Theta Neurotech Develops Wearable EEG Patch to Predict Epileptic Seizures

Theta Neurotech was founded in 2022 by Truman Pierson and Christopher Fitz with the goal of creating a wearable EEG patch that can anticipate epileptic seizures. This innovative device consists of two skin-like patches, about 15x30 millimeters each, which are placed behind the ears to monitor brain activity from the temporal lobes continuously. The data it collects is sent to a smartphone app that generates a risk score from 0 to 100, sending alerts if the score is above 50. In trials with 27 patients, the algorithm predicted 110 out of 123 seizures, typically alerting users 36 minutes in advance. The startup has attracted $2 million in funding and a $200,000 grant from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. Although the patches were originally meant to be disposable, future models might be rechargeable. Sandip Pati, who heads the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the University of Minnesota, pointed out both the promise of this technology and some concerns, including the limited number of four electrodes, the risk of false alarms, battery duration, and how the patches interact with skin. Currently, over 2,000 patients and caregivers are waiting for FDA approval, and the company plans to run a pilot study to refine the algorithm using real-time data.