Epilepsy detecting and halting mechanism using Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Epilepsy is a condition that affects thousands of people worldwide. In the laboratory setting, it becomes difficult to monitor patients and analyze when the next seizure would recur. Although algorithms have been proposed for deriving when the next seizure is probable, it is difficult to generalize such models for the various types of epilepsy that are occurring every day. A more promising solution is the use of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) that is proposed to simulate small electrodes used in EEG that will be placed on the scalp of the patient as a wearable device along with a portable kit that is capable of monitoring the patient in both ambulatory and resting condition. As much as a detection system is required for epilepsy, a halting mechanism is also needed to prevent such high flow of bio-electrical signals in the brain during seizures. It is estimated that millions of brain cells die during epileptic seizures, which can prove detrimental or even fatal in some cases. In order to overcome this, an IoTbased epilepsy detection and halting system with wireless sensor networks and focal cooling mechanism has been proposed in order to regionally cool the regions of the brain when a seizure is probable or suddenly occurs.