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AAN 2026 | Wearable devices for the management of essential tremor: FDA approval of the Encora X1 device

Jill Farmer, DO, MPH, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, discusses the role of wearable devices in managing essential tremor, reflecting on the recent FDA approval of the Encora X1 device. Dr Farmer notes that these devices can be used in combination with current medicines to enhance their efficacy, but access to these devices can be an issue. This interview took place at the 78th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

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Transcript

So it’s in the category of wearable devices. We have a number. This is unique in that it’s one of the first FDA-approved devices. There are other wearable devices on the market that are not FDA approved. Another one that is is Cala Trio. And basically they work essentially through a tactile stimulation. So an external cue, a vibration sense that tries to interfere with the frequency of the tremor the patient is experiencing to sort of stabilize the hand or the arm...

So it’s in the category of wearable devices. We have a number. This is unique in that it’s one of the first FDA-approved devices. There are other wearable devices on the market that are not FDA approved. Another one that is is Cala Trio. And basically they work essentially through a tactile stimulation. So an external cue, a vibration sense that tries to interfere with the frequency of the tremor the patient is experiencing to sort of stabilize the hand or the arm. And there is definitely a space for them. Sometimes when patients use them, they only work when they’re being worn. And if they’re not being worn, the residual benefit wears off fairly quickly. So ideally, these devices could be used in combination with the current medicines we have available to help their efficacy or be used with ulixacaltamide, which is the medicine that we’ve presented here, to, again, if additional assistance was needed, they could complement one another. So the other device that’s clinically available and can be prescribed is Cala Trio. And it’s also a very good vibratory device. Access has been an issue, as is the issue with many of these types of interventions. There are ones, again, that are not FDA approved, but you have to pay for out of pocket. And again, they’re tactile and vibratory. One is the GyroGear glove, another one is the Vilim Ball, Villi. So there’s evidence to say that these are practical devices to utilize. It’s just access sometimes is the issue that limits their use.

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