Novel Devices, Technologies Provide Insights into Seizure Control, Surgical Targets
December 7, 2015 | American Epilepsy SocietyEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
In a third study, (abstract 2.083) researchers from the University of Toronto describe a device capable of detecting and diminishing seizure activity. The closed-loop device aims to treat epilepsy by delivering a brief electrical stimulation at early or late stages of seizure formation, similar to how a pacemaker might stop abnormal heart rhythms.
Researchers developed seizure-detection algorithms for the device in two rat models of epilepsy and programmed two iterations of the device - known as CLS-V1 and CLS-V2 - to deliver the brief electrical stimulation before, or within seconds of, seizure onset. They tested the devices on rats with seizures described as either acute (repeated seizures over a 2-hour period) or chronic (an average of five seizures per day for multiple days).
Their findings reveal that the CLS-V1 device, which detected seizures about 21 to 53 seconds before onset in the acute and chronic groups, respectively, was slightly less accurate than the CLS-V2 device, which detected seizures two to four seconds after onset in the acute and chronic groups. However, the CLS-V1 was much more effective, reducing seizure frequency by 81 percent in rats with acute epilepsy and 90 percent in rats with chronic epilepsy. By contrast, the CLS-V2 reduced seizure frequency by 58 percent and 76 percent in the acute versus chronic groups.
"Brief closed-loop stimulation at an early stage of seizure formation is more effective at stopping seizure development than stimulation at a later stage, presumably because it is easier to disrupt a surge in activity before the full seizure develops than to stop it midway," says author M. Tariqus Salam, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of Toronto.
In addition to helping patients with epilepsy, the closed-loop approach may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with neuropsychiatric syndromes, which share some of the abnormal patterns of brain activity exhibited by the rats with acute and chronic seizures.
About the American Epilepsy Society:
The American Epilepsy Society is a medical and scientific society whose members are engaged in research and clinical care for people with epilepsy. For more than 75 years, AES has provided a dynamic global forum where professionals from academia, private practice, not-for-profit, government and industry can learn, share and grow. Find out more at aesnet.org.
Page 2 of 2Suggested Items
Nanotechnology Market to Surpass $53.51 Billion by 2031
04/25/2024 | PRNewswireSkyQuest projects that the nanotechnology market will attain a value of USD 53.51 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 36.4% over the forecast period (2024-2031).
DOCOMO, NTT, NEC and Fujitsu Develop Top-level Sub-terahertz 6G Device
04/12/2024 | JCN NewswireNTT DOCOMO, INC., NTT Corporation, NEC Corporation and Fujitsu Limited jointly announced today the development of a top-level (1) wireless device capable of ultra-high-speed 100 Gbps transmissions in the 100 GHz and 300 GHz sub-terahertz bands.
Keysight Becomes Validated Test Tool Provider for FiRa 2.0 Technical and Test Specifications
04/05/2024 | Keysight Technologies, Inc.Keysight Technologies, Inc. has had a test tool validated for the FiRa 2.0 Certification release, covering physical layer (PHY) conformance testing. The latest FiRa PHY Technical and Test Specifications introduce enhancements to the performance and interoperability test requirements for ultra-wideband (UWB) device conformance tests.
Scientists Propose a New Way to Search for Dark Matter
04/02/2024 | SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryEver since its discovery, dark matter has remained invisible to scientists, despite the launch of multiple ultra-sensitive particle detector experiments around the world over several decades.
INSPECTIS Offers Slider Plate Stand for Optical Inspection
04/01/2024 | INSPECTISINSPECTIS introduces a new specialized slider stand capability for repetitive optical inspection tasks, for example, for the production of special devices such as stents.