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Epileptic woman creates device for seizures

Shared by JoanaSaraiva on 2019-11-04 16:28

About the solution

Uma was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11. Since then, she has been admitted four times to the hospital due to seizures. Some of her epileptic attacks occurred in places where no one knew how to help her.

That inspired her to invent Cocoon, a device that protects the head from injuries during a seizure. It is portable and includes first-aid instructions for bystanders.

The device is mainly aimed at patients who have an aura, visual symptoms caused by a focal seizure, right before the tonic-clonic seizure, which involves the whole brain and at which point the patient loses consciousness.

So, when the user experiences an aura, they can use the Cocoon to protect themselves before the full-blow epileptic attack occurs. The device is very fast to unfold and opened up. Then the user simply has to rest their head under the mesh. It keeps the user’s head stable on an anti-suffocation pillow.

Uma calls the invention an ‘epileptic safe space’.

Inside, it has a sensor which detects the start of the convulsion. If after three minutes the seizure persists, it automatically calls an ambulance using IoT technology. It also has a GPS which informs family members about the coordinates of the patient.

Thanks to her invention, Uma has earned the James Dyson Award. The prototype now needs to pass medical testing and approval by the FDA before it can reach the market.

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/2NEVdCX
http://bit.ly/2PNzDPo

More info: https://www.umasmith.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT5YrIXEWsE&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YizZuUCDnS0

This solution shall not include mention to the use of drugs, chemicals or biologicals (including food); invasive devices; offensive, commercial or inherently dangerous content. This solution was not medically validated. Proceed with caution! If you have any doubts, please consult with a health professional.

DISCLAIMER: This story was written by someone who is not the author of the solution, therefore please be advised that, although it was written with the utmost respect for the innovation and the innovator, there can be some incorrect statements. If you find any errors please contact the patient Innovation team via info@patient-innovation.com

About the author

Uma Smith, born in 1996, in the USA, invented Cocoon, a device that helps people with epilepsy. She is an industrial designer based in Brooklyn, New York.

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