A prototype device to forewarn epileptic seizures is being developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Oak Ridge researcher Lee Hively says the SeizAlert system studies brain waves.
"SeizAlert uses advanced statistical analysis from four scalp electrodes," Hively says. "The analysis removes eye blink signals, compares the non-seizure signature to subsequent intervals that can provide forewarning for epileptic seizures. The present forewarning ranges from 30 minutes to four hours for the most common form of epilepsy."
SeizAlert recently earned an Excellence in Technology Award from the Southeastern Federal Laboratory Consortium and has also earned an R&D 100 Award. It is scheduled to undergo an initial clinical trial in Cleveland, Ohio.
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.