Israel based INSIGHTEC®, a global medical technology innovator of incisionless surgery, recently announced that it has received national reimbursement from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for treating Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an incidence in Japan of 1 in 100 people above the age of 60, based on a survey conducted by MHLW. INSIGHTEC's Exablate® Neuro uses focused ultrasound waves to precisely target and ablates tissue deep within the brain with no incisions. The treatment is performed under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guidance for real-time treatment monitoring.  

"Parkinson's Disease patients now have a new incisionless surgical treatment option, focused ultrasound," commented Professor Takaomi Taira, Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University (TWMU), Tokyo, Japan.

Exablate Neuro is approved for targeting the thalamus for treating Tremor-dominant Parkinson's Disease, and the globus pallidum for treating advanced Parkinson's Disease in patients suffering from mobility, rigidity, or dyskinesia symptoms.

The Exablate Neuro device received MHLW approval for the treatment of medication-refractory essential tremor and National Health Insurance coverage in June 2019 and received pre-market approval (PMA) for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease in January 2020. There are currently 12 medical institutions in Japan performing the MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor on a routine basis.