Insightec

<div class="infobox">
<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>
</table>
</div>
</div>

Overview

<div class="infobox">
<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>
</table>
</div>
</div>

Overview

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:

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

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

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

Research Partnerships

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

Related Pages

• [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