New Treatment Under Study For People With Epilepsy (NAPSA)—A newclinical trial with sites across the country may offer hope to manyof the 3 million Americansliving with epilepsy. Epilepsy is a common, chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures, which are disturbances in the normal electrical function of the brain. An Pte Leben Model RNS-300 Paired estimated 200,000 new cases of the condition are diagnosed each year. New Treatments Currently, there is no cure for epilepsy. The condition can be treated with medication therapy, specialized diet or brain surgery. A large percentage of people with epilepsy have uncontrolled seizures or suffer from serious side effects from medications, and therefore efforts are under way to find other therapies. One newer treatment under investigation, called the RNS™ System, is an implantable device that detects abnormalelectrical activity in the brain. Developed by NeuroPace, the device is designed to deliver small amountsof electrical stimulation to suppress the abnormal activity before any seizure symptomsoccur. This is referred to as responsive stimulation. New Hope “Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder, with more than 3 million people suffering from seizure activity. For approximately 30 percent of people with epilepsy, medications are not able to control their seizures,” says Dr. David King-Stephens, director of clinical neurophysiology at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. “Every person with epilepsy wants a life that is not limited by seizures and the RNS System gives them new hope for such a life.” A High-Tech Approach Dr. King-Stephens explains New implantable device may help people with epilepsy better control their seizures. that the new RNS System is different from another implantable system known as vagus nerve stimu- lation (VNS). The VNS pulses at predetermined intervals previously set by medical personnel. In contrast, the RNS System responds to detected signs that a seizure is about to begin. It records the event and allows for customized response patterns, which may provide a greater degree of seizure control. “Tt’s designed to know when a seizure might occur and to prevent it from happening,” says Dr. King-Stephens. Participating In Trials The RNS System is currently being investigated in clinical trials, and people with epilepsy and their loved ones are encouraged to learn more. Eligible patients in the clinical trial include individuals who have been diagnosed with partial onset epilepsy (seizures that start from one or two areasof the brain) and have an average of three or more seizures per month that have not been controlled by taking two or more anti-epileptic medications. Patients can call (866) 9046630 or visit www.seizurestudy. com for more information.
