Using a Brain-Computer Interface to Ease Epilepsy Seizures

Patients suffering from epilepsy may soon have a new device that could help treat seizures by preventing them altogether. NeuroPace Inc., a medical technology company based out of Silicon Valley, announced the launching of its flagship technology earlier this month, the next-gen RNS System. The company has spent years developing the technology as a means to treat refractory epilepsy, a condition that affects more than 1 million people in the United State alone. The RNS system is a closed-loop, brain-responsive neurostimulation system that was designed to prevent epileptic seizures by stopping them at the source. The device uses a brain-computer interface that was designed to treat seizures by continuously monitoring brain waves in an effort to recognize each patient’s unique seizure onset fingerprint. This allows the device to continuously monitor the patient’s brain waves for signals of an impending seizure; it is equipped to automatically respond with imperceptible electric pulses that can prevent the seizure before it occurs. “The launch of the next-gen RNS System is proof of our relentless focus on product innovation,” said NeuroPace CEO Frank Fischer. “According to the National Epilepsy Foundation, 1 in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, with approximately 150,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed annually. An estimated 3 million Americans currently live with epilepsy, with one-third of those patients experiencing seizures despite taking ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Business Source Type: news