Tonight on Dateline NBC we learned about a revolutionary brain- implant for patients with Parkinson's Disease. It essentially stops their trembling. The University of Utah has recently started implanting patients. Science Specialist Ed Yeates has one patient's incredible story.

Before electrical stimulation deep inside his brain, Donald Pluim's right hand shook so much, he couldn't drink a glass of water without spilling its contents.

Jean Pluim: "Now he can eat his cereal without getting the spoon empty before he gets it in his mouth or pick up a cup of coffee."

The side of his brain not stimulated still short-circuits, and his left hand trembles uncontrollably. But with the implant on the other side of the brain - the right hand is rock steady. Once the device was turned on - the results were instant.

Donald Pluim: "I went to sleep after the operation. Immediately after the operation - the tremors - and when I woke up, zipppp - gone."

Donald is among only a handful of patients who have had the implants at the University of Utah hospital. Surgeons say so far, they are very satisfied with the results.

Robert Gross, m.d., University of Utah Dept. of Neurosurgery: "Overall in approximately 70 to 80 percent of the patients here is a complete abolition of the tremor, which is really remarkable for the patient. This will be the first time for example with a patient with essential tremor - this may be the first time in 25 to 30 years that they haven't had the shakes."

The computerized controller is implanted near the shoulder just under the skin. It feeds through a wire attached to an electrode implanted in a precise area of the brain causing the trembling.