PearNet3: More accurate epilepsy diagnosis for everyday life : Date: , Theme: GO-Bio next
More than 51 million people worldwide live with epilepsy. However, diagnosing and monitoring the condition are often time-consuming, costly or only possible to a limited extent in everyday life. The GO-Bio next project PearNet3 is developing an innovative body sensor network designed to detect epileptic seizures more accurately and enable continuous monitoring outside specialist clinics.
Reliably detecting and monitoring epilepsy
Accurate diagnosis and reliable monitoring are crucial for the treatment of epilepsy. Whilst existing clinical procedures do provide high-quality data, they often require complex examinations to be carried out at specialist centres. Mobile systems for everyday use, on the other hand, are often less reliable or only of limited practical use to those affected.
This is where PearNet3 comes in. The project is developing a multimodal body sensor network that combines a discrete ear EEG with other biosensors. An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures the brain’s electrical activity and plays a key role in the diagnosis of epilepsy. By combining various physiological measurements, the aim is to detect epileptic seizures more reliably and reduce the number of misdiagnoses.
Two systems for diagnosis and monitoring
The technology covers two areas of application. PearNet-Diff is designed to enable rapid diagnosis of epilepsy for outpatients. PearNet-Track, on the other hand, is designed for the continuous monitoring of seizures in everyday life. Combining and analysing different biosignals improves the detection of epileptic activity whilst reducing false alarms.
This enables doctors to tailor treatment more precisely and monitor the course of the disease more effectively. Long-term, the system could also help to identify risks associated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) at an earlier stage.
From validation to market readiness
Existing prototypes are being further developed into a market-ready product as part of the GO-Bio next project. These include TÜV-certified ear EEG systems that are being integrated into the overall system. In addition, the team is planning prospective validation studies and the further development of AI-based algorithms for automated seizure detection.
The conditions necessary for medical device authorisation are being established concurrently. The project team is also working on further developing the business model and the intellectual property strategy in order to lay the foundations for a future spin-off.
More on funded GO-Bio projects on the overview page