Overcoming Essential Tremors: Bob Bosloper’s Story
Groundbreaking way sound waves are being used to treat tremors
The Today Show featured NJBS patient Bob Bosloper’s story in August 2023
Life with essential tremors
Living with essential tremor can be incredibly challenging, affecting both the physical and emotional well-being of individuals. Approximately 10 million Americans are grappling with this neurological condition, seeking effective solutions to improve their quality of life. Fortunately, medical technology advancements provide new hope, and the combined efforts of professionals like Dr. Azmi and groundbreaking treatments such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) are reshaping the landscape of neurological disorder management.
Dr. Azmi, a distinguished board-certified neurosurgeon with a specialization in functional and restorative neurosurgery, stands as a driving force in advancing neurological treatments. He actively addresses traumatic brain injuries and spinal disorders, reflecting his dedication to holistic neurological well-being. Central to his approach is shared decision-making, where patients are empowered through a comprehensive understanding of available treatment options. This approach reflects his commitment to patient-centered care by tailoring treatments to each individual’s distinct needs.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A Breakthrough
The emergence of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-invasive tremor treatment aligns seamlessly with Dr. Azmi’s patient-centric approach. By utilizing precisely focused ultrasound waves, HIFU disrupts neural circuits responsible for tremors, providing relief without traditional surgical interventions. Dr. Azmi’s involvement in developing protocols ensures the safety of patients with Parkinson’s disease during their hospital stays, making HIFU an even more attractive option.
The Road Ahead for One Patient
In this coverage from The Today Show, Joe Fryer explores the way that this groundbreaking technology is helping one patient, Bob Bosloper. Bob has had essential tremors in both hands since his early 20s. For many years, the only options were medication or to have a potentially complicated surgery to address it. Now, with the help of Dr. Azmi, Bob was able to find a new option: HIFU. With a successful first treatment in 2022, Bob was able to regain control over his right hand. Now, with regulations allowing treatment of non-dominant hands, Bob was able to undergo treatment again to treat his left hand.
Personalized Care and Collaborative Approach
Dr. Azmi’s commitment to shared decision-making echoes the personalized nature of HIFU treatment. Tailored to each patient’s unique condition, HIFU embodies Dr. Azmi’s patient-centered ethos. His comprehensive expertise extends beyond surgical skills, as he actively contributes to enhancing the quality of care for neurosurgical patients, serving on quality and safety committees.
Dr. Azmi’s exceptional expertise, dedication to patient-centered care, and contributions to advancing treatment protocols harmonize seamlessly with the transformative potential of high-intensity focused ultrasound. Their synergy offers a beacon of hope for individuals burdened by essential tremors and other neurological conditions. As medical science progresses, a future with improved quality of life and innovative treatments, attuned to each individual’s distinctive needs, is on the horizon.
Learn more about Bob Bosloper’s story
This morning we are sharing the story of a truly life-changing procedure.
That’s right. It is a noninvasive treatment for folks living with essential tremor and Parkinson’s. And our new Saturday Today feature anchor, congratulations, you got a first look at this.
About ten million Americans are living with essential tremor. It causes involuntary shaking. Until now, the best ways to tackle it included surgery or radiation. This has no incisions or radiation. Instead, it is an ultrasound that can change someone’s life in a matter of hours.
You ready?
All right. Let’s do it.
Bob Bosloper will happily lose his hair to regain so much more. Since his early twenties, Bob has lived with an essential tremor. A condition that has only grown worse over the last 50 years.
I can’t wait to get this hand fixed.
Try to go in between this line, going through the flag.
Seemingly simple tasks like drawing a straight line are impossible.
Well, writing, shaving, putting my contacts in, holding a cup of coffee, you know, I was afraid I was going to get burned. Just simple things. People would see my hand shaking. It was embarrassing.
One of his greatest passions, playing the organ at church.
It became very difficult for me to play the organ. I was afraid I was going to land on the wrong chords. I was ready to stop. I thought my days were numbered playing the organ.
He tried medications but they made him feel groggy, so he waited hoping something better would come along. And it did.
My hand still doesn’t shake. It’s fine.
Bob’s right hand has been tremor-free for two years now thanks to high-intensity focused ultrasound.
And I said to them, when can you do the next one?
Initially, the FDA only approved the procedure for dominant hands, Bob’s right one. But this year got the greenlight for non-dominant hands. So Bob is back at Hackensack University Center for another ultrasound inside this MRI machine. Dr. Hooman Azmi is using the technology to deliver sound waves without surgery, without incisions through Bob’s skull to his brain.
And when the sound waves coalesce on one spot, they disrupt the cells and they disrupt the circuits that are responsible for tremors.
There is no anesthesia. You see, Bob needs to be awake so they can check on his progress after each round.
Touch your fingers. Touch your nose.
Bit by bit.
We need to kind of give it a little more juice.
Over the course of a couple of hours —
That’s pretty good.
His tremors fade away. A seismic shift.
I think it is appropriate to shake hands with the left hand, right?
Yeah, you can do that now.
How are you feeling?
I’m feeling great. This is terrific. This is a great blessing in my life.
Remember before the treatment when Bob was asked to trace a line around a flag? Look at him do it now. A drastic difference.
How much does it amaze you that in just such a short period of time you could have such a dramatic change in your life?
It is so amazing. It is unbelievable, really. It is really unbelievable. You just go into a machine and you are tremor-free. My quality of life is going to be just terrific now.
Everyone is like, oh, my god, I can’t believe we were able to do this with this patient without any surgery, and he goes back to his normal life. So it is very, very gratifying.
It is not even lunch time, and you’ve changed his life.
It’s amazing. It’s amazing.
After the procedure, Bob is back at church. Playing the organ in a way he hasn’t experienced in half a century.
Bob, great to have you back with us again. Thank you for that gift.
A gift not just for the congregation, but for Bob.
Pretty cool. We do want to note, this is not a cure, and there may be some minimal side effects like nausea and balance issues. But Dr. Azmi says in the two years since he started administering the ultrasound treatment, most of his patients have not seen tremors return. Their recent study found that in the five years after treatment, those that took part continue to see their tremors reduced by more than 70%. Right now, the sound treatment is approved for those with essential tremor. The hope, though, is that they will continue to find ways to expand its use to other areas as well.
That’s amazing.
