Seizure-detecting device could give a 4-5 hour forewarning

by patgarcia | January 12, 2009 at 07:25 pm

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Fear of death due to epilepsy has been increased by all the media information about Jett Travolta's death. It is a serious condition and it has its dangers. Jett Travolta had persons taking care of him, bells and alarms, other people have guardian dogs. All kinds of precautions can be taken always hoping for the best, dealing, coping, fighting. Unfortunately not every second can supervised, life has to be lived and enjoyed too.

A seizure detecting device could also help people with epilepsy have more independent safer normal lives.

One percent of Americans, 3 million people, suffer from epilepsy.

And their lives are about to be dramatically changed by scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

For 15 years, Dr. Lee Hively has been working on "SeizAlert", a seizure-detecting device that resembles a common PDA.

"It allows us to analyze scalp brain waves and give us up to 4.5 hours' forewarning of that event," he said.

With the help of partner Kara Kruse, he's now able to help patients predict the previously unpredictable.

The device can send information digitally to doctors.

Its electrodes are small enough to fit under a headband, sparing patients from bulky helmets currently used for protection.

"They can just go and lay down and have them (seizures) instead of falling down and hurting something," Dr. Hively said.