Information from a new study that was published online in the Lancet Neurology has found that when a small device is implanted in the brain, it can predict the onset of seizures experienced by adults with drug-resistant epilepsy.
“Knowing when a seizure might happen could dramatically improve the quality of life and independence of people with epilepsy and potentially allow them to avoid dangerous situations such as driving or swimming, or to take drugs to stop seizures before they start, rather than continuously as at present,” explains lead author Mark Cook from the University of Melbourne in Australia.
This device was made by NeuroVista, and is meant to “detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain that precedes a seizure using electrodes implanted between the skull and brain surface which constantly monitor electrical activity data.” During this procedure, the electrodes are connected to another device that is implanted under the skin in the chest that sends the data to a hand-held device that also figures out the chances of a seizure occurring.
This study is significant since seizures can be hard to predict, and doctors could really benefit from being able to see them coming beforehand. Epileptics take various medications aimed at preventing seizures, but it’s mostly guesswork by doctors in getting the right dosages. Studies like this can help reduce the number of seizures patients experience in the future because it will aid scientists in developing drugs that can better prevent them from happening in the first place. One of the drugs used to prevent seizures is the anti-seizure medication Topamax. Topamax has been linked to serious side effects including birth defects in babies whose mothers take the drugs while pregnant. Children may be born with birth defects such as PPHN, spina bifida, neural tube defects, oral clefts and heart, lung and brain defects after exposure to Topamax in-utero.
If your baby was born with birth defects after in-utero exposure to Topamax, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your child’s injuries.