#USA #Atlanta #Emory University #Mentis Care #Seizure Prediction

Mentis Care and Emory University: Changing Epilepsy Management

Mentis Care, a forward-thinking company specializing in AI-driven neuromonitoring technology, has recently announced a major two-year collaboration with Emory University. This partnership aims to revolutionize the way epilepsy is managed globally by leveraging innovative AI techniques to develop channel-agnostic models for seizure detection and real-time prediction.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects more than 50 million individuals worldwide. Unfortunately, about one-third of these patients do not find effective control over their seizures through conventional treatments. This challenge largely stems from the intermittent nature of the illness, where monitoring is usually limited to clinical settings. Patients often endure lengthy cycles of medication without comprehensive data supporting their treatment strategies.

One of the critical barriers has been the complexity of electroencephalogram (EEG) systems, which require multiple electrodes to monitor brain activity accurately. Until now, conventional systems have struggled to differentiate between genuine seizure activity and other non-relevant signals, like simple movements.

However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence bring hope. Modern AI algorithms can filter out unwanted artifacts, enabling the detection of seizures using fewer sensors. These improvements also hold the promise of predicting seizures accurately, a goal that remains largely unachieved in practical settings. Just five minutes of warning can provide patients with invaluable time to prepare, ultimately leading to greater independence and peace of mind.

In collaboration with Dr. Samaneh Nasiri from Emory's School of Medicine, Mentis Care has initiated a Sponsored Research Agreement. The focus is on the development of a transformer-based EEG model that can adeptly function across a variety of EEG setups, from traditional clinical configurations to more accessible, reduced-channel wearables. This channel-agnostic architecture aims to ensure consistent performance across various systems, mitigating the obstacles that have historically hindered the deployment of such technology in real-world scenarios.

The research will draw from over one million hours of de-identified EEG data from Emory Healthcare, utilizing advances in five key areas. These include the curation of large datasets, the creation of a high-performance seizure detection model, validation across diverse patient demographics, adaptation to wearable EEG technology, and the development of real-time seizure prediction capabilities that target preictal forecasting with at least five minutes of lead time.

Mentis Care’s engineering and AI teams will closely collaborate with Emory researchers to refine the system architecture, validate its effectiveness, and ensure the developed solutions are ready for commercialization right from the start.

Hassan Kotob, the CEO of Mentis Care, stated, "Our mission is to transform how epilepsy care is delivered, reducing the lengthy periods patients spend adapting to treatments while striving to minimize the number who remain uncontrolled. Channel-agnostic AI is not merely an additional feature but a fundamental approach to allow for real-time monitoring in everyday settings. For the one in three patients with uncontrolled seizures, this could mean everything."

Dr. Samaneh Nasiri echoed the sentiments, noting that foundation models like the one in development will redefine what is achievable in healthcare. These adaptations will enhance seizure detection capabilities, even utilizing less elaborate wearable technology, thus facilitating a much closer integration of clinical-grade monitoring into daily life.

Additionally, Dr. Gari Clifford, an esteemed faculty member at Emory University, emphasized the broad implications of EEG analysis, remarking that this collaborative effort could benefit many neurological conditions beyond just epilepsy, promoting a deeper understanding of brain function that resonates across various medical domains.

Moreover, SK Biopharmaceuticals has expressed its commitment to pushing boundaries in patient treatment strategies through AI-enhanced digital healthcare, highlighting its dedication to transforming therapeutic innovation through Mentis Care.

In short, this transformative partnership between Mentis Care and Emory University stands poised to change the landscape of epilepsy management. The outcomes of this groundbreaking research could make significant strides towards achieving continuous, effective monitoring that allows patients to lead healthier, more independent lives.