My husband has been in the study for the past two years. The pump has been very successful and looking forward to final FDA approval around 2014. The infusion of the medication eliminated all pills and the challenges of the on/off periods.

CG 50, Thank you for your imput.. I participated in a focus group sevey reviuewing the pump delivery system. The idea of having a permanant port tied into my lower intestine scares me. If the control of symtptoms is great as they say it may be a good alternative to dbs (Deep Brain Stimulation) Surgery. Let me know Alex

I woud'nt be concerned about the procedure to insert the tube. It was not awful. The first day is some discomfort, but easily taken care of. Like anything else, you become accustomed to the tube outside of your body. It is similar to a port when meds are administered for other illnesses. The outcome is incredible. When the pump was turned on and meds began flowing, he was his old self. Posture returned, as did handwriting, no more dyskenisia, voice level returned. And no on/off time. He was also a candidate for DBS, but he felt more comortable going through this study, which is reversable with removal of the tube and within a few days the entry area mends. There is now work going on to reduce the size of the pump. In any event, no more oral meds! Gone is Requip, Comtane and oral siminet. The carbo/levodopa is the only med needed which is housed in gel form within the daily cartridge attached to the pump.
The reason no other meds needed is due to the delivery system directly into the intestine bypassing the stomach which can break down the efficacy of oral meds. I would not rule this procedure, particulary when approved by FDA.

This info is fascinating. Honestly - this procedure seems less scary to me than DBS. Does anyone know if there is a time limitation on how long this will work?

cq50 - I am also curious why there is no more dyskenisia?

This looks really promising to me!

The dyskenisa reduces significantly or eliminated is due to the continuous flow of medication via the pump. With oral meds there is the on/off periods and dependent on stomach contents may also hamper the efficacy of the oral meds. The tube bypasses the stomach giving direct flow of the medication.

Wow, this video is amazing. Does the pump have to be so big? Sure did seem to work tho. Thanks for sharing.

The pump size is not that overwhelming. Part is the pump and then the daily attached cartridge of meds in a gel form. The one thing we had to consider is clothes and how best to include the pump within vests, shirts, etc.
With a little research, we found online ample clothes (i.e. vests,) from LL Bean, Lands End and Penny's. You can also wear a fanny pack to hold the pump. The weight of the pump is not a problem. It was worth and continues to be worth the research to locate outfits that hide or conveinently holds the pump. The daily relief of no oral meds, no on/off issues, no freezing issues and just go about life tells the story. This pump has been approved in several European countries for the past several years, as is Canada. There are other countries now in the last part of the study. We have very pleased with the outcomes and truly understand why it is so important to participate in studies if eligible.