Watch out for epileptic seizures with Nightwatch, a device which signals an alarm when a seizure is detected. 

1.What is it?

A bracelet which tracks heart rate and movement through an algorithm which calculates the presence of seizures.

This stimulates an alarm to be sent wirelessly to the base station – caregiver/ clinical team.

CE approved

2. Why is it important?

Over 600, 000 people in the UK suffer from epilepsy which can affect a patient’s independence due to its effects on:

• driving licence
• employment
• education
• social isolation 

Devices like Nightwatch is non invasive and can help a patient lead a more independent life and receive the correct help as required.

3. How does it work?

1. wear the device on the upper arm 
2. heart rate tracked by photoplethysmography (PPG); an optical technique which detects blood volume changes in microvascular bed of tissue (skin)
3. movement tracked by 3D accelerometry – electrode measures signals which are converted to digital codes
4. Continuous analysis of heart rate and movement 
5. Yellow light when device is measuring heart rate
6. Red light on device when seizure detected
7. out of range measurements are rated as; major seizure, cloni- tonic, general tonic, hyperkinetic, clusters 
8. Wireless Alarm sent to base station – carer/ nursing station 

Clinical Trial results on a group of patients at 2 Dutch epilepsy institutes have shown significant advantages of the Nightwatch device over alternatives – recognising over 85% of severe seizures.¹

• median sensitivity – 0.86 at 95% CI
• positive predicted value – 0.46 at 95% CI
• false negative – 0.03 per night (1, 826 nights)

Available for order here

4. The future

• Demonstrate fewer complications as a result of better control of seizures in epileptics.
• Increase detection of seizures to 100%
• bring safety to as many people as possible

5. Who is involved?

• Nightwatch 
• LivAssured 
• Kempenhaeghe Epilepsy centre
• Sein Epilepsy centre
• University Medical Centre Utrecht 
• Patient representatives
• Epilepsy Fund

References

1. Johan Arends et al. Multimodal nocturnal seizure detection in a residential care setting, Neurology (2018).
2. https://www.livassured.com
3. YouTube video on NightWatch