Groundbreaking Procedure Eliminates Essential Tremor and Restores Hope for Washington Township Man

Dan Cooney had hand tremors for most of his life. The 73-year-old Washington Township man says he noticed the tremors when he was 12. At first, they were minor, but over time, they made writing and performing intricate movements difficult. As he got older, the tremors worsened and had a bigger impact on his life.

“He started having trouble with daily tasks, like buttoning his shirt and eating. He would even cancel dinner plans with friends because he didn’t want people to see how much trouble he was having eating. The worst was when it kept him from his passion – restoring his 1969 Camaro. His friend had to take over most of the work,” says Dan’s wife, Karen.

Dan was diagnosed with essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary shaking, in 1980. He has tried various medications. Over the last few years, he says he noticed the medicines weren’t working as well, even at the highest dose. The medication also impacted his memory, and he suffered from other side effects.

When he saw an email from Hackensack Meridian Health about a groundbreaking new procedure called Focused Ultrasound (FUS), also known as high-intensity focused ultrasound, for essential tremor, he knew he needed to reach out for more information. “By that point, I was ready to do anything. I just wanted my life back,” he says.

Revolutionary New Procedure Offers Hope

Hackensack Meridian Health was the first health system in New Jersey to offer FUS to treat essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease that have not responded to medication. The incision-free procedure utilizes acoustic energy, or sound waves, to significantly reduce or eliminate tremors.

The treatment is performed while patients are in the MRI machine, allowing a physician to monitor and confirm where the energy is being delivered. Unlike other procedures that treat tremors, it does not require any implants or long-term maintenance. Hooman Azmi, M.D., director of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Instituteat Hackensack University Medical Center, felt that Dan was the perfect candidate for FUS.

“Dan only had hand tremors, was already on a high dose of medication that wasn’t working and didn’t want to have surgery. Focus ultrasound therapy gave Dan the option of non-surgically treating his hand tremors so that he would be able to write, eat, shave and do tasks the rest of us take for granted,” says Dr. Azmi.

For his part, Dan was excited about the procedure and the hope that it offered. “After hearing Dr. Azmi talk about the procedure, I was excited. It’s the first time in a long time that I thought it might be possible to do something about the tremors,” he says.

Immediate Results

Since Dan had tremors in both hands, he needed two separate FUS procedures. The first procedure was done to treat tremors on his right side, which was his dominant side. Then, nine months later, he had a second procedure on his left side.

Before the treatment, Dan had to shave his head to ensure a clear pathway for ultrasound waves. FUS is very precise, targeting very small areas of the brain. Hair can prevent sound waves from reaching those areas.

FUS is done in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. During the procedure, Dan wore a cooling cap. The helmet-like device was filled with cold water to keep his scalp cool and was secured to the MRI to help conduct ultrasound waves.

Dr. Azmi received real-time guidance as he applied small amounts of sound waves to find the exact location in the brain causing the tremor. Once he determined the precise location, he applied the full amount of ultrasound energy to the small targeted area. To ensure the treatment was working, Dr. Azmi asked Dan to write while he was in the MRI.

“The best thing about this procedure is that the results are immediate and there’s minimal recovery. We monitored Dan for about 30 minutes after his treatment, and then he was able to go home with fewer tremors,” says Dr. Azmi.

Enjoying a Lifelong Hobby

Dan had his second FUS treatment in July and is now enjoying things he says many take for granted. “I am doing things I haven’t been able to do in years. I just wish this treatment had been available 20 years ago,” says Dan.

The best part of the FUS treatment? Dan and his friend finally finished restoring his ’69 Camaro. It’s a project Dan began when he bought the car in 1980. However, due to his tremors and other commitments, work on the car often got delayed. Now, the car is finished, and he is enjoying the fruits of his labor. In fact, he recently entered his car in a show and won 1st place.

Dan says he is grateful for medical innovation and Dr. Azmi. “I am so very appreciative,” says Dan. “I haven’t been this steady in almost 62 years.”

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Hooman Azmi, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Azmi or a functional neurosurgeon near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about Dan’s story and focused ultrasound at Hackensack Meridian Health.