Open Label Study for the Use of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor (NCT07599592)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
This open-label pilot study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of repeated low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) targeting the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim) of the thalamus in patients with Essential Tremor (ET). Twelve adults with clinically diagnosed ET will undergo six LIFUP treatment sessions over approximately two weeks using the BrainSonix BX Pulsar 1002 system. Tremor severity will be assessed using clinician-rated scales (TETRAS and FTM), patient-reported quality-of-life measures (QUEST), and objective accelerometry before and after treatment sessions, with additional follow-up visits at one and three months post-treatment. MRI scans will be performed at baseline and after the final treatment session to monitor safety. The study aims to characterize whether non-ablative focused ultrasound can safely and transiently modulate tremor-related thalamic circuits and provide preliminary evidence supporting future controlled trials of LIFUP for ET.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (7 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (16 items).
Location: UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior — Los Angeles, California
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Severe microvascular disease or structural brain lesions equivalent to Fazekas scale of 3 or higher in the periventicular or deep white matter.
- Subjects on blood thinning medications (e.g. Eliquis)
- Recent stroke (within the last 6 months)
- Implanted electrodes (e.g. DBS) in brain
- History of aneurysm
- History of cranial trauma resulting in fracture or traumatic brain injury
- Subjects who are unable to cooperate with the testing.
- Subjects who lack capacity to consent
- Subjects with severe cardiac disease, increased intracranial pressure, or using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit.
- Severe cardiac disease will be defined as any of the following: i) History of myocardial infarction within the past 6 months ii) Diagnosis of congestive heart failure with NYHA Class III or IV symptoms iii) History of unstable angina, life-threatening arrhythmias, or use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) iv) Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \>180 mmHg or DBP \>110 mmHg) despite medication v) Any condition judged by the study physician to place the subject at increased risk from study participation
- Subjects with implanted medical devices
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior — Los Angeles, California
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.