Through research within the world of science and tech, I have finalized on an area of interest, epilepsy. Epilepsy affects about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population and about 10 percent of people will experience a seizure within their lifetime. After reading about the advancements within drug delivery implants and implantation devices for epilepsy prevention and management, I have come up with my own design conjecture on the topic.
The goal of this device is to prevent or terminate a seizure occurring in one’s body. It will do this by sending electrical signals throughout or localized in the brain. A focal seizure is localized in a part of the brain and stays on a single side. A generalized seizure is throughout the brain and affects the whole body. This device can be used to prevent a focal seizure, as often times, there are signs that one is about to occur. It additionally can terminate a generalized seizure already in progress.
As pictured above, my device is a small flat control board that will sit right on top of the frontal lobe. It would have four arms that extend into the matter of the brain to reach more focus points. These arms would have signaling technology to send electric signals to these areas of the brain where focal seizures would be occurring or about to occur. The device can be non-surgically placed through the eye socket. Once it is positioned on the frontal lobe, the body can unravel and the arms will extend into position. It will be made from a flexible material to ensure a minimally invasive implantation process through the eye cavity.
Reference
Holland, K. (2019, May 14). Epilepsy: Facts, statistics, and you. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/epilepsy/facts-statistics-infographic
