Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Relief of Tremors

All Rights Reserved. ©2024 by Northwestern Medicine® and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. 

Northwestern Medicine® is a trademark of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, used by Northwestern University. 

Northwestern Medicine® | 251 East Huron Street | Chicago, Illinois 60611 | nm.org  

Meet the MRgFUS Team

Joshua Rosenow, MD
Functional Neurosurgeon

Sachin Kapur, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

Martha McGraw, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

The MRgFUS Team includes movement disorders neurologists, functional neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and advanced practice providers (APPs) specializing in the care of patients with movement disorders. Your care team also includes a dedicated patient coordinator who will manage all your appointments.

Neil Shetty, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

MRgFUS is a minimally invasive treatment that uses highly focused sound waves to treat tremors associated with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. For many people, MRgFUS improves or eliminates their symptoms immediately. These effects can be long-lasting or even permanent.

Leonard Verhagan Metman, MD, PhD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

Northwestern Medicine is one of the only health systems in Illinois using magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) to help patients manage tremors when their symptoms are not well managed with medications.

Locations

We perform MRgFUS at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center in Warrenville, Illinois. For your convenience, we offer consultations and pre-surgery visits at multiple Northwestern Medicine locations including, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center. 

See If MRgFUS May Be Right for You

Consider MRgFUS when tremors progress and get harder to manage.

MRgFUS may be recommended if:

• You have a confirmed diagnosis of essential tremor or tremor dominant Parkinson’s disease.
• Your tremor interferes with your everyday activities.
• You have tried anti-tremor medications with little to no improvement or the side effects of your medications are severe.
• You have investigated deep brain stimulation and want a less invasive treatment option. 
• You are in overall good health.

MRgFUS may not be recommended if:

• You are pregnant.
• You have a heart condition, a pacemaker or unmanaged blood pressure.
• You have metal implants including pins, rods, shunts and clips that would prevent you from having an MRI.
• You are extremely claustrophobic. 
• You cannot comfortably lie on your back for a long time.
• You have scarring on your scalp.

A consultation is the first step for focused ultrasound treatment. If you think MRgFUS may be a fit for you, please complete the form. A member of our team will contact you within two business days.

MRgFUS uses sound waves that travel through the skin and skull. This means a care team can perform it without any incisions. The care team will focus the sound waves on a target area deep in the brain. The sound waves heat the target tissue to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremor.

Because the procedure is minimally invasive and performed while the patient is awake, they can often go home the same day.

Key benefits include:

• Incision-free, FDA-approved procedure
• Personalized to each patient
• Outpatient procedure
• No anesthesia needed
• Immediate tremor improvement 
• Return to life without downtime

Key Benefits

MRgFUS uses sound waves that travel through the skin and skull. This means a care team can perform it without any incisions. The care team will focus the sound waves on a target area deep in the brain. The sound waves heat the target tissue to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremor.

Because the procedure is minimally invasive and performed while the patient is awake, they can often go home the same day.

Key benefits include:

• Incision-free, FDA-approved procedure
• Personalized to each patient
• Outpatient procedure
• No anesthesia needed
• Immediate tremor improvement
• Return to life without downtime

Key Benefits

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is proud to be among the top-ranked neurology and neurosurgery programs in the U.S.

Erica Cotton, PsyD
Neuropsychology

Essential Tremor and MRgFUS Virtual Learning Event

In the recording of this learning event, Northwestern Medicine Neurologist Leonard Verhagen Metman, MD, PhD, and Neurosurgeon Joshua M. Rosenow, MD, discuss essential tremor, treatment options, how treatment needs change over time and how to manage essential tremor in the long term.

Dr. Rosenow and Dr. Verhagen also cover MRgFUS. Northwestern Medicine plans to offer this innovative minimally invasive treatment later this year. 

Anjali Gera Gopal, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

Jennifer L. Nichols, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

Mark J. Nolt, PhD
Neurophysiology

Ryan S. Wang, MD
Movement Disorders Neurologist

Advanced Practice Providers

Lauren M. Cimino, APRN
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Neurological Surgery Specialist

Christa S. Cooper, PA-C, PhD
Movement Disorders Specialist

Laura L. Guzman, APRN
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Neurological Surgery Specialist

Jessica Ann Karl, PA-C, PhD
Neurological Surgery Specialist

Kristen Mader, APRN
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Neurology Specialist

Carolyn D. Taylor, APRN
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Movement Disorders Specialist