Improving quality of life for people with epilepsy
The challenge
According to World Health Organisation, around 50 million people currently live with epilepsy worldwide, with an estimated 5 million new cases diagnosed each year.[1] Epilepsy affects between 1.5 and 2% of the total world population.[2] Approximately 30% of people affected with epilepsy are drug-resistant.[3]
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages. People affected by uncontrolled epilepsy suffer from unpredictable seizures: they do not know when they could have a seizure, or if it could cause a serious accident.
Living with epilepsy has a significant impact on those with the condition and their caregivers. The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population.[4] The unpredictability of seizures can prevent people with epilepsy from doing normal activities and may lead to depression. Seizure risk can also require those affected to be close to caregivers, which has an associated cost. Parents of children with epilepsy often cannot continue their professional career.
Currently, the only way of properly monitor epilepsy-affected people is by continuous brain signal recording, through an electroencephalography (EEG). However, this practice requires hospitalisation. The data obtained in hospital is temporary and does not demonstrate patients’ daily reality.
There are a very limited number of commercial devices to record epilepsy seizures on the market and none of them record brain signals. One solution works by recording patients’ wrist or ankle movement when convulsions start. However, the recording sensitivity rate is extremely low and offers a high number of false positives.[5] This, together with the fact that it alerts when the seizure starts (not before), does not guarantee the safety of epilepsy-affected people.
The main failures current commercial solutions are that they cannot predict a seizure but only detect it. They have a very low reliability as they do not record brain signals, which are the most direct evidence of seizure.
The solution
The MJN-SERAS project team are working to overcome the challenge of predicting epileptic seizures through new technology which aims to improve the lives of those affected by epilepsy. Their solution is a wearable, discreet, non-invasive, medical device designed to predict epileptic seizures with high reliability.
MJN-SERAS is an earpiece, shaped as a hearing aid device, which continuously records the electrical brain activity like a medical EEG, by means of an electronic component. Thanks to the team’s proprietary artificial intelligence algorithm, their device can determine if a seizure will suddenly happen.
Drug-resistant epilepsy-affected people can comfortably wear MJN-SERAS on a daily basis. Between 1 to 3 minutes before seizures, an alarm warns patients via their mobile phone which is connected via Bluetooth to the earpiece. Within this time patients can autonomously reach a safe place or position to avoid accidents and injuries, helping them become independent from caregivers.
Expected impact
The objective of this project is to broaden the potential of this solution to improve the quality of life of epilepsy-affected people across Europe and their caregivers.
By helping to predict seizures, MJN-SERAS will help those with drug-resistant epilepsy to become more independent, reduce their risk of injury, and increase their freedom to enjoy daily life. The data the device records will help neurologists to improve the monitorisation and treatment of the illness. In this way, the project promises to improve epilepsy care pathways.
The next step for the team is to get the MJN-SERAS solution (both the device and algorithm) validated by a clinical study carried out with 150 patients in Spain, Germany and UK. The improved technology will be compliant with the Medical Device Regulation and the team are also exploring reimbursement pathways in Europe for the device.
External Partners
- MJN Neuroserveis
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- Projectes Galgot SL
References
[1] World Health Organisation. (2022). Epilepsy. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy> [Accessed 24 March 2022].
[2] World Health Organisation. (2022). Epilepsy. [online] Available at: <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs999/en/> [Accessed 24 March 2022].
[3] Alexopoulos, A.V. (2013). Pharmacoresistant epilepsy: Definition and explanation. Epileptology, 1(1), pp.38–42.
[4] World Health Organisation. (2022). Epilepsy. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy> [Accessed 24 March 2022].
[5] Onorati, F., et al. (2021). Prospective Study of a Multimodal Convulsive Seizure Detection Wearable System on Pediatric and Adult Patients in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Frontiers in Neurology. [online] Available at: <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.724904/full> [Accessed 24 March 2022].
Partners

CLC/InnoStars: Spain
Partner classification: Business, Education
Partner type: Core Partner
IESE Business School is dedicated to training professional managers, with international educational programmes, including those with a particular focus on innovation management in the Health sector. IESE Centre for Research in Healthcare Innovation Management (CRHIM), created in 2012, builds on over 30 years of expertise in the sector. It enables public and private R&I projects to become a reference centre for health innovation management. Specialist areas include: Health management, health economics, business development, executive education, capacity-building activities.
IESE Business School (CHRIM)
IESE Business School (CHRIM), Av. de Pearson, 21, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Key Activities in Business Creation
Finance & Investment, Business coaching
Key Activities in Education
Business Schools, Entrepreneurship training, Technical faculties, Healthcare professional education/training


CLC/InnoStars: Ireland-UK
Partner classification: Business
Partner type: Core Partner
During the six decades of its existence, Medtronic’s mission has been to contribute to human welfare through the application of biomedical engineering in the research, design, manufacture, and sale of instruments or appliances that alleviate pain, restore health and extend life.
Medtronic
Medtronic, 8200 Coral Sea St NE, St Paul, MN 55112, USA
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Med Tech, Diagnostics, Imaging
Key Activities in Business Creation
Technology Transfer, Business coaching


CLC/InnoStars: Spain
Partner classification: Tech Transfer, Clusters, Other NGOs
Partner type: Network partner
Biocat is the organization that champions the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem in Catalonia working to transform science and technology into regional economic growth as well as social impact. Biocat focuses its strategy on different key points: • Raising awareness and promoting the ecosystem, creating tools and strategies for improving the knowledge of the Catalan healthcare sector and increasing its projection both at home and abroad, with the aim of positioning the BioRegion as an international reference. • Providing innovative training and developing talent, by designing and executing programs and initiatives to improve talent and entrepreneurship considered essential factors for the growth of the sector. • Accelerating technology transfer and business growth by supporting and carrying out activities for increasing the value of the sector, placing special emphasis on the added value of research, knowledge and technology transfer, internationalization and access to capital. Areas of specialization: Entrepreneurship, training and talent, internationalization, scientific debate, strategic projects.
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation, Finance & Investment, Technology Transfer, Business coaching
Key Activities in Education
Business Schools, Entrepreneurship training, Healthcare professional education/training


CLC/InnoStars: UK-Ireland
Partner classification: Tech Transfer, Clusters, Other NGOs, Hospital / University Hospital
Partner type: Core Partner
The Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a world renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK.
Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Pharma, Med Tech
Key Activities in Social Innovation
Healthcare provision
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation, Finance & Investment, Business coaching, Testing & Validation
Key Activities in Education
Entrepreneurship training, Healthcare professional education/training


CLC/InnoStars: Spain
Partner classification: Business
Partner type: Associate
DKV Innolab is an initiative from a Spanish insurance company to promote innovation in healthcare, define an innovation roadmap in DKV, and support and collaborate on innovative projects in healthcare. The Innolab focus is on digital health and MedTech solutions. We are experts in codesigning and validating the usability, desirability & viability, as well as solution’s Spanish transfer and reimbursement analysis. Our main activities are: Investigation and development: analysing unmet needs, identifying technology and market trends, and participating in R&D projects in digital health. Open Innovation: collaboration with start-ups and scale-ups on Adoption and implementation in private insurance Acceleration in the different innovation phases Technology certification
DKV Innolab
Recinto modernista de Sant Pau - Pabellón de Sant Manel Sant Antoni María Claret 167 08025 – Barcelona, Spain
Key Activities in Research and Developement
Validation of usability, desirability and viability of disruptive solutions Provision and adaptation of our own telemedicine platform Internal R&D projects such as: Home care project to monitor chronic diseases from home and decentralized point of care in the form of a kiosk.
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Reimbursement analysis for startups Projects on adoption and joint commercialization Open innovation calls to the market based on internal challenges
Key Activities in Social Innovation
The main social innovation activities are led by our Foundation DKV Integralia which leads projects on socio-occupational integration through training, employment programmes, and personalized roadmaps. Projects to increase the employment of people with disabilities on technology and digital roles. Employability programme for epilepsy patients ‘Activa Rural’ project to train women with disabilities. International cooperation program for development in Colombia, Perú and India. Programmes with people with diverse functionality related to leisure, art, etc, to promote the awareness of the importance of the inclusion of these people in society.
Key Activities in Business Creation
Mentoring and training at each stage of an innovation project Spanish market-entry customized projects and partnerships Partner in the MJN-SERAS project funded by EIT Health to help in commercializing the solution and building a business model in Spain
Key Activities in Education
Training in Spanish healthcare market entry Definition and implementation of educational plans for HCP Definition and implementation of educational plans for patients Support on the adoption of training programmes in the Spanish market Partner in PsyHealthWorXs! Project funded by EIT Health to help in the training for psychosocial prevention at workplaces.


CLC/InnoStars: Germany
Partner classification: Tech Transfer, Clusters, Other NGOs
Partner type: Associate Partner
The Medical Valley European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg is an internationally leading cluster in the medical engineering sector. The\narea is home to highly specialized research facilities, global players and many upcoming companies.
Medical Valley European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg
Medical Valley European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg, Henkestraße 91, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation, Technology Transfer, Business coaching
