Assessing the Felix NeuralAI Wristband for Essential Tremor Management: Zhen Zhang, PhD, & Rajesh Pahwa, MD

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

"The artificial intelligence engine that is specifically tailored for essential tremor patients will automatically deliver customized neural stimulation to the peripheral nerve system with the goal of reducing essential tremor symptoms throughout the day."

Essential tremor (ET), a common neurological disorder, often impairs quality of life and may lead to disability as well as social handicap patients living with the condition. For those with ET who do not have success with medications, neurosurgical procedures present an alternative option for them such as ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) deep brain stimulation and magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound VIM thalamotomy. Although these options are effective for ET, several carry significant safety risks and expenses associated with invasive procedures.¹

Fasikl’s Felix NeuroAI Wristband, a transcutaneous neurostimulation system, may present patients with a noninvasive option since the device is intended to be used by patients with ET daily to suppress hand tremors and also continuously monitors tremor. A recent pilot study (NCT05842434) assessed the Felix device among patients with ET who used the device at home all day before returning for a follow-up in clinic after 7 to 10 days. Presented at the 3rd Annual Advanced Therapeutics in Movement and Related Disorders (ATMRD) Congress, held by the PMD Alliance from June 22-25, 2024, by senior author Rajesh Pahwa, MD, and colleagues, the results showed that the device demonstrated efficacy with minimal side effects.²

Zhen Zhang, PhD, president at Fasikl, and Pahwa, the Laverne and Joyce Rider professor of neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, recently sat down with NeurologyLive^® in an interview at the Congress to discuss how the Felix NeuralAI wristband specifically tailors its neural stimulation for patients with ET. The duo also talked about the specific improvements observed on the Tetris scale for both the stimulated and opposite sides of the body as observed in the pilot study. Moreover, Zhang and Pahwa spoke about the next steps for the Felix Neural AI wristband in terms of regulatory approval and broader availability.

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REFERENCES
1. Isaacson SH, Peckham E, Tse W, et al. Prospective Home-use Study on Non-invasive Neuromodulation Therapy for Essential Tremor. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2020;10:29. Published 2020 Aug 14. doi:10.5334/tohm.59
2. Dewey R, Isaacson S, Dewey R, et al. Pilot Study of the Felix NeuroAI Wristband in Patients with Essential Tremor. Presented at: ATMRD; June 22-25, 2024; Washington, DC.