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Referring to the question of Lisa Carper I have following information on this subject. On a recent PD seminar we had Dr. Moringlane, university hospital, Homburg/Saar (FRG) with us who explained the latest developments here in Germany on operations of the brain, so called Thalamus-stimulation. In a Europe-wide survey of 280 patients with implanted electronic devices in 88 % of all cases the tremor was considerably reduced. Impressive results have been confirmed by a patient on the seminar who enjoys a significant improvement in his life quality due to this operation. The cost for the operation is about US$ 10,000. The hospital in Homburg seems to be leading in Germany in this field, but faces financing problems for this operation, since this surgery is not yet reimbursed by the health insurances. Recent (English) literature on this subject: 1) Siegfried, J. and Lippitz, B. "Bilateral chronic electrostimulation of ventroposterolateral pallidum : A new therapeutic approach for alleviating all parkinsonian symptoms." Neurosurgery 35, 6: 1123 - 1130, 1994. 2) Benabid, A. L., Pollak, P. Seigneuret, E., Hoffmann, D., Gay, E., Perret, J. "Chronic VIM thalamic stimulation in Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and extrapyramidal dysdinesias. Acta Neurochirurgica 58: 39 - 44, 1993. Further information can be obtained from the company producing the electronic devices: Medtronic GmbH Deutschland Abtlg. Neuromodulation Am Seestern 24 40547 Duesseldorf Germany Fax: 0049 2111 5293 199 Don't hesitate to ask for information (in English) on this subject. Anyway I cannot believe that this treatment should be new in the US. Hope that this information is useful for some people. Dietmar Wessel