How does it work?

epiNightNurse.com is an internet-based seizure monitoring system which is build around two components:

• Night-vision cameras and microphones in the patient’s bed room
• Trained nurses monitoring video and audio streams and triggering alarms to the caregivers

Cameras and microphones are connected to the Internet so that nurses can monitor the patient remotely. The nurses can move (pan and tilt) the cameras and use the zoom functionality to get the best close-up of the patient. The nurses will trigger an alarm when any of the agreed seizure signs are noticed. The alarm is delivered to the caregivers by text message or phone. Once the caregiver has checked on the patient, performed any emergency measures if necessary, she will provide feedback on the alert to the caregiver.

Central to the system are customized alert triggers. This means that caregivers can determine patient specific signs, which are used by the nurses to trigger an alarm. Examples or these triggers are:

• Subtle patient movements which are below the threshold levels of automated systems: Slight head jerking, isolated shaking of one limb
• Distorted facial features
• Blinking, upward eye deviations and other unusual ocular movements
• Generalized tonic posturing, tonic posturing of one limb
• Tongue thrusting and lip smacking
• Audible breathing anomalies

The caregiver can also ask to be altered by the nurse in case of non-seizure events such as:

• Patient awake
• Patient’s face hidden by blanket or pillow for longer than specified number of minutes
• Internet connection down for longer than specified number of minutes