Epilepsy Talk
Embrace — A Seizure Smartwatch With Style | April 6, 2017
“The first medical-quality wearable, to help measure epileptic seizures, activity and sleep.
“It has been created to track your activity, stress and overall body balance, enabling people who live with Epilepsy to get an alert when an unusual event happens such as a convulsive seizure, warning them and their loved ones,” says Empatica, the watch’s creators.
“It’s a medical quality device specifically created to monitor and better understand your bodies’ behavior and has been designed to be a gorgeous watch in the process.”
And the creators explain: “Not only during exercise, but also at work, during your commute, during the night, Embrace is the thinnest smart watch of this kind ever made. It snaps on, then tightens with a magnet for perfect fit.
You can choose to use it simply as a watch to tell time, in which case your battery should last 6 months.
Embrace makes it very easy to monitor physiological stress, sleep and physical activity.
You can check your entire day in a glance in a way that is easy to understand.
If you push yourself too much, the Embrace will gently remind you with a vibration that you need some time to recover. You can customize it to suit your behavior and needs.
When people who have epilepsy wear Embrace, they will get an alert when an unusual event happens, like a convulsive seizure. It will go via their smartphone to parents, roommates or caregivers, so somebody can check on them.”
The Embrace is water-resistant, uses Bluetooth Low Energy, and provides USB connectivity for charging.
Simply snap it on and it tightens with a magnet for a perfect fit.
It’s also aesthetically pleasing with an ultra-thin design, a stretchable band in five different colors, and a polished metal case.
Developed at M.I.T., its’ credentials are impressive.
When a seizure starts, the information is given to the app which will then alert designated caregivers that help is needed.
A rapid temperature change and signature shaking is picked up by the device, along with electrodermal activity which goes up, driven by the brain’s electrical hyperactivity.
Amazingly, Embrace can also measure brain wave suppression, which normally happens during seizures when brain waves tend to flatten to dangerous levels.
In addition, the new smartwatch can also monitor temperature changes and is equipped with gyroscope and accelerometers, which has the ability to track your activities.
When physical stress levels spike to a certain level, the watch begins to vibrate.
If you are unable to turn the vibration off, an alert is sent as many as five predetermined paired smartphones.
It will go to parents, roommates, or caregivers’ smart phone,– vibrating to alert the companion watch of the medical situation or status, so somebody can check on you.
In short, think of style coupled with a measure of safety, and you have the Embrace watch.
To buy the Embrace (for a pricey $249), click on: https://store.empatica.com/products/embrace-watch?variant=12580108355
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Research:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2014/11/30/a-smart-watch-to-manage-epileptic-seizures/
http://backerjack.com/embrace-smartwatch-watches-out-for-epilepsy-other-conditions/
http://au.ibtimes.com/embrace-next-level-smartwatch-can-predict-epileptic-seizures-1393970
http://www.htest.me/embrace-watch-measures-stress-epileptic-seizures-activity-and-sleep/
Tags: alert, android and Apple phones, attractive, behavior, bluetooth, developed at M.I.T., medical quality, monitors, physical activity, physiological stress, seizure, sleep, smartphone, vibrate
30 Comments »
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Epilepsy Talk 
Is it FDA approved? Does it need to be?
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Comment by Greg Mayes — April 6, 2017 @ 8:31 PM
Great question, Greg. (I had to do some research here!)
Empatica — the company who makes Embrace — is in the process of applying both for CE Medical (Europe) and FDA clearance (USA).
http://newatlas.com/embrace-smartwatch-epilepsy-seizure-detection/35037/
I think, in order to make additional claims (that they would like to), the claims must be validated by the FDA.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 6, 2017 @ 9:13 PM
BRILLIANT IDEA & vital instrument to help cope with epilepsy & carefully manage seizures.
I wonder, if the watch could be designated as MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEM/DEVICE & covered under my Insurance policy in order to buy one to help manage/control my seizures?
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Comment by Gerrie — April 7, 2017 @ 9:10 AM
Hi Gerrie, I don’t think the watch is covered by insurance — yet.
But once the Embrace passes FDA regulations, it may well be recognized as a medical alert system/device
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 7, 2017 @ 9:50 AM
Has anyone had any direct experience of this?
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Comment by Angela McAninly — April 7, 2017 @ 10:08 AM
Honestly Angela, I haven’t.
(I don’t need the watch because my seizures are 99% controlled.)
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 7, 2017 @ 10:17 AM
I bought one a few months ago, really needed it as I have PNES as well as epilepsy, but I couldn’t getit to charge up, and I livein the UK so it was too difficult to get help with it. I returned mine, but I really need something like that to distinguish betwwen PNES and epileptic seizures that register on EEGs. Has anyone had success with theirs? Anyone here also in the UK to exchange notes on it?
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Comment by Gail Barry — April 7, 2017 @ 11:42 AM
Gail, perhaps the Smartwatch would work for you?
The SmartWatch — A New Type of Seizure Monitor!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 7, 2017 @ 5:22 PM
I would love to get this.but I have a programmable VP shunt ..so cant get this don’t think as might change settings etc…:( as it and I have to be careful magnet exposures etc
Thank you for all the wonderful and informative articles you always research and share with all of us!
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Comment by Ali — April 7, 2017 @ 12:15 PM
Ali, I’m sorry it won’t work for you. But thanks very much for the compliments.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 7, 2017 @ 5:23 PM
There is a Facebook group where users share their expenses with this device for anyone who is interested https://www.facebook.com/groups/1739187789674146/
Lots of people think it is great which is good. Some have had issues with it not charging properly or freezing.
I have one but haven’t tried to switch over to using it yet because I can’t make it give false alarms, so I have trouble trusting it. But other users have reported it detecting actual seizures reliably so it may just be me being too sceptical because I can’t tell what it is doing.
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Comment by jones139 — April 8, 2017 @ 9:01 AM
Thanks so very much for both your personal input and the link.
Hope you get yours up and running (successfully)
soon!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 8, 2017 @ 10:35 AM
This is so exciting and would give family members peace of mind to know a device can help you know your loved one needs help. I love all the information you have been providing. Keep up the good work!!
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Comment by Lori — April 10, 2017 @ 11:43 AM
Thank you Lori. I hope it works for you.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 10, 2017 @ 12:44 PM
Phylis, This is Melissa Bryan. Someone is using your FB acct. Contact FB asap. Says he is Zachary Treat???
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Comment by Melissa Ooley Bryan — April 11, 2017 @ 10:25 AM
Thanks so much, Melissa. I contacted Facebook and they weren’t very helpful but I did block him via Facebook, so hopefully the “drama” will be over.
Thanks again!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — April 11, 2017 @ 12:05 PM
. but I have a programmable VP shunt .
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Comment by ComputerBook — May 3, 2017 @ 6:58 AM
I think you’ll have to call Empatica to inquire. They are available to answer your queries between 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET, Monday – Friday. Call: (800) 677-9661.
Sorry I couldn’t answer your question. 😦
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 3, 2017 @ 9:02 AM
When they first came out with these watches, they were having people presign up for them, and then giving them to people who couldn’t afford them. I wrote them an email and asked them” how do I sign up for one, I can’t afford one” still haven’t heard anything from them! So, either it was a lie or maybe because I am too old. Wow, 37.
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Comment by Kathleen — May 30, 2017 @ 4:29 PM
I think the sign-up period has passed. You can call your local Epilepsy Foundation to find out.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 30, 2017 @ 4:32 PM
I tried out 2 of them, neither would pair up, the second one came with a promise of measuring stress but it hasn’t been developed yet. Stress is a major player with me which made me trial the 2nd one, but they don’t work
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Comment by gail — May 31, 2017 @ 4:18 AM
Have you considered The SmartWatch”?
The SmartWatch — A New Type of Seizure Monitor!
It’s a motion detecting and alerting wristwatch that can detect seizures and alert caregivers within seven to 10 seconds.
http://www.smart-monitor.com/
For details and pricing information, please call 1-888-334-5045.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 31, 2017 @ 8:10 AM
. but I have a programmable VP shunt .
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Comment by arsenios — July 7, 2017 @ 9:37 AM
Doesn’t that do the trick?
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 7, 2017 @ 9:38 AM
Hi this is Ali who first posted above in a comment about this.. and within my post..said “but I have a programable VP shunt” … just concerned a bit as see you now have two other posts..with just a clip of my words?? not sure anything flukey going on..but just commenting to this.:)
Thank you again all you do for us.
Hope all going well for you.
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Comment by Ali — July 7, 2017 @ 1:17 PM
Nope Ali, that’s the way it came through. I’m a little confused.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 7, 2017 @ 4:19 PM
I am confused too ha.. the other two posts are not from me! 🙂 but just a clip of my words…..oh well guess have more things to worry about and sorry to even bother you with this. Thanks so much for reading and replying though!
Have great night
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Comment by Ali — July 7, 2017 @ 9:39 PM
Oh c’mon Ali. You’re not a bother at all. (Maybe a mystery?) perhaps it was a cyberspace burp. 🙂
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 7, 2017 @ 9:52 PM
do you have something I could ware that can warn me that I am going to have a seizure before I have the seizure, so I could lay down or stop what I am doing to prevent problems. this would be a life saver
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Comment by william papa — December 31, 2017 @ 9:04 AM
The only thing I can think of is The SmartWatch — A motion detecting and alerting wristwatch that can detect seizures and alert caregivers within seven to 10 seconds. http://www.smart-monitor.com/
For details and pricing information, please call 1-888-334-5045.
Epilepsy Detector Application — An accelerometer based mobile phone application that uses advanced signal processing to detect epileptic seizures. It runs on most mobile phones that support SMS messaging, movement detection and GPS position location. http://www.epdetect.com/
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — December 31, 2017 @ 10:49 AM