Wireless EEG Data Could Warn of Impending Seizures

Some epileptics can sense an approaching grand mal seizure, but the vast majority are not so fortunate. They can fall off a ladder, spill hot liquids onto themselves, or drive into a serious traffic accident. Moreover, many cannot be helped by medication or surgery. Researchers at ORNL are working on a device that might provide forewarning of a seizure and give epileptics a heads-up that might save their lives.



The research team consists of Lee Hively and Kara Kruse of the Compu-tational Sciences and Engineering Div., Vladimir Protopopescu of the Computer Science and Mathematics Div., and Nancy Munro of the Life Sciences Div. Their prototype, SeizAlert, is an inexpensive, compact, wearable device that in a commercial implementation will obtain electroencephalogram data from wireless sensors on the wearer's scalp and transmit the information to a device that interprets it in real time. The work has received an R&D 100 award.

Contact Lee Hively, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN; 865-574-7188, [email protected], www.ornl.gov.