Applications

1614 – Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for the treatment of medically refractory essential tremor

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Complete
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation -
  • Pre-MSAC consultation -
  • Outcome Not supported

Application details

Reason for application

New MBS item.

Service or technology in this application

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, one-step method of targeted tissue thermal ablation used to treat medically refractory essential tremor (ET). The procedure combines focused ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to ablate the ventralis intermediate nucleus of the thalamus. The heat from MRgFUS causes a small lesion on the targeted spot on the thalamus, interrupting the abnormal activity associated with ET.

Type: Therapeutic

Medical condition this application addresses

ET is a chronic, progressive neurological condition characterised by rhythmic and oscillatory tremors of the upper extremities, not attributable to another cause (e.g. Parkinson’s disease). Depending on disease severity, ET can lead to significant functional and social impairment.

Application documents

Meetings to consider this application

  • PASC meeting: 16 to 17 April 2020
  • ESC meeting: 11 to 12 February 2021
  • MSAC meeting: 31 March to 1 April 2021