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An IoT platform for seizure alert wearable device

To cite this article: P A Emelia Akashah and A Noor Shita 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 767 012012

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

An IoT platform for seizure alert wearable device

Emelia Akashah P A1 and Noor Shita A1

1
Department of Computer & Information Sciences,Universiti Teknologi Petronas
32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Malaysia

emelia.akhir@utp.edu.my

Abstract. This research aims to propose the system architecture for a wearable device that is
able to detect seizure attacks for children aged 15 years old and below. The objective of this
research is to alert parents or relatives of the patients whenever the seizure attack is detected. In
many cases, seizure attack happened in absences of the parents or relatives. Therefore, the
wearable device proposed in this research should be able to monitor their children heart rate and
motion remotely. Notification also will be sent to parents or relatives via mobile apps should
there is any trigger of seizure detection. Data were collected via interview. The IoT wearable
device architecture was then designed before being implemented.

1. Introduction
Internet-of-Things (IoT) seems to be one of appropriate solutions to many things such as logistics, traffic
management, smart houses etc. This technology allows a wide range of devices to communicate with
each other and gather data to be analysed [1]. According to [2], one of the interesting domains to apply
IoT is medical and health care. IoT enables medical applications to provide early intervention to the
users. IoT also able to provide remote monitoring that could benefits many people. For instance, a person
with chronic disease can always being monitored by their parents or relatives whenever they are alone
[3].
In this research, the concept of IoT is applied to develop a device that could help to detect seizure
attack for children aged 15 years old and below. The device should be able to alert the parents or relatives
in case the attack happens when the children are alone.
A seizure is a short scene of symptoms that caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Normally, a seizure endures from a few moments to a couple of minutes. The mind contains many nerve
cells (neurons). Regularly, the nerve cells are continually sending modest electrical messages down
nerves to all parts of the body. Distinctive parts of the mind control diverse parts and elements of the
body. In this manner, the indications that happen amid a seizure rely on upon where the irregular burst
of electrical activity happens.
There are several types of seizures but they are broadly divided into two main types which are
generalised and focal (used to be called partial):
● Generalised seizures: This type of seizures occurs if you have a burst of abnormal electrical
activity which spreads throughout the brain. It affects consciousness and may cause a convulsion
to a person.
● Focal seizures: In focal seizures, the burst of electrical activity starts in, and stays in, one part
of the brain. Therefore, you tend to have localised (focal) symptoms. Various parts of the brain
control different functions, so symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected. Focal

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

seizures are said not affecting consciousness but may affect emotions, sensations, behaviours,
muscles or combinations of these.
In this research project, the author has chosen the generalised seizures to study further.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Seizure Prediction and Detection

Early detection of seizure among children is crucial in order to prevent long-term neurological injury
[4]. Patients with epilepsy regularly portray seizures as happening "out of nowhere" which emphasizes
the evident sudden, unanticipated path in which seizures tend to strike [5]. This represents to a standout
amongst the most disable parts of the disease [6], particularly for those not able to accomplish complete
seizure control. It can prompt to a serious sentiment defencelessness that strongly affects the regular
daily existence of a patient. Also, unexpected scenes of gazing, loss of muscle control or loss of
awareness can represent a genuine damage chance and can even be life-debilitating on the off chance
that they happen while the patient is driving, crossing a bustling road, washing, swimming or climbing
stairs. In this manner, a strategy fit for estimating the event of seizures could significantly enhance the
personal satisfaction for epilepsy patients [7]. For a long time, epileptic seizures were thought to strike
suddenly however there is currently mounting proof that seizures create minutes to hours before clinical
onset. Clinical findings authenticating the presence of a pre-seizure state incorporate a significant
increment in blood flow in the epileptic transient flaps minutes before seizure onset [8] [9], increment
in cerebral oxygenation hours before the ictal occasion [10], increment in blood oxygen level dependent
practical MRI (fMRI) signals [11] and additionally changes in RR interims on the ECG minutes before
seizure onset [12]. Since Viglione and colleagues the visionary work on predicting epileptic seizures in
the 1970s, they has concentrated on extracting characteristic features that are predictive of an impending
seizure from intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) signals [13]. In any case, there is mindfulness
that solitary quantitative methods are probably not going to foresee seizures in all patients. As of late,
seizure expectation work has diversified and there is an expanding enthusiasm for strategies for
determining seizures from other physiological or non-physiological factors [13]. Regardless of whether
seizures can be heartily anticipated, a gadget that can distinguish seizures and trigger a caution has vital
utility. Since seizures frequently cause loss of cognizance, most patients especially children below 15
years experiences difficulty to reporting the event of seizures.

2.2. Seizure Detection using Wearable Device Attached and Information Apps
Current advancements for procuring signals from the patient's body are very much. Numerous sensors
are accessible which can recognize the heart beat and strong developments non-intrusively and precisely.
Such non-invasive technique for measuring heart beat in this project is bioimpedence sensors in pebble
wristband. This sensor can accurately monitor the heartbeat of the patients as this sensor measures
resistance of skin tissue to the electrical currents in your skin to give you real-time heart rate readings.
Bioimpedance sensors is also capture both your Resting Heart Rate and Passive Heart Rate for a holistic
view of your heart.
Heart beat are to be checked consistently. Any sudden variety in heart beat which is created by the
onset of epileptic seizures is recognized and confirmed or notify by push notification on the smart phone.
At the point when the seizure is confirmed, notification is transmitted to the smart phones for initiating
necessary protective measures for the patient. The device is invented as wireless, wearable and
individual gear. Motions and movement collected using precision motion sensor and powerful algorithm
to passively track and quantify your activities, distance, calories, active time, and idle time. The band is
made of hypoallergenic rubber and encased in medical review. It is smooth, adaptable and totally latex-
free. The band inside contains advanced technology that the band should treat with care and keep away
from superfluous bending. The top and base casings are made of anodized aluminium. The device that
compatible with this kind of band are IOS and Android, thus we created an information apps that is
compatible with the type of phones.

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

The device developed in this research is used primarily to detect repeated shaking movement during
seizure event. It can inform close-by family or caregiver when a seizure happens through cautions,
telephone calls or text-based notifications. A parental figure can then help the individual amid and after
the seizure. For instance, they can help re-position the individual, ensuring they are on their side in the
event that they are not cognizant. They can likewise ensure somebody doesn't nod off on their stomach
a short time later. On the off chance that breathing or different issues happen, they can call for medicinal
offer assistance. They may also can give protect solutions or call for an ambulance if the seizure keeps
going too long or the individual has repeated seizures.
Our research has found some limitations on the existing seizure detection that are available in the
market:
● Seizure alert devices may not be functional for individuals who live alone or who don't need
others to keep an eye on them. The information apps in this research are giving the information
in the apps itself on how to handle the seizures when occurred in case they are collapse in public
area.
● Complex partial seizures are typically not detected by devices that identify shaking
developments.
● The devices as of now accessible are not affirmed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The confirmation that these gadgets work to identify seizures regularly originates from studies
performed in hospital epilepsy monitoring units and in a few circumstances, in home settings.
A portion of the devices have not been considered in a methodical manner so we don't know
how well they function in the 'real world'.
● The devices do not alert caregivers of breathing issues or changes in heart rate, which might be
imperative in SUDEP. In this research project, the changes in heart rate is considered to detect
the occurrence of the seizures.
● More scientific evidence is expected to confirm how well seizure alert devices function and on
the off chance that they are useful in detecting SUDEP.

3. Methodology

3.1 Literature Survey

A literature review has been conducted by reading, analysing and comparing between existing projects
from various sources. A clear idea of components to use in developing this project is obtained after
reviewing relevant literatures. This is important as to ensure the existence of the research project as well
as its feasibility within the time frame given.

3.2 Collecting Data from Children and Infants, Parents and Doctor (interview)
An interview has been conducted with the respondent who are the patient (children), parents and doctor.
The purposes of this interview are to get the overview of the seizures, how the parents detect the seizures
occurred and the problem, challenges and opinion from these three respondents on the implementation
of information apps. This interview also conducted at the respondent’s house which located at Bangi,
Selangor. Before the interview session, the author did some research based on readings and design the
questions to be interview. All the questions to be asked during interview is designed based on the
literature review. The interview was recorded and conducted in formal.

3.3 Prototype cycles (Develop, Demonstrate and Refine)

For this phase, few activities will be conducted such as designing the system flow which contain use
case and activity diagram, design the system component where the system architecture has been
developed and identify tools and equipment, develop prototype, design user interface and coding mobile
application. To complete this prototype phase, the author uses PhoneGap and jQuery to develop the
information apps. PhoneGap and jQuery helps the author to create software application for Android

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

operating system (OS) and iOS. The firebase framework also will be used for the development of the
information apps.

3.4 Testing
The testing will be conducted after the prototype has been developed. The application will undergo two
types of test which is system test and user acceptance test in this testing phase. System test or also known
as functional test is conduct to make sure that all the function in retrieving the data from database
MySQL (Structured Query Language) to mobile application work properly in notify the parents or carer
of any seizures occurrences. Meanwhile, user acceptance test is conducted to demonstrate to users that
the application is ready for deployment phase. Any feedback and criticism will be taken into accounts
and any improvements will be made immediately after the test been conduct and the new version of
prototype will be released. The entire test is done to ensure that the application will satisfy the user need
and achieve the objectives of this project.

3.5 Deployment
Next, the procedure will proceed onward to the deployment stage where the application will be created
with the selected tools and method. The component focus amid this stage is to ensure it will be easy to
understand (user friendly) to the target group. A few reasonable functions will be made and utilized as
a part of building up the mobile application. The purpose behind this stage is to transform the necessities
into complete and detailed system design specification before moving to the last stage that is the
deployment stage. Graphical User Interface (GUI), database and system architecture will be design at
this stage.

4. Result and Discussions

A system architecture is a conceptual model that characterizes the structure, behaviours, and more
perspectives of a system. An architecture description is a formal depiction and portrayal of a framework,
sorted out in a way that backings thinking about the structures and behaviours of the system. In this
study, the author uses the below illustration as the conceptual model for the project which comprise the
children and parents and their respective device used to detect the seizures and get the notification from
information apps. The cloud database will be used to store history data and current collection data of
seizures.

Figure 1. System Architecture

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

Figure 2. Activity Diagram Patient

Figure 3. Activity Diagram Parent/Carer

Activity diagram above shows the overall activity in information apps. Two main actors will involve
which are patient and carer. Both have their own activity flow for this application. For patients, they
will be the source for the information apps to collect the pulse rate and motion. They also able to monitor
their daily health through the wristband attached. For carer, they shall register/sign up to use the
information apps. Then, they must login to enter to the homepage. Information apps also help them to
monitor their children daily health, give them alert and they can receive the notification from the
information apps.

5. Conclusion
In a nutshell, the author found that information apps and wristband attached is a potential mobile
application and device to be used in Malaysia after had done many research and interview. It is very
useful and helpful in assisting the parents to monitor their children’s daily health, get the notification
and alert them should there is any triggers of seizure detection to their children when they are busy with
their work. This will also help their children to freely play outside from their home. It will help millions
of victims of seizures around the globe. For future recommendation is to develop the information apps
that can alert the carer through detection of many types of seizures. Thus, there will be more user can
use the device and an information apps and therefore can saves many lives. Next recommendation is to
develop cloud monitoring for the doctors to monitor the seizures. The parents no need to go to the

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1st International Symposium on Engineering and Technology (ISETech) 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 767 (2020) 012012 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/767/1/012012

hospital if the doctors got an application or desktop monitoring. He will be able to monitor his patient
remotely. It will reduce time for patient’s family to go there and can get the results instantly.

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