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Is there a device to predict seizures? Please tell me
Fri, 01/28/2005 - 11:46Does anybody know if there is ANY kind of a device out there for people with epilepsy that can give off a warning when they are about to have a seizure? I know that there are dogs that are trained to predict seizures and lead the person to sit or lie down, but my mom is unable to care for a dog. There HAS to be something like that out there. Please let me know. We are desperate.
Over the last couple of years, my mom has been having drop seizures and has had to go to the ER several times due to cutting her head and needing stiches or breaking bones. A few days ago, she had another one during the night and woke with another gash on her head. It is happening about once a month even though she has a vegus stimulator and is on so much medication that she has to hold on to me for balance whenever we go out.
RE: Is there a device to predict seizures? Please tell me
Submitted by batman on Fri, 2005-01-28 - 11:46
Yes pmason, there is somewhat of a device, but it's currently still under clinical trial. It's called the Responsive Neurostimulator [RNS]. For more detailed information, please go to www.neuropace.com. It's somewhat similar to having a tiny eeg inside a person's head, which can pick up a signal 30 to 45 minutes prior to a seizure occurring. Then it will do something, I believe like the Vagus Neuro Stimulator [VNS], to help the seizure from occurring. But the whole mechanism is inside the head, on the outside of the brain.
I do not have one. But after finding out about it and posting the information on another support group, a few people replied, saying that they have one and are part of the clinical trials. One person did mention though that when a person has multiple seizures, the RNS can still detect when they're about to occur and can control the very first seizure, but the RNS has to have enough time to recharge to control the next seizure, and so on. The only downside to this clinical trial is that the patients must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
Sorry for not bringing this to your attention earlier, because I a ‘new kid on the block' with this group, and noticed that you posted this on Aug 22, 2004, and the last person who replied did so on Aug 30, 2004. So I hope that you will get to see this and hope something positive will help your mom.
Bruce J
Yes pmason, there is somewhat of a device, but it's currently still under clinical trial. It's called the Responsive Neurostimulator [RNS]. For more detailed information, please go to www.neuropace.com. It's somewhat similar to having a tiny eeg inside a person's head, which can pick up a signal 30 to 45 minutes prior to a seizure occurring. Then it will do something, I believe like the Vagus Neuro Stimulator [VNS], to help the seizure from occurring. But the whole mechanism is inside the head, on the outside of the brain.
I do not have one. But after finding out about it and posting the information on another support group, a few people replied, saying that they have one and are part of the clinical trials. One person did mention though that when a person has multiple seizures, the RNS can still detect when they're about to occur and can control the very first seizure, but the RNS has to have enough time to recharge to control the next seizure, and so on. The only downside to this clinical trial is that the patients must be between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
Sorry for not bringing this to your attention earlier, because I a ‘new kid on the block' with this group, and noticed that you posted this on Aug 22, 2004, and the last person who replied did so on Aug 30, 2004. So I hope that you will get to see this and hope something positive will help your mom.
Bruce J