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Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor

When medication is no longer enough to manage your essential tremor (ET), it's time for a solution that works on your terms. DBS is an adjustable and reversible therapy designed to help manage essential tremor symptoms.

Who is a candidate for DBS?

Evaluating your treatment options for essential tremor often begins when medication is no longer providing the relief you need. You may be a candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation if you:

  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of essential tremor.
  • Experience tremors that persist despite trying medication.
  • Cannot tolerate the side effects of your current medications.
  • Find that tremors interfere with daily tasks like eating, writing, or using a mobile device.
  • Are healthy enough to be evaluated for a surgical procedure.

When tremors become a disruption

Essential tremor often begins as a minor inconvenience, but as it progresses, it can feel like your world is shrinking. When the simple act of holding a coffee cup, signing a check, or using a mobile device becomes a source of frustration — you deserve a therapy that evolves with you.

While medication is the traditional first step, up to 50% of people with essential tremor find that medical therapy eventually falls short.¹ Deep Brain Stimulation offers a different path — a safe, adjustable, and reversible way to interrupt the signals that cause tremors before they redefine your daily life.

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Signs it's time to explore DBS

Consider a specialized evaluation when essential tremor symptoms are becoming harder to manage with your current treatment plan. If any of the following feel familiar, it may be time to explore DBS:

Tremors are disrupting daily life

Precision tasks like eating, drinking, or writing are becoming difficult to manage on your own.

Medications are no longer enough

You’ve noticed your current prescription is losing its effectiveness as your essential tremor symptoms progress.

Side effects are hard to manage

The side effects of your tremor medication have become as disruptive as the tremors themselves.

You want a reversible treatment option

You’re looking for a personalized therapy that provides long-term results without the permanent brain tissue damage of ablative surgery.

DBS therapy, your way

See if DBS therapy may be right for you

Answer a few quick questions about your PD or ET symptoms. It should take no more than 5 minutes, and you’ll get information on whether our personalized therapy might be right for you.

Get started

Has a physician diagnosed you or a loved one with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or essential tremor (ET)?

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Deciding on DBS therapy with a specialist

While your primary care physician manages general care, a movement disorder specialist is the key to determining if DBS therapy is right for you. These neurologists have advanced training in essential tremor (ET). A specialist can confirm your diagnosis, review which treatments you’ve tried, and help determine whether DBS is the right fit for your symptoms.

Find a DBS specialist

The Vercise™ advantage: Control without compromise

Unlike treatments that permanently destroy targeted brain tissue, the Vercise DBS System uses adjustable electrical stimulation to manage your tremors. By sending precise pulses to the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus, DBS interrupts tremor signals in your brain without destroying healthy tissue. While it is not a cure for essential tremor, this therapy can help reduce your symptoms and improve control of daily movements.

This personalized approach is reversible and adjustable. Because it can be updated over time to meet your progressing needs, your doctor can fine-tune stimulation settings as your tremors worsen. This ensures your therapy can advance with you for years to come.

Discover the Boston Scientific difference
Vercise Genus DBS system: IPGs, leads, patient programmer and remote.

Proven tremor relief

The data below reflects the real-world impact of Deep Brain Stimulation  for essential tremor. These results show how DBS therapy helps people reclaim control over their movements:

60%-90% improvement

Clinical research shows a significant reduction in tremor symptoms following the procedure.¹

250,000+ patients

More than a quarter-million people have been treated with DBS worldwide.²

96% satisfaction

The vast majority of surveyed patients reported they would choose the procedure again.³

10 out of 10

Patients routinely rate their treatment as having the maximum possible effect on their overall satisfaction.⁴

Received DBS in 2021

Bob's DBS story

"I was able to hold my hand up, and it stayed steady — that was unbelievable to me."

The patient quotes in this material describe real personal experiences. Individual results may vary. Consult with your physician to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure and what you may gain from the therapy.

More ET successes

Support and resources for essential tremor

Deciding on an interventional therapy is an important step. Explore these tools to learn more about the procedure, connect with the ET community, and understand your coverage options.

Insurance and coverage

Essential tremor is an FDA-approved indication for DBS. Many public and private insurance plans provide coverage. Because coverage varies, it's important to confirm your specific benefits.

Community and connection

We partner with the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) to connect you with advocacy groups, the latest research, and others living with essential tremor.

Visit IETF

Patient guides and FAQs

Find detailed answers to your questions about DBS in the FAQ library or download our helpful Doctor Guide so you’re prepped for any upcoming appointments.

Take your next step toward DBS therapy

DBS therapy, your way

See if DBS therapy may be right for you

Answer a few quick questions about your PD or ET symptoms. It should take no more than 5 minutes, and you’ll get information on whether our personalized therapy might be right for you.

Get started

Has a physician diagnosed you or a loved one with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or essential tremor (ET)?

A person holds a smartphone while relaxing indoors with a mug in the other hand. The phone screen displays a website titled "Find a DBS specialist near you" with a search interface and a map.

Find Care

Locate a DBS specialist near you

Find a movement disorder specialist who offers Boston Scientific’s personalized DBS therapy near you.

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questions?

Call Patient Education

Our Patient Education Specialists can give guidance and answer any questions you have during your search for the right DBS System.

Call us at (833) 327-1473

Monday through Friday

7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT

References  

  1. Zesiewicz TA, Chari A, Jahan I, et al. Overview of essential tremor. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2010;6:401–408. doi: 10.2147/ndt.s4795
  2. Johnson KA, et al. Proceedings of the 11th Annual Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank. Front Hum Neurosci. 2024;18:1320806. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2024.1320806
  3. Knoop CD, Kadish R, Hager K, et al. Bridging the gap in patient education for DBS surgery for Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsons Dis. 2017;2017:9360354. doi:10.1155/2017/9360354
  4. Børretzen MN, Bjerknes S, Sæhle T, et al. Long-term follow-up of thalamic deep brain stimulation for essential tremor: patient satisfaction and mortality. BMC Neurol. 2014;14:120. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-14-120

Indications for Use:
The Boston Scientific Vercise™ PC, Vercise Gevia™, Vercise Genus™ Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems are indicated for use in the following:

• Bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) as an adjunctive therapy in reducing some of the symptoms of moderate to advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease (PD) that are not adequately controlled with medication.

• Bilateral stimulation of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) as an adjunctive therapy in reducing some of the symptoms of advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease (PD) that are not adequately controlled with medication.

• Unilateral thalamic stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) is indicated for the suppression of tremor in the upper extremity. The system is intended for use in patients who are diagnosed with essential tremor or parkinsonian tremor not adequately controlled by medications and where the tremor constitutes a significant functional disability.

• Bilateral stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus for the suppression of disabling upper extremity tremor in adult essential tremor patients whose tremor is not adequately controlled by medications and where the tremor constitutes a significant functional disability.

Intended Use:

The Boston Scientific Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems are intended to treat movement disorders by stimulating a specific brain target.

The Vercise™ DBS Controller is intended to communicate with and control the compatible Boston Scientific Stimulator.

The Charger is a medical device that is intended to charge the battery of the compatible Boston Scientific rechargeable Stimulator.

Contraindications: The Boston Scientific Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems are not recommended for patients who will be exposed to the following procedures: Diathermy as either a treatment for a medical condition or as part of a surgical procedure, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The safety of these therapies in patients implanted with the Boston Scientific DBS System has not been established. Patients implanted with Boston Scientific DBS Systems without ImageReady™ MRI Technology should not be exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patients implanted with the Vercise Gevia or Vercise Genus or Vercise Genus Mixed System with M8 Adapter or Vercise DBS Lead-Only System (before Stimulator is implanted) with ImageReady MRI Technology are Full Body MR Conditional only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in ImageReady MRI Guidelines for Boston Scientific DBS Systems. The external/non-implantable components of the Vercise Genus DBS System (Charging System, Remote Control, mobile device with Vercise DBS Controller, and accessories) are MR Unsafe. Do not take them into any MRI environment.
Boston Scientific DBS Systems are not recommended for patients who are unable to operate the system or are poor surgical candidates or who experience unsuccessful test stimulation.

Warnings: With all medical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure and the use of the device. Unauthorized modification to the medical devices is prohibited. You should not be exposed to high stimulation levels. High level of stimulation may damage brain tissue. Patients implanted with a Boston Scientific DBS System may be at risk for intracranial hemorrhages (bleeding in the brain) during DBS lead placement. Strong electromagnetic fields, such as power generators, security screeners or theft detection systems, can potentially turn the stimulator off, or cause unpredictable changes in stimulation. The system should not be charged while sleeping. If you notice new onset or worsening depression, changes in mood or behavior or impulse control, or have thoughts of suicide contact your physician or emergency services immediately. You should use caution when doing activities that require coordination, even if you were able to do them before receiving therapy (for example, swimming). Patients should exercise reasonable caution when bathing. Chemical burns may result if the Stimulator housing is ruptured or pierced. The Boston Scientific DBS Systems may interfere with the operation of implanted stimulation devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, implanted cardioverter defibrillators, or medication delivery pumps. Patients should operate motorized vehicles or potentially dangerous machinery with caution. It is unknown whether the DBS device may cause complications with pregnancy. Do not use the Vercise™ DBS Controller while the mobile device is charging. The effect of using the Vercise DBS Controller while charging the mobile device has not been evaluated.



Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks, precautions, and benefits associated with the use of the device and what indicates, and contraindicates, certain patients– as well as the risks and precautions for the procedure. For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects, see DBSandME.com or call 833-DBS-INFO or 833-327-4636.



CAUTION: U.S. Federal law  restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

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