How Cala Built The Most Personalised Wearable Neurostim Device For Essential Tremor

<p>In this episode of the Crux of Neuro, Liz Moyles is joined by Deanna Harshman, CEO of Cala Health, to explore how non-invasive neurostimulation is changing the way we think about treating essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.From her early career in chemical engineering and time working in deep brain stimulation to leading Cala Health, Deanna shares the journey behind Cala’s approach to treating hand tremor without surgery. She explains how the company’s watch-like device uses transcutaneous afferent pattern stimulation (TAPS) to measure each patient’s tremor and deliver personalised stimulation designed to disrupt pathological oscillations in the brain.The conversation also explores what it takes to move a new neurological therapy from an interesting scientific concept to a treatment that patients can actually use — from clinical evidence and physician adoption to FDA clearance, reimbursement and designing technology around real patient needs.Key TopicsHow Cala Health is using non-invasive neurostimulation to treat hand tremorWhat essential tremor is and how it differs from Parkinson’s diseaseHow TAPS therapy measures an individual patient’s tremor and personalises stimulationWhy patient-centred design matters when developing neurological technologyWhat clinical trials and real-world evidence are revealing about Cala therapyThe challenges patients face when medications become ineffective or cause intolerable side effectsHow non-invasive neurostimulation could provide an option between medication and more invasive treatments such as deep brain stimulationRelated InsightsWhy essential tremor can have a profound impact on independence, confidence and quality of lifeHow tremor can affect everyday activities such as eating, drinking, working, playing music and getting dressedWhy clinical data is critical for physician adoption and reimbursementWhat Cala has learned from following patients over the longer termHow objective data from stimulation sessions could support further personalisation of therapyWhat the launch of CALA kIQ Plus means for personalised stimulation and different therapy modesCore ChallengesDeveloping a new neurological therapy requires more than promising technology. It requires clinical evidence, patient-centred design, physician confidence, regulatory progress and a pathway to reimbursement.For people living with essential tremor, the challenge is also deeply personal. As tremor progresses, patients can lose independence and begin av