Brain implant aims to forecast seizures in Drug-Resistant epilepsy
NCT ID NCT07012148
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a tiny device placed under the scalp can predict seizures in people with epilepsy that doesn't respond to medication. Twelve adults with focal epilepsy will wear the device and a smartwatch to track brain activity and other signals. The goal is to see if this approach is safe and can give early warnings, potentially helping patients manage their condition better.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 12 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Subjects enrolled in this study must have epilepsy involving the temporal lobe and will have undergone video-EEG monitoring within the past 3 years, and will have met the following criteria: * Focal epilepsy, including complex partial, and secondarily generalized seizures, including: * disabling seizure (i.e. involving loss of awareness, motor control, speech, or other essential functions) counts at least 2 per month on average over the preceding 3 months, established by verbal history or caregiver report. * For 3 months prior to enrollment, subject's AED dosages have been stable (less than a 25% change in dosage) and subject has had at least two seizures per month, on average, with a seizure-free interval not to exceed 60 days. Seizures must be separated by a minimum of four hours not to be considered part of a cluster. A cluster, for the purpose of this criterion, shall be considered a single seizure. * With the exception of epilepsy, subject must be medically and neurologically stable. * Age 18 to 75. * Ability and willingness to provide informed consent and participate in the study protocol. Subject is able to interpret and to respond, in accordance with the study protocol, to the advisory indicators provided by the device. * Subject has seizures that are distinct, stereotypical events that can be reliably counted by the subject or caregiver, and have a distinct EEG pattern that can be recorded using subscalp EEG over the frontotemporal head region, established by video-EEG monitoring. * Subject can reasonably be expected to maintain a seizure diary alone or with the assistance of a competent individual. * Subject is able to complete regular office visits and telephone appointments in accordance with the study protocol requirements. * Subject's seizure focus, based upon clinical semiology, scalp EEG, intracranial electroencephalographic (iEEG) findings, and/or neuroimaging, demonstrate consistent involvement of the temporal lobe with their EEG seizure pattern. * Subject speaks and reads English. * Subject has no reason to anticipate requiring a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation within the next two years. * Subject has EEG documentation of ictal events consistent with his or her predominant current seizure type. * Subject's anatomy will permit implantation of the UNEEG SubQ device in the opinion of the study's neurosurgeon. * Female subjects have a negative pregnancy test, have no plans to become pregnant, and use effective contraception during the study. Exclusion Criteria: * For 3 months prior to enrollment, subject's AED dosages have not been stable (greater than 25% change in dosage), or subject has had more than 30 disabling seizures per month, on average, or more than 10 seizure days per month, on average. * Subject needs to have magnetic resonance imaging during the study period. * Subject has a substance abuse history (alcohol, prescription, or illicit medications) within the preceding two years. * Subject participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days. * Subject has been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the preceding two years or has had a history of psychosis within the preceding two years (excluding post-ictal psychosis). * Subject is implanted with pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator, cardiac management product, brain stimulator, or other medical device that would interfere with the UNEEG device. This includes, but is not limited to, direct brain neurostimulators, spinal cord stimulators, and cochlear implants. Vagus nerve stimulators are not expected to interfere with the subscalp EEG device and will be permitted, as long as stimulation parameters can be reasonably expected to remain stable (25% or less change in amplitude) throughout the study. * Subject has experienced unprovoked status epilepticus. * Subject has had therapeutic surgery to treat epilepsy that may interfere with electrode placement in the judgement of the neurosurgeon. * Subject is on anticoagulants and is unable to discontinue them perisurgically, as required by the neurosurgeon or Investigator. * Subject has significant platelet dysfunction from medical conditions or medications (including, particularly, aspirin or sodium valproate). If platelet dysfunction is suspected, subject can be enrolled only if a hematologist, the Investigator, and the neurosurgeon judge it to be advisable. Blood tests to evaluate platelet and bleeding disorder issues will be obtained prior to enrollment. * Subject is otherwise ineligible for cranial surgery, or the Investigators identify other medical or psychosocial factors that would counter indicate participation in the study. * Subject is pregnant or intends to become pregnant during the study period. * Subject has a known diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) * Female subject is pregnant or plans to become pregnant.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Mayo Clinic in Rochester
RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Could a night of soft sounds sharpen the epileptic brain?
- Brain recordings reveal how we keep tabs on others — a window into social navigation
- New brain sensor aims to stop seizures in Drug-Resistant epilepsy
- New pill aims to curb focal seizures in adults
- Virtual tours may help spare memory in epilepsy surgery