First Hospital Based Focused Ultrasound Incisionless Procedure for Parkinson’s & Essential Tremors in the Region Takes Place at Delray Medical Center

Dr. Lloyd Zucker, neurosurgeon and medical director of neurosurgery, completes first case

Delray Beach, FL - Delray Medical Center is now the first hospital in the region to treat a patient with the new MR-guided focused ultrasound by INSIGHTEC™. This technology is a scalpel-free treatment for essential tremor and medication-refractory tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. This device uses sound wave energy to treat brain tissue as the source of the tremor and there is no surgical incision or anesthesia necessary.

“I am honored to be able to not only treat the first patient at Delray Medical Center with this new groundbreaking procedure, but the first in any hospital in the region. We are now able to give those who suffer from this disease a chance to get back to living their lives, and pursuing their daily activities,” said Dr. Lloyd Zucker, medical director of neurosurgery for Delray Medical Center. “We are at an exciting time in medicine when it comes to treating neuro-disorders, and this technology is a game changer for patients who have suffered from Parkinson’s disease.”

The MR-guided focused ultrasound combines two technologies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which pinpoints the exact location in the brain responsible for the tremor, and ultrasound, which precisely delivers over 1,000 highly focused beams of acoustic energy at that exact location without damaging any surrounding brain tissue.

Some of the benefits to this technology include:

• No surgical incisions resulting in reduced risk of infection.
• Quicker recovery time with no surgical incision, allowing a return to daily activities within days.
• Performed as an outpatient procedure – most patients go home within 23 hours.
• Immediate and significant reduction in hand tremors.
• Treatment has minimum side effects.

Delray Medical Center has the advanced technology and services to help with any of your neurological issues. As a member of the Advanced Neuroscience Network, an integrated delivery system of medical professionals and hospitals focused on offering a full continuum of neurological care throughout South Florida, we focus on everything from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. For more information about our services go to our website at www.delraymedicalctr.com or call 561-498-4440.