Epilepsy
Monitoring  

This project proposes a conceptual design for ongoing epilepsy and seizure management through a holistic ecosystem, incorporating a visually pleasing wearable device and a mobile app. This innovation addresses the discomfort and stress of current EEG setups, improving patient compliance and overall well-being.

Project Detail

Role

Duration

Student project
Users Research
4 Weeks
April - May 2023
System Design
User Interface Design
Prototyping

The Challenge & Goal

Currently,  EEG setups are cumbersome and uncomfortable, leading to patient discomfort, stress, and reduced compliance. This project aims to develop unnoticeable, comfortable, and user-friendly wearable EEG device with an integrated mobile app for continuous brain activity monitoring and personalized rest and meditation reminders, improving patient comfort, compliance, and overall well-being.

Design Process

Research

Define Problem

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures that affects people of all ages.

Discovery Problem

Current Measurements

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)

Identifies brain abnormalities for diagnosis and treatment planning

Electromyography

Measures muscle response to nerve stimulation to diagnose and assess neuromuscular disorders.

Wada Test

Assesses language and memory functions of each brain hemisphere to plan for epilepsy surgery

Discovery Problem

The Most Common Measurement

Electroencephalogram(EEG Examination)

Routine EEG

A few minutes to a couple of hours
Hospital/clinic

Prolonged EEG

May require a stay(couple days)
Hospital/clinic/home

Discovery Problem

How Does EEG Works

#1. Setup

Attache electrodes to the patient's scalp by using a special adhesive to ensure they stay in place

#2. Recording

Record the brain activities continuously for 24-72 hours, capturing data during various states

#3. Analysis

Analyze recorded, looking for abnormalities in brain wave patterns that indicate epilepsy or other issues

#4. Diagnosis

Determining the type of seizures with the doctor, assessing treatment efficacy, and planning further management

The current EEG setup is not working effectively, as its cumbersome headgear and continuous monitoring cause discomfort and stress, reducing patient comfort and compliance

Define Problem

Persona

Seizure History: 8 Years

Meng (22) She / Her / Hers

Inner Mongolia, China

"Unpredictable seizures drive
me crazy, making it hard to focus on
my studies and enjoy the normal social life"

Bio

Possible Triggers

Meng is a 22-year-old college student studying agriculture who has been suffering from epilepsy for 8 years.
Pressures from school and life are major causes of stress, making rest time an essential element to consider.

Seizure History: 8 Years

Meng (22) She / Her / Hers

Inner Mongolia, China

Frustration

Wish

Meng has been suffering from seizures for years, feeling isolated and struggling to keep up with her studies.
Meng wishes to manage her seizures effectively so she can focus on her studies and enjoy social activities without constant worry or isolation.

Define Problem

Problem Statement

HOW MIGHT WE

improve the EEG setup to minimize discomfort and stress, thereby enhancing patient comfort and compliance?

Possible Solution

Proposed Solution

The goal of this project is to develop a visually pleasing wearable EEG device with an app for continuous brain activity monitoring. The app provides personalized rest/meditation reminders based on users' anxiety levels, promoting proactive health management.

Discovery

Storyboard

#1. Ongoing Monitoring

Meng is wearing the device in her everyday life to track her brain activities and prevent high anxiety. Currently, she is working on her assignment in the library

#2. Rest Alert

The EEG device sensed her brain wave has shown abnormal and vibrates to remind Meng to take a rest; at the same time, she receives an app notification about her current brain wave and anxiety score

#3. Relaxation time

Meng chose a relaxation tool from the app(this time, she chose music) to help her relax and took some medication to help her relax

#4. Relaxation time

After an hour of rest, her brain status returned to normal, and she continued working on her assignment

System Map

How Does it Work?

Outcome

The Device

For the design of the product, I aim to make it look ordinary so that Meng's abnormalities go unnoticed. Additionally, incorporating another necessary function, such as the ability to listen to music daily and play relaxing audio when needed, will increase the convenience of the patient's everyday life.

Connected App

Conceptual Model

The Interface 1

The Interface 2

The Interface 3

Takeaway

Learning & Reflection

Epilepsy Care
Understanding the deep emotional bond between pet parents and their pets reinforced the importance of empathy in design. I learned to create solutions that not only meet practical needs but also support the emotional well-being of users and their pets.

Problem-Solving:
Identifying pain points like difficulty accessing health records and high emergency visit costs taught me to focus on solving specific, real-world problems. This approach ensures that the solutions I create have a meaningful impact.

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Jessiezhangjz1@gmail.com
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