A Sleek Wristband That Can Track Seizures

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Empatica is developing a wristband that can be used to track and predict the onset of seizures for people with epilepsy. The project was formed by accident; chief scientist Rosalind Picard was originally trying to track autistic children's stress-levels from data on their skin conductance (yes, skin can conduct electricity). One subject had a particularly high spike on the ski conductance readings, which Picard initially thought was due to a malfunctioning sensor. As a matter of fact, it wasn't an error at all. The spike ocured before the subject endured a grand-mal, or tonic-clonic, seizure, which supposedly result in higher levels of skin conductance.

Picard has since applied this knowledge regarding the relationship between skin conductance and seizures into the Empatica wristbands. "by picking up motion data gathered from the gadget’s accelerometer and gyroscope and combining it with measurements of skin conductance," Empatica wristbands are able to collect more accurate data regarding seizures than other projects, such as Smart Monitor's SmartWatch, can. Upon detecting an incoming seizure, the wristband vibrates, allowing the user to know ahead of time to either sit or lie down or get medication ready. Essentially, the wristband, which has yet to be approved by the FDA, can give users the opportunity to prepare themselves for the incoming seizure.