Medical wearable monitors warning signs of epilepsy seizures

Empatica has created the Embrace, a wearable wristband that monitors the stress signals of people with epilepsy to detect potentially deadly seizures and alert wearers and caregivers, so they can intervene

According to the World Health Organisation, roughly 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy. With Embrace, Empatica aims to aid people suffering from epilepsy by helping them better alert loved ones, said Empatica, co-founder and MIT professor, Rosalind Picard.

Empatica is prepping to release Embrace, “a consumer-looking, but medical-quality device” for monitoring stress and seizures, said Picard.

The Embrace wristbands resemble watches but have a solid silver or black face. Sensors underneath the face track pulse, body motion, temperature, and electrodermal activity (EDA), which involves subtle electrical changes across the skin.

Boosts in EDA, without accompanying changes in motion, can signal stress. In people with epilepsy, a sharp rise in both signals could indicate a severe, potentially life-threatening seizure.

When the wristband detects a seizure, it vibrates and the wearer can respond. If the wearer becomes unconscious, which happens with the most dangerous seizures and doesn’t respond quickly, an app that comes with the wearable sends an alert to a designated individual.

“If somebody goes to check on a person during or after they have had a grand mal seizure, then they are less likely to die,” Picard said. “In some cases, simply saying the person’s name or turning them over (gentle stimulation) might save their life. Anybody could do this potentially life-saving action, they just need to know to go check on the person.”

Additionally, teachers and parents may want to monitor the stress levels of a child with emotion regulation issues or autism. The device may determine, for instance, if a child is experiencing a “fight-or-flight response,” and can be set to vibrate to alert parents or teachers, according to MIT.

Picard said: “Several teens with autism told us they often can’t tell they’re about to explode until it’s too late. Maybe this could help some of them get an alert while they’re still in control.”

Researchers are also using a scientific version of the wristband, called the E4, which can measure additional signals, to study epilepsy and different neurological and psychiatric conditions, according to MIT.

In addition to detecting seizures, anyone can also use the wristbands to monitor stress levels — which is important for good health, Picard said, as chronic stress has been linked to numerous health issues such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Picard said: “Stress signals reach every organ of your body, so these stress signals are potentially influencing everything. Sometimes you don’t realise [you’re stressed] until you get that just-in-time notice.”