HM Cinac Adopts HIFU Prime for Non-Invasive Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor Treatment
The Centro Integral de Neurociencias Abarca Campal (HM CINAC) has become the first private institution in Spain to acquire and clinicalize the HIFU Prime system, a high-intensity focused ultrasound platform designed to treat movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, according to local medical reports. The advanced platform replaces the prototype previously utilized at the facility, introducing submillimeter focalization and real-time thermal monitoring to improve precision during non-invasive neurosurgical interventions.
- HM CINAC integrated the HIFU Prime platform, marking its deployment as the first private center in Spain to utilize this specific model.
- The technology uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to target precise brain structures without open surgery, cranial incision, or hardware implants while patients remain conscious.
- Over the past 11 years, HM CINAC has completed approximately 600 procedures using focused ultrasound technology for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.
Advancing Precision in Functional Neurosurgery
The newly adopted HIFU Prime system relies on focused acoustic energy to disrupt pathological neural circuits implicated in motor disorders. Unlike conventional deep brain stimulation that requires permanent electrode placement, high-intensity focused ultrasound operates entirely extracranially. According to clinical reporting, the system provides advanced planning and control mechanisms that give medical teams real-time data concerning temperature distribution and energy delivery.
Dr. José Obeso, director of HM CINAC, noted that the platform allows clinicians to adapt the shape of the thermal lesion directly to individual anatomical variations. This submillimeter accuracy optimizes the therapeutic window and minimizes off-target thermal injury.
Clinical Indications for Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease
Clinical observations indicate that symptomatic relief is frequently immediate upon thermal delivery, though long-term efficacy requires individual patient stratification. Beyond essential tremor, the program evaluates selected Parkinson’s disease patients, specifically those exhibiting markedly asymmetric motor symptoms.
HM CINAC clinicians utilize unilateral subtalamotomies directed at the subthalamic nucleus to alleviate dominant motor deficits on one side of the body. Because not all neurodegenerative presentations qualify for thermal ablation, comprehensive pre-surgical screening remains mandatory. Patients seeking specialized second opinions for movement disorders are often directed to coordinate with [Relevant Clinic/Professional/Service] to review diagnostic imaging protocols.
Operational Milestones and Institutional Experience
The deployment of the HIFU Prime platform builds upon more than a decade of clinical investigation. Over the past 11 years, HM CINAC has accumulated roughly 600 focused ultrasound procedures. This sustained caseload has supported both routine clinical care and translational research initiatives aimed at expanding therapeutic indications for non-invasive brain interventions.
The technological evolution shifts procedural management from fixed-geometry applications toward dynamic, patient-specific mapping. Clinicians managing complex neurodegenerative pathways frequently collaborate with [Relevant Clinic/Professional/Service] to streamline patient referral pathways and post-procedural monitoring.
*Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.*