Epilepsy Treatment
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - 09/26/2006

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have engineered a
device that can detect the onset of epileptic seizures and help prevent those
seizures from becoming debilitating. The device was developed for the 1-in-3
patients who do not respond to drugs. A defibrillator called a vagus nerve
stimulator (VNS) is implanted under a patient's collarbone and stimulates the
left vagus nerve every five minutes. Stimulation of this nerve has been shown
to help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. 

Via a microprocessor, the VNS receives signals from a network of electrodes
in a bathing-cap-like garment worn by the patient. The electrodes monitor
brain activity for signs of an epileptic event. The electrodes themselves can
be used independently and without a VNS, acting as an early warning system
for patients who do not require the defibrillator. 

Read the entire article at:
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/epilepsy.html

Links:
Catching Seizures before They Occur
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17124&ch=biotech&sc=&pg=1

New Device Tested to Predict Epileptic Seizures
http://www.centersite.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=96620&cn=50


John Guttag
http://nms.csail.mit.edu/~guttag/

Ali Shoeb
http://csbi.mit.edu/members/Members/ashoeb

Steven Schachter
http://www.cimit.org/bios/schachter.html