Tragedy that inspired a breakthrough
Published: October 10, 2005
The tragic death of a close friend inspired Glasgow engineering student Martin Izod to invent a ground-breaking device that could potentially benefit more than 270,000 epileptics across the UK.
The Peapod (Portable Epilepsy Alarm), pictured below, is an “intelligent” seizure detection unit that is totally unobtrusive, designed to be worn on the user’s body day and night, and protects them by quickly detecting a fit and alerting help.
For Izod, 22, it has been a labour of love.
He says: “Last year, I thought I’d lost one of my friends from epilepsy, but it turned out she died from other circumstances. The idea for the alarm came to me when I thought she had passed away overnight from a seizure. I decided I wanted to continue with it and develop a product that could really benefit people with the same condition.”
As part of his research, Izod, who is studying at Glasgow School of Art for an MEng in product design engineering, spent time at Quarriers’ Hunter House in Renfrewshire – Scotland’s only residential epilepsy assessment centre – learning about epilepsy and the effect it has on people.
“I needed to know what people actually wanted and how a new invention could really make a difference to their lives,” he says. “Motion sensors are hidden in discreet wrist and ankle bracelets – this allows the user to wear the product almost invisibly. The sensors translate the physical movement of limbs into electronic signals, which are used to recognise true seizures.
“If no cancellation response is found, Peapod emits a local audible alarm – which can also be set to silent – and dials the user’s carer.”
The invention is designed to promote independent living by helping to tackle tonic-clonic seizures, one of the most dangerous types of epileptic seizure, affecting around 270,000 people in the UK. It involves loss of consciousness, muscle control and convulsions, commonly results in bodily injuries due to falling, and, at worst, can result in choking, brain damage and even death.
The device itself is composed of a main unit – similar in size to a mobile phone – and wireless limb sensors. Izod recently signed half the rights for his product over to Scottish Health Innovation Ltd, an organisation that supports the development and commercialisation of innovations arising from within NHS Scotland.
His invention could be exactly what the Kremeyer family, of Stirling, has been looking for. Jenny Kremeyer, 15, is at secondary school and reaching the age where she wants to have more freedom. She has had epilepsy since the age of four and her condition is combined with mild learning disabilities. George, her father, works and is out of the house all day, leaving mother Janet with responsibility for Jenny’s care. Despite being an experienced nurse and social worker, this can be a nerve-racking task.
“Apart from the choking danger, we are concerned at the injuries our daughter is sustaining due to falling when out of our sight,” says Janet. “I know this is nothing new for people with epilepsy, but we are astounded that there are currently no products on the market to effectively warn carers that first aid may be required.”
Dr Aline Russell, consultant clinical neurophysiologist at Quarriers, says: “Many people with severe epilepsy are very restricted in their activities because of fear of injury from their seizures. Young people can feel particularly frustrated in their attempts to become more independent.
“We look forward to putting any prototype to the test in the epilepsy monitoring units in the epilepsy unit at Quarriers and at the Southern General hospital in Glasgow.
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