Reduces hand tremor

[vwolff]

I saw this device advertised and thought it was a scam. But after reviewing the patent, I can see the value of it.

This is a non-invasive targeted therapy that reduces hand tremors for people living with Essential Tremor or Parkinson's disease. It is a simple, wrist-worn device that is calibrated to treat a patient's unique tremor symptoms. When activated, it gently stimulates the nerves with electrical current in the wrist to disrupt the tremulous activity.

Essential Tremor Bracelet | Wrist Device for Tremors | Cala Trio

A new personalized therapy for essential tremor that fits with the flow of your life. The first non-invasive targeted therapy for hand tremor.

calatrio.com

The patent and it looks very impressive:

US10625074B2 - Devices and methods for controlling tremor - Google Patents

US00000010625074B220200421 (storage.googleapis.com)

Tell me what you think please?

Von

[Hidden]

Interested in HU group opinion or experience

[vwolff in reply to Hidden]

I am interested in HU group opinion and experience! Thanks.

[ParlePark]

Advertisement says essential tremor only.

[vwolff in reply to ParlePark]

The Patent says both essential tremor and parkinson's disease.

[park_bear in reply to vwolff]

Patents are made as broad as possible. What they advertise is what they are willing to stand behind.

[MarionP in reply to vwolff]

Their own company says they have not tested for pwp tremors.

The band is a required interface that degrades over a couple of months, requiring replacement to deliver the intended stimulation. If there is any benefit, it lasts up to an hour, according to their rather sketchy poorly described very small lone early study here (that may or may not have been this actual gadget): frontiersin.org/articles/10...

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

This may have potential for essential tremor given ryothemis's technical description but it is very early yet, and testing five minutes after stimulation only leads to asking what happened at +30, +60, +90 minutes, and what happens after a week, a fortnight, a months consistent or intermittent use, at e.g. +30, +60, etc. Perhaps if you have the money to try it, or see if they will front you in exchange for being a study guinea pig. Only eyebrow-raise is that their marketing brochure pronounces their machine as "revolutionary." Plus they got a $51M venture capital check (if I read correctly a source before it's paywall) for a piece of the company to some private venture capitalist.

[chartist]

I contacted them 6 months to a year ago. It took about three weeks to return my call and they said it had only been tested for essential tremor. Maybe things have changed since then, so here is their number in case anyone wants to ask them directly :[phone]

They are located at : 875 Mahler Rd #168, Burlingame, CA 94010 (about 15 miles from San Francisco)

Art

[parkie13 in reply to chartist]

Art, what is the price, did they say it doesn't work for Parkinson's? Thanks

[chartist in reply to parkie13]

When I asked if it worked for Parkinson's tremor, they said they had only tested it for essential tremor. I think there is an issue making a claim for PD tremor if they have not tested it for that purpose already, which at the time that I spoke with them they hadn't. Since then, they may have tested it . That is why I posted their number, so that anyone who is interested can call and ask for the latest info. Here is another contact number to reach them :

[phone]

The current price for this device is $3,200 plus a monthly subscription fee of $157 for the band or $1,884 per year for the band subscription for as long as you use it. Seems to me that if it works for PwP, Cala Trio will make significantly more money for the band subscription than the actual device. It is not covered by Medicare or private insurance. No matter how you slice it, this device is expensive.

The Cala Trio is FDA approved for """essential tremor""", but they do not say FDA approved for PD tremor. Again, it may or may not work for the purpose of PD tremor, but they clearly do not say FDA approved for PD tremor. In their website, I only see mention of use for essential tremor, not of use for PD tremor.

Art

[Getz in reply to chartist]

Mate I have so much trust in you views.

[chartist in reply to Getz]

That was a very nice compliment Getz, thank you!

Art

[Kitefli in reply to chartist]

They have started doing studies for PWP!

[chartist in reply to Kitefli]

I hope if that study pans out and they are able to increase sales, they will be able to make their device more affordable for the masses.

Art

[Itzallgood1 in reply to chartist]

I have essential tremors but that seems like a pretty steep price and alot for a monthly fee. I'm quite sure my insurance wouldn't cover any if it.

[chartist in reply to Itzallgood1]

As it sits right now, the device is too expensive for most people.

Art

[parkie13]

Here is some more info. calatrio.com/

[Raphaekg]

Regardless, even if I only had essential tremor, I would question its utility. The device was evaluated for effect on ET only 5 min after a single 40 min treatment session. The FDA device division will approve minimal risk devices easily. Not worth much value. And if tremor is the worst aspect of yout PD that you would consider expensive (and likely ineffective) off-label treatment for it, you are pretty lucky, IMHO.

[Hidden in reply to Raphaekg]

Bit like the gyrogear glove. Even if effective, not really moving the dial on dealing with PD an awful lot.

[Jonathanadam]

It’s seems really good and worth trying in my opinion. I just went to the website and it targets the signal between the nerves and the hand in the brain. There were a number of good testimonials as well. It also goes through your physician, so it’s not something someone created and is selling on their own. calatrio.com/patients/patie...

[Rhyothemis]

Thanks for posting; I think my daughter may have essential tremor - not a problem now and I really hope it does not get worse.

If interested in devices for PD, there is one that is in development and being marketed, though not currently for sale called CUE: charconeurotech.com/

[Rhyothemis]

Details on the the workings of the device - I would call it 'smart TENS', the frequency of tremor is used to modify the stimulation:

" Stimulation consisted of a series of charge balanced biphasic pulses,

300 μs biphasic pulses, with a 50 μs interpulse period between pulses,

delivered at a frequency of 150 Hz. The stimulation alternated between

the median and radial nerve at a frequency equal to tremor frequency as

measured by on‐board accelerometers (for example, for a measured 5 Hz

tremor frequency, stimulation was applied over the median nerve for 100

msec and then was applied over the radial nerve for 100 msec). Final stimulation amplitude was chosen to be the highest level of

tolerable stimulation level (always below muscle contraction) that the

subject found comfortable (mean: 5.4 mA ± 2.9)."

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[vwolff in reply to Rhyothemis]

Thank you that was a very accurate evaluation.

[DroppinIn]

If any of you are interested in trying it I suggest you contact the company and see if they are interested in beta testers by PWP. I'm a med device consultant (and a PWP) that works with startups and I can tell you that most little med device companies need beta testers and struggle to find people who fit the criteria and are willing to make the effort to be a reliable tester and provide feedback. They may say no, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

[vwolff in reply to DroppinIn]

Thank you . That was a helpful suggestion.