Cala Health launches wearable hand-tremor therapy device for adults with Parkinson’s

A Bay Area bioelectronic medicine company announced the commercial launch of its next-generation Cala kIQ System, an FDA-cleared wearable device to relieve hand tremors in people with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

According to a release from Cala Health, the noninvasive, nonpharmacologic system delivers Transcutaneous Afferent Patterned Stimulation (TAPS) therapy with minimal side effects via a device worn on the wrist, providing temporary relief of postural and kinetic tremor symptoms.

“At Cala, we’ve always been committed to expanding patient access and accelerating innovation in TAPS therapy for indications beyond essential tremor,” Renee Ryan, CEO at Cala, stated in the release. “By expanding into Parkinson’s disease, we are now able to bring this powerful treatment to additional patients who suffer from action hand tremors.”

The Cala kIQ System provides on-demand, at-home therapy, measuring each patient’s tremor physiology and customizing a stimulation pattern for tremor relief, the company stated. The system also offers online clinical insights through a patient portal, which can be shared with health care providers.

“Current research shows that tremors can severely impact patients’ mental health and activities of daily living, which are essential tasks such as holding a cup, unlocking a door or dialing a phone,” Pravin Khemani, MD, FAAN, a neurologist at Swedish Neuroscience Specialists in Seattle, said in the release. “There’s a real need for patient populations who suffer from action hand tremors to have an effective, safe option when it comes to managing their symptoms.”