Marshfield Clinic Now Offering Ultrasound Treatment for Patients Living with Parkinson’s Disease

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 -- 9:01 AM

Marshfield Clinic now offers focused ultrasound treatment for patients living with Essential Tremor or Parkinson’s Disease using the Insightec Exablate Neuro platform.

The Exablate Neuro platform uses sound waves to accurately target specific spots deep inside the brain by removing or destroying tiny amounts of tissue with no surgical incisions or burr holes.

Each treatment is performed in a single session under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guidance for highly detailed images of the brain permitting precise targeting, real-time temperature monitoring and immediate confirmation of treatment outcomes. The result for many patients is immediate improvement of tremor with minimal complications.

“Treatment can restore a patient’s ability to perform everyday tasks such as eating, writing and using a phone,” said Neurosurgeon Dr. John Neal, who will perform the procedure at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield. “By reducing hand tremor, treatment can help people return to activities they enjoy and make everyday tasks easier and more manageable. This helps patients regain independence and confidence.”

As many as 10 million people in the United States have essential tremor, but an exact number is unknown because many cases are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Essential tremor is a common neurological brain disorder causing involuntary, rhythmic shaking most commonly in the hands, but also the head, voice, and other body parts.

Tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease is a specific type of Parkinson’s with shaking as the main symptom. Exablate Neuro was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2022 to treat both sides of the body in Essential Tremor patients as the disease commonly affects more than one side of the body.

Appropriate patients can have their second side treated at least nine months after treatment of the first side. Potential patients and caregivers can visit marshfieldclinic.org for more information about Focused Ultrasound treatment.

A referral from a primary care provider or neurologist is required before scheduling an appointment.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.