New Advancements in Drugs and Devices for Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

Another implantable device, the seizure advisory system (NeuroVista Corporation; Seattle), is not actually a device to treat epilepsy but uses complex algorithms of input from the brain to warn patients in advance of impending seizures. “It can tell a patient well in advance, an hour or two in some cases, that a seizure is going to happen,” Dr. French reported. “This would actually make the disease a lot easier to bear.

“In the device world, we’re just getting started,” she said. “We have to understand a little more about these trials, but there’s a great deal of interest…. In light of the rich pipeline of drugs in development, it is to be hoped that patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy will soon have improved options for care,” Dr. French concluded.