Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. However, there isn’t much you can do to stop a seizure once it starts. But advancements in wearable technology is allowing the patient and their loved ones to know beforehand when a seizure will occur. Now, a team of European researchers believe they have found a way to halt seizures with the help of tiny flakes of graphene.
The researchers from Sissa (International School for Advanced Studies) in Italy, and the Universities of Trieste, Manchester, and Strasbourg, have shown that these particles are able to interfere with the transmission of the signal at excitatory neuronal synaptic junctions. Furthermore, in animal models the research team demonstrated that they do so in a reversible manner because they disappear without leaving a trace a few days after they have been administered. The injection was done directly into the brain using a syringe, but there was no noticeable increase in inflammation or immune response, reports MedGadget.
Scientists in Australia have developed a low-cost wearable that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) system to predict and alert an epileptic patient when a seizure is likely to strike. The predictive algorithm has sensitivity of up to 81.4% and false prediction rate as low as 0.06/hour. For their study, researchers proposed a generalized, patient-specific, seizure-prediction technique that can alert epilepsy sufferers within 30 minutes of the probability of a seizure.
Embrace2 is a FDA-cleared smartband that uses advanced machine learning to detect unusual patterns that may be associated with convulsive seizures, and immediately notifies caregivers. It also provides rest and physical activity analysis to better understand your lifestyle. And with fast charging and a 48+ hour battery life, it gives you more freedom to do more of what you love. Beyond helping people with epilepsy better monitor their seizures, Embrace2 also tracks rest and physical activity, providing valuable insights into your health.
Researchers at Kempenhaeghe and Eindhoven University of Technology in collaboration with multiple partners have developed nighttime seizure alert device for people with epilepsy. Nightwatch, the wearable device is designed to wear at night. It alerts the caregiver of imminent seizure by triggering an alarm. The device is an upper arm strap-on that measures the heart rate and movement of the sleeping person, directly from the body. There is no discomfort. You almost don’t notice that you’re wearing the armband.
European organization EIT Health partnered with several other European companies and Universities to deliver a clinically accurate seizure detection system called SeizeIT2. This discrete wearable device monitors several biosignals to allow a more precise quantitative analysis of seizure activity, so that people with epilepsy can receive treatment optimized for their specific condition, reports EIT Health. The first prototype of this wearable allows comfortable and unobtrusive seizure monitoring outside of a hospital setting. Accuracy level of SeizeIT2 is 70-90%, compared to the typical accuracy level of less than 50% in a seizure diary, and the device offers an improved patient experience.
WT | Wearable Technologies Conference in San Francisco on July 9-10
The most innovative wearables event will be back on July 9-10 in beautiful San Francisco at SEMICON West to celebrate the 34th edition of the WT | Wearable Technologies Conference Series. Topics include data analytics in professional sports, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation with wearables, the future of digital health, medication and adherence, smart patches, workflow optimization and workforce safety and much more – featuring international leaders and experts of the wearables industry´s biggest names including Abbott, Autodesk, Datwyler, Kopin, Maxim Integrated, Multek, NFLPA, Omron, SharkDreams, Qualcomm, and many more. Register now to be part of #WTUS19
