New Implantable Chip Could Help Stop Seizures

People who suffer from uncontrolled seizures could soon be getting some relief. Scientists at Jefferson University Hospital's epilepsy center in Pennsylvania recently undertook a study of a new anti-seizure device made by Neuropace, a company in Mountain View, Calif. The device works via an implant in the patient's skull. A computer chip in the device can detect abnormal brain activity and then send out an electric current to stop the oncoming seizure.

"If it works as well as we hope, this device will be an exciting leap forward in the field," said Michael Sperling, M.D., director of the hospital's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, in a press release. "This is the first closed-loop system being used in humans designed to stop seizures."

More than 2.7 million people in the United States suffer from epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Most epileptic patients receive treatment with some kind of anti-seizure drug, such as Topamax or Keppra, but approximately 30 percent of cases cannot be controlled with medication, limiting the person's ability to drive or work and impacting their quality of life.

As a control measure, only half of the study's participants will have the device activated after it is implanted in their skull, Sperling said. The remaining half will have it activated about 16 weeks after implantation. Those who have it activated sooner - about 1 month after it is placed - will have to visit the epilepsy center weekly so the device can be monitored. All participants will receive a wand that they can pass over their head to collect information from the chip, and then submit it via telephone for researchers to examine.

Previous study of the Neuropace device in 65 people did find that it was safe for use.

To be eligible for the new study, participants must be 18-70 years of age and have disabling seizures (i.e., ones that are frequent or uncontrolled enough to interfere with daily activities). They must have also completed unsuccessful courses of treatment with two anti seizure drugs. Finally, they must also experience at least 3 seizures every 28 days. For more information, call 1-800-JEFF-NOW or visit www.seizurestudy.com.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every year. Men are more likely than women to develop the disorder, and the risk is greatest among people from ages two to 65. In 70 percent of all epilepsy cases, no cause can be found for the seizures.

Newswise press release. "Brain Implant Being Studied Could Predict and Stop Epilepsy Seizures Before They Even Begin."

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/531845/?sc=mwhn

Epilepsy Foundation. "Epilepsy and Seizure Statistics." http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/statistics.cfm