Symposium #7: Promises and Pitfalls of Biosignal Analysis: Seizure Prediction and Management

Organizer and Moderator:Klaus Lehnertz
Universiy of Bonn

Several lines of evidence indicate that nonlinear time series analysis of the EEG has a very high impact for detecting "pre-seizure states" that might allow anticipation of epileptic seizures several minutes in advance. This time frame allows development and testing of specific seizure prevention techniques. Thus, epileptologists/neurologists now have growing interest to bring these new analysis techniques to a broader application in hospitals. Similar demands come from the industry as there is strong interest to incorporate the different techniques into EEG acquisition systems and, moreover, to develop miniaturized and thus implantable devices for seizure prediction and possibly prevention. Since enough "critical information" has been gathered so far, this symposium is devoted to discuss promises, pitfalls and reality of biosignal/biosystem analysis taking prediction and prevention of epileptic seizures as a timely and representative example

Invited Speakers:

1. Clinical Needs and Clinical Experience, Dr. Brian Litt, University of Pennsylvania
2. Prediction Techniques, Robustness and Performance Issues, Dr. Klaus Lehnertz, University of Bonn
3. Current/near Future Prototypes and Systems, Dr. Mark T. Rise, Medtronic Neurological
4. Acceptance and Regulatory Issues, Dr. Auke Poutsma, Medtronic Neurological