medical devices
Currently there are 3 devices that are available and approved to treat people who have drug resistant Epilepsy.
30% of people with seizures don’t respond well to medication, and until now there were no other effective options.
In 2021 I became the seventh person at Massachusetts General Hospital with my type of seizures to get an RNS implanted, and that treatment has been nothing short of revolutionary, changing my life.
Responsive NeuroStimulator (RNS)
The RNS® System by Neuropace is a smart device that is adjustable and reversible. Where it is placed and how it is used is tailored to each person.
It works by monitoring your brain waves at the origin point of your seizures, learning the patterns of your particular seizure activity, programing it to detect unusual electrical activity that can lead to a seizure, and then respond quickly (within milliseconds) to that seizure activity by giving small bursts or pulses of stimulation.
The goal of this device is to get your brainwaves to return to normal, even before it can turn into a seizure.
Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS)
DBS is a device used to help control seizures by the company Medtronic. The device is surgically implanted, and then it is programmed in the outpatient clinic by Epilepsy specialists.
DBS is a type of neuromodulation therapy. It is designed to change how brain cells or networks work, by electrical stimulation to the areas in the brain involved in seizures.
The DBS is used in conjunction with seizure medications to control seizures.
Find out more about the DBS for Epilepsy on Medtronic’s website
Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS)
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a type of neuromodulation. Designed for people with drug-resistant epilepsy 4 years of age and older with focal or partial onset seizures, it can lead to fewer and shorter seizures and better recovery after seizures.
VNS is a small device implanted under the skin in the chest and connected to the left vagus nerve in the neck. VNS Therapy™ delivers mild pulses to the brain through the vagus nerve to help prevent seizures before they start and help stop them if they do.
Learn more about the VNS on the Epilepsy Foundation of New England’s website
detection and monitoring Devices
There are other useful devices that can help alert your family and friends when you have a seizure, provide your location with GPS coordinates, and alert an ambulance if necessary, all even while you’re unconscious.
embrace
Embrace2 is the world's first FDA-cleared wrist-worn wearable in epilepsy. It detects possible convulsive seizures and instantly alerts caregivers, whether they're sleeping next door or are living miles away. I personally have found the Embrace to be an incredible, around the clock support for myself and my family.
more
There are a lot of options now for wearables and technology that can help to alert your loved ones if you’re having a seizure, here are links to some of the options we’ve found compiled below.
