Long-Term, Subdermal Implantable EEG Recorder and Seizure Detector

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that affects about 1% of world population. It is characterized by repeated seizures, which are caused by an abnormal neuronal firing at the affected brain area. Although EEG has been the chief modality in the diagnosis and treatment of epileptic disorders for more than half a century, long term recordings (days to weeks) still can only be obtained in the hospital setting. Many patients, however, have intermittent seizures occurring far less often. Patients cannot come into the hospital for weeks on end in order for an event to be captured on EEG – a necessary prerequisite for making a definitive diagnosis, tailoring therapy, or even affixing the true rate of events. This work aims to solve this need by proposing a subdermal implantable 8-channel EEG monitor and seizure detector. The system will be implanted behind the patient’s ear in order to guarantee continuous monitoring of the brain’s activity. An ASIC containing a novel seizure detector and all the circuits required to record 8 channels of EEG has been designed. The system is expected to be implanted in a pig.