Insightec

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company658 wordssynced 2026-04-02

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<div class="infobox-header">Insightec</div>
<div class="infobox-content">
<table>
<tr><th>Headquarters</th><td>Haifa, Israel</td></tr>
<tr><th>Founded</th><td>1999</td></tr>
<tr><th>Key Product</th><td>Exablate Neuro</td></tr>
<tr><th>Indication</th><td>Essential tremor, Parkinson's disease tremor</td></tr>
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Overview

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Overview

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

Insightec is a global medical technology company pioneering non-invasive focused ultrasound (FUS) treatments. The company developed the Exablate Neuro platform — the first and only FDA-approved MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for treating tremor in patients with [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) and [essential tremor](/diseases/essential-tremor)[@insightec2024].

Insightec's technology enables clinicians to perform non-invasive thalamotomy — ablating the Vim (ventral intermediate) nucleus of the thalamus — without surgical incision, radiation, or implantation. This represents a paradigm shift from traditional surgical approaches like [deep brain stimulation (DBS)](/companies/boston-scientific) which require hardware implantation["@exablate"].

Company Overview

| Attribute | Details |
|-----------|---------|
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel |
| Founded | 1999 |
| CEO | Maurice R. Ferré (CEO & Chairman) |
| Employees | 500+ |
| Key Product | Exablate Neuro |
| Regulatory Status | FDA approved for ET and PD tremor |

Technology Platform

Exablate Neuro

The Exablate Neuro system consists of:

Phased Array Transducer: 1,024 ultrasound elements arranged in a hemispherical configuration

MRI Guidance: Real-time thermometry and anatomical visualization

Treatment Planning Software: Automated trajectory and energy calculation

Patient Interface: Stereotactic frame with integrated transducer

Mechanism of Action

The system delivers concentrated ultrasound energy to a precise focal point in the brain:

Thermal Ablation: Temperature reaches 54-60°C causing immediate coagulative necrosis
MRI Thermometry: Real-time temperature mapping ensures precise lesion creation
No Incision: Transcranial delivery through intact skull eliminates surgical risks

The procedure is performed under conscious sedation, with patients typically going home the same day[@nejm2016].

Clinical Applications

Parkinson's Disease Tremor

Insightec's primary indication in PD is tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease with the following characteristics:

| Parameter | Details |
|----------|---------|
| Target | Vim thalamus |
| Indication | Medication-refractory tremor |
| Efficacy | 50-80% tremor reduction |
| Durability | Sustained at 2+ years[@longterm2021] |

Essential Tremor

The first FDA-approved indication (2016) was for essential tremor, providing an alternative to medication and surgical options[@fda2023].

Emerging Applications

Blood-brain barrier opening: Low-intensity FUS combined with therapeutics[@bbbopening]
Subthalamic nucleus targeting: Investigational for PD motor symptoms
Pallidotomy: For dyskinesia management

Clinical Evidence

Key Trials

| Trial | N | Endpoint | Result |
|-------|---|----------|--------|
| NCT01827948 | 76 | Tremor score | 50% improvement at 12 months |
| ENACT | 101 | Quality of life | Significant ADL improvement |
| 2018 PD Trial | 20 | Tremor | 62% reduction in UPDRS tremor |

Publications

Elias WJ, et al. A randomized trial of focused ultrasound thalamotomy for essential tremor. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(8):730-738. DOI

Martinez-Fernandez R, et al. Focused ultrasound thalamotomy in Parkinson disease. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75(4):465-472.

Chang JW, et al. Thermal lesion by MRI-guided focused ultrasound. J Ther Ultrasound. 2019;7:7.

Competitive Positioning

| Company | Technology | Approach | Status |
|---------|------------|----------|--------|
| Insightec | Exablate Neuro | Non-invasive FUS | FDA approved |
| Boston Scientific | Vercise DBS | Invasive implantation | FDA approved |
| Medtronic | Activa | Invasive implantation | FDA approved |
| Abbott | Infinity | Invasive implantation | FDA approved |

Key differentiation: Insightec is the only company offering a non-invasive treatment option — no burr hole, no hardware, no surgical risk.

Pipeline and Development

Current Focus

Expanded PD indications: Beyond tremor to include motor fluctuations

Bilateral procedures: Safety and efficacy of treating both sides

Combination therapy: FUS + pharmacologic agents via BBB opening

Research Partnerships

Major academic medical centers in US, Europe, and Asia
Collaboration with pharmaceutical companies for drug delivery

[Focused Ultrasound for Parkinson's Disease](/therapeutics/focused-ultrasound-parkinson)](/therapeutics)
[Essential Tremor](/diseases/essential-tremor)](/diseases/essential-tremor)
[Boston Scientific](/companies/boston-scientific)](/companies/boston-scientific)
[Medtronic](/companies/medtronic)](/companies/medtronic)
[Therapies Comparison](/therapeutics/device-therapies-comparison-cbs-psp)

References

[Insightec Company Overview (2024)](https://www.insightec.com/)

[Exablate Neuro Product Information](https://www.insightec.com/solutions/exablate-neuro)

[FDA Approval for Essential Tremor](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-focused-ultrasound-device-treat-essential-tremor)

[Elias et al., NEJM 2016](https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1600159)

[FDA Approval for Parkinson's Disease](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-news/fda-approves-mri-guided-focused-ultrasound-treat-tremor-dominant-parkinsons-disease)

[Long-term Outcomes Study](https://doi.org/10.3171/2020.1.FOCUS19840)

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Insightec

Overview

Overview

Company Overview

Technology Platform

Exablate Neuro

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Applications

Parkinson's Disease Tremor

Essential Tremor

Emerging Applications

Clinical Evidence

Key Trials

Publications

Competitive Positioning

Pipeline and Development

Current Focus

Research Partnerships

Related Pages

References