A device which can detect the occurrence of seizures and immediately alert the patient's caregiver has been developed by researchers at SmartMonitor.
The SmartWatch, which looks similar to a wristwatch, can be worn on the wrist, leg or ankle, and it connects wirelessly to other devices via Bluetooth.
The device works by detecting abnormal movements and then signals the Blue-tooth enabled device, which alerts the caregiver within 10 seconds of seizure occurrence.
According to researchers, the new device is especially useful for monitoring patients during the night, when seizures might go unnoticed.
The SmartWatch also records the seizure activity, and other aspects such as the seizure timing, seizure duration, which can be helpful for neurologists to prescribe medications.
Clinical trials of first-time prototype were successfully completed at Stanford University in June 2010, and researchers are planning to soon conduct further clinical studies at UC San Francisco, US.