Improving effectiveness of epilepsy treatments

Epilepsy is one of the world’s most common neurological disorders, affecting about 1% of the global population. In approximately 30% of the patients, the disease is drug-resistant, and the available remedies usually involve surgical interventions. To maximize their effectiveness, these interventions depend on a preliminary procedure: accurate localization of the epileptogenic zone in the brain (epileptic focus) where the seizures originate. This in itself is a complex challenge, requiring about a week of hospitalization, during which the patient is constantly monitored with noninvasive technologies that measure brain activity – mainly EEG (monitoring electrical signals), and in some centers fNIRS (neuroimaging with near-infrared light) as well.  

To optimize the localization of epileptic foci in the brain – and consequently improve the results of invasive interventions – researchers from HIT’s Faculty of Electric & Electronics Engineering and the Neurology Department at the Hadassah Medical Center have joined forces, and are currently developing two innovative products:  

• ifNIRS – implantable hybrid brain sensors 

These novel optrodes (optic-electric sensors) combine EEG with fNIRS technologies to enhance sensitivity. Implanted in the brain, they can optimize the localization of epileptic foci.

• At-home brain monitor

This user-friendly wearable brain monitor eliminates the need for long, costly, inconvenient, and sometimes even risky hospitalization. The hybrid device, based on optrodes that combine EEG with fNIRS, can be adapted to the user’s daily life and environment and worn as needed, until sufficient data has been collected.  

For more information please contact:

Dr. Michal Balberg, +972-54-6657123, balbergm@hit.ac.il