaking, usually in the hands, but it can also affect the head, voice, or other parts of the body. Learn how Emory Healthcare helps patients improve their quality of life.
Create a MyChart account to schedule online.
For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.
For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.
Create a MyChart account to schedule online.
For the neurology department, call 404-778-3444.
For the neurosurgery department, call 404-778-5770.