Patent Description:
This disclosure relates to medical devices. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a seizure detection device.

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in the world after migraine, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. It is a disorder of the central nervous system, not caused by an underlying, treatable medical condition, characterized by recurring periods of altered brain function caused by abnormal or excessive electrical discharges in the brain, resulting in what is commonly called a seizure. It is one of the world's oldest recognized health conditions, with recorded occurrences dating back to <NUM>,<NUM> BC.

Worldwide, there are nearly <NUM> million people who have epilepsy, with more than <NUM> million in the U. Worldwide, there are <NUM> million new cases of epilepsy each year, with more than <NUM>,<NUM> new cases each year in the U. Over a lifetime, more than one in twenty-six people with be diagnosed with the disease. Medication and medical intervention can control seizures in approximately two-thirds of patients, with the remaining one-third experiencing uncontrolled and unpredictable seizure episodes. There are estimated to be nearly one million deaths directly related to epilepsy each year worldwide, including some <NUM>,<NUM> deaths in the U. S each year.

Each year, approximately <NUM> people out of every <NUM>,<NUM> in the general population will experience new-onset seizures, and approximately <NUM>% of these will have repeated episodes leading to the diagnosis of epilepsy. Misunderstanding, prejudice, and social humiliation have always surrounded epilepsy. This continues in most countries today and can significantly impact the quality of life for people with epilepsy.

The social consequences of epilepsy are often more impactful than the seizures themselves. The lack of predictability inherent in epilepsy is devastating. Never knowing when a seizure might strike imposes major limitations in family, social, educational, and vocational activities. In addition to the potential of serious injury from falls and other accidents during seizures, the societal stigma attached to epilepsy and its unpredictability that can cause significant demoralization, irritation, and anxiety. Frustratingly, studies have shown that increased anxiety can lead to increased incidence of seizures, and increased seizures can lead to an even greater increase in chronic anxiety.

In summation, unexpected seizures can result in accident, injury, embarrassment, and costly trips to the emergency room. They can be difficult to predict and can be dangerous, particularly in instances where the patient is unable to contact family, a friend, or medical personnel when needed. Furthermore, patients often must take daily prophylactic medications that can be toxic and can be accompanied by unpleasant, occasionally life-threatening side effects.

<CIT> discloses acquiring biological gas information showing the <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-hexanol concentration released from the skin surface of a user together with time information. Information representing the upper limit of a normal range of <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM> -hexanol per unit time period is read from a memory and time periods during which the <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-hexanol concentration of the user exceeds the upper limit of the normal range are determined. <CIT> discloses a solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) device whihc may be used in combination with a breath sampler. The device may be used as a test for a Helicobacter Pylori infection.

<CIT> describes an apparatus including a first gas chromatograph including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a first temperature control. A controller is coupled to the first temperature control and includes logic to apply a first temperature profile to the first temperature control to heat, cool, or both heat and cool the first gas chromatograph.

<CIT> describes methods of diagnosing and/or monitoring tuberculosis (TB) in a subject by analyzing a test sample comprising at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) emitted or excreted from the skin of the subject. The test sample can be analyzed by a sensing unit comprising nanomaterials- and/or polymer-based sensors.

Davis Philip R. , "The Investigation of Human Scent from Epileptic Patients for the Identification of a Biomarker for Epileptic Seizures", FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. <NUM>, doi: <NUM>/etd. FIDC004043, (<NUM>), URL: https://digitalcommons. edu/etd/<NUM>, discloses the use of headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze hand odor, saliva and breath samples from epileptic with and without seizure activity to determine if the human scent profiles resulting from a seizure event differs from the scent profiles in the absence of seizure activity.

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

Disclosed is a collector for a seizure detection device as defined in claim <NUM>.

Also disclosed is a seizure detection device as defined in claim <NUM>.

Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.

The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and the previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, and, as such, can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the present devices, systems, and/or methods in its best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the present devices, systems, and/or methods described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.

As used throughout, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "an element" can include two or more such elements unless the context indicates otherwise.

For purposes of the current disclosure, a material property or dimension measuring about X or substantially X on a particular measurement scale measures within a range between X plus an industry-standard upper tolerance for the specified measurement and X minus an industry-standard lower tolerance for the specified measurement. Because tolerances can vary between different materials, processes and between different models, the tolerance for a particular measurement of a particular component can fall within a range of tolerances.

As used herein, the terms "optional" or "optionally" mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

The word "or" as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list. Further, one should note that conditional language, such as, among others, "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular aspects or that one or more particular aspects necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular aspect.

Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all aspects of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific aspect or combination of aspects of the disclosed methods.

Disclosed in the present application is a seizure detection device and associated methods, systems, devices, and various apparatus. Example aspects of the seizure detection device can comprise a collector, a separator, and an identifier. It would be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosed seizure detection device is described in but a few exemplary aspects among many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.

<FIG> illustrates a first aspect of a seizure detection device <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The seizure detection device <NUM> can be configured to detect specific seizure-indicative volatile organic compounds (a. VOCs, and also known as bio-volatile compounds) than can be associated with epileptic seizure onset or occurrence in human patients. For example, the seizure-indicative VOCs can be menthone, menthyl acetate, and/or <NUM>-ethoxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-octadiene, which have been identified as seizure biomarkers. In other aspects, the seizure-indicative VOCs can be any other suitable compound that can be associated with seizure in human patients. In some instances, these specific seizure-indicative VOCs may be present, either individually or in any combination, before, during, or after a seizure. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) <NUM> (shown in <FIG>), including the seizure-indicative VOCs, can be emitted as gases from the human patient, for example, through the patient's skin. According to example aspects, the seizure detection device <NUM> can comprise a sensor device <NUM> that can detect and analyze VOCs <NUM> in a three-stage process including pre-concentration (PC), gas chromatography (GC) separation, and detection.

According to example aspects, the sensor device <NUM> comprises a collector <NUM>, a separator <NUM>, and an identifier <NUM>. In accordance with the present invention, the collector <NUM> defines a patch <NUM> that is configured to contact the patient's skin <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The patch <NUM> comprises an adhesive for adhering the collector to the skin <NUM>. In another aspect, the patch <NUM> can be applied by another fastener, such as a band or tie, or any other suitable fastener known in the art. In the pre-concentration state, the collector <NUM> can collect target chemicals (e.g., VOCs <NUM>) from the environment and can reject interferents. In the present invention, the collector <NUM> comprises a wrapping <NUM> configured to isolate a collector material <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) from an external environment. The wrapping may be a chemically clean wrapping to isolate the collector material from external environmental contaminants. The collector material <NUM> is configured to collect VOCs <NUM> given off, for example as a gas, from the patient's skin <NUM>, in some aspects, and may also collect other compounds. The collector material <NUM> can also be prevented from contacting the patient's skin. The collector material may be isolated from direct physical contact with the patient's skin <NUM> to minimize contamination by sweat or skin bacteria, as described in further detail below with respect to <FIG>. According to example aspects, a heater <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) can be integrated with the collector material <NUM> and a thermal pulse from the heater <NUM> can desorb the VOCs <NUM> (and possibly other compounds) from the collector material <NUM>. A pump <NUM> of the seizure detection device <NUM> can then pump the desorbed VOCs <NUM> through a transfer tube <NUM> to the separator <NUM>.

In the GC separation stage, the collected VOCs <NUM> can be injected into a carrier gas (not shown), such as, for example, helium or nitrogen. A small gas plug (e.g., a sample of the carrier gas and VOC mixture) can be injected into a long, rectangular flow column (not shown) of the separator <NUM>. According to example aspects, a valve <NUM> can control injection of the gas plug and the direction and flow of the gas plug through the column. Example aspects of the column can be a µGC (micro gas chromatography) column, while in other aspects, the column can be a conventional GC (gas chromatography) column. In some aspects, the column can be similar to any of the aspects disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. In some aspects, the gas plug can undergo a µGCxGC separation or a conventional GCxGC separation, which can allow for high-fidelity separations and ultra-low false alarm rates. µGCxGC separation is micro gas chromatography x micro gas chromatography separation, while GCxGC separation is a conventional gas chromatography x gas chromatography separation, both of which can also be known as two-dimensional gas chromatography.

According to example aspects, the column can be coated with a chemically-selective film, and the chemically-selective film can be referred to as a stationary phase. As the gas plug flows through the column, individual chemicals from the gas plug (including individual chemicals of the VOCs <NUM>) diffuse into and out of the stationary phase based on their solubility within the stationary phase. VOCs <NUM> with a low solubility can quickly flow through the channel, while VOCs <NUM> with high solubility can spend a relatively long time within the stationary phase. This time-delay separates the complex chemical mixture of the gas plug into its constituent chemicals and introduces valuable spatial and chemical information that is critical for positive chemical identification and false alarm reductions in the detection stage. In example aspects, the column can be a silicon µGC column that can be about <NUM> in length, about <NUM> in width, and about <NUM> deep. In example aspects, heaters (e.g., metal heaters) (not shown) can be integrated with the silicon µGC column. Furthermore, the high aspect ratio silicon µGC column can fit on a die <NUM> that can be about <NUM> by <NUM> on each side of the die <NUM>, which can be a significant size reduction in comparison to traditional columns. According to example aspects, the reduced size can allow for a µGC separation to be performed in under <NUM> seconds by heating the column from <NUM> - <NUM>+ °C at an average power of <NUM> W.

Finally, in the detection stage, the identifier <NUM> can sense the chemicals eluting from the column and can transduce the chemical information to a recordable signal. For example, the identifier <NUM> can comprise an Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) detector <NUM>. In a particular aspect, the IMS detector <NUM> can be a CIMS (Correlation Ion Mobility Spectrometer) detector. In another particular aspect, the IMS detector <NUM> can be a LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) CIMS detector. In other aspects, the detector <NUM> can comprise a flame ionization detector (FID), a photoionization detector (PID), a pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDID), a resonator-based detector including quartz crystal micro balances, surface acoustic wave detectors, and/or micro-fabricated cantilever based resonators, a chemiresistor, a chemicapacitor, a thermal conductivity detector (TCD), a spectroscopic detector including vacuum ultra violet (VUV), ultraviolet, visible, and/or infrared radiation detection, a mass spectrometer detection method (MS), a non-gas chromatographic separation method such as IMS (ion mobility spectrometry), IMS-MS (ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry), and/or MS-MS (tandem mass spectrometry), or any other suitable detector known in the art. Within the IMS detector <NUM>, the incoming chemicals can be ionized and pulled down an IMS drift tube (not shown) by a potential gradient. In some aspects, the IMS drift tube can be similar to the drift tube disclosed in <CIT>.

Because the IMS detector <NUM> can operate at atmospheric pressures, the ionization of the chemicals can be considered a "soft" ionization, in that it minimizes the breakup or fragmentation of the chemicals. The ionized chemicals (also known as ions) can be drawn into the IMS drift tube, and the IMS drift tube can contain a faraday cup detector (not shown) at an end thereof that can count the ionic charge. The speed at which an ion travels down the IMS drift tube is a function of the ion's size, charge, and the interactions between the ion and other molecules in the IMS drift tube. Careful measurement of a characteristic transit speed down the IMS drift tube, called a reduced mobility value (or K<NUM>), of a parent ion and its adducts can positively identify the target species (e.g., the specific seizure-indicative VOCs associated with seizures). In example aspects, the seizure detection device <NUM> can comprise a processor (not shown), for example, on a printed circuit board (PCB), for processing the data and determining whether one or more of the seizure-indicative VOCs is present. According to example aspects, a battery <NUM>, such as a lithium ion battery, or another power source can be provided for powering the sensor device <NUM>, including the processor.

When detection of one or more of the seizure-indicative VOCs is made, or detection of a significant concentration of one or more of the seizure-indicative VOCs is made, the processor can activate a signal. In some aspects, the signal can sound an immediate alarm to alert a patient that a seizure may be imminent. In some aspects, the signal can also or alternatively be sent wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth) to an external receiving unit, such as an application (also known as an app) on a cellular phone, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic instrument, to activate an additional alarm. In some instances, there can be enough forewarning to introduce an abortive therapy for the oncoming seizure. Furthermore, in some aspects, the seizure detection device <NUM> can also alert a caregiver or emergency personnel. Memory can be included in the application and/or the device <NUM> itself that can profile levels of seizure-indicative VOC concentration, duration, and the time and date of occurrence. This data can then be used as a diary of seizure activity for later review by the patient or a physician. In some aspects, the data can also be used to better predict future seizures based on the patient's individual chemistry pre-seizure. For example, in one aspect, the seizure detection device <NUM> may detect a slightly elevated concentration of menthone in the patient before multiple seizure occurrences. The processor can analyze this data to detect the pattern of increased menthone pre-seizure, and can identify increased menthone as a seizure-indicative VOC in the patient. The seizure detection device <NUM> can then alert the patient any time menthone, or a significant concentration of menthone, is detected.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the collector <NUM> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>. As shown, the collector <NUM> can be applied to the skin <NUM> of a patient. The chemically-clean wrapping <NUM> can define an outer layer of the collector <NUM>. In some aspects, the chemically-clean wrapping <NUM> can be a polyimide film, and in the present aspect, the wrapping <NUM> can be a polyimide film with a silicone adhesive. In other aspects, any other suitable adhesive or other fastener can be used. The collector material <NUM> can define an intermediate layer of the collector <NUM>, and in the present aspect, the collector material <NUM> can be formed from PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), which is a type of silicone, for example and without limitation. The heater <NUM> can be attached to the wrapping <NUM>, and can be positioned between the wrapping <NUM> and the collector material <NUM>, as shown. Alternatively the heating element of the heater <NUM> is integrated with the wrapping <NUM>. Furthermore, a mesh <NUM> can define an inner layer of the collector <NUM> and is positioned between the collector material <NUM> and the patient's skin. Example aspects of the mesh can be formed from a polymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In other aspects, the mesh can be formed from a metal material or any other suitable material known in the art. The mesh <NUM> can prevent the collector material <NUM> from contacting the patient's skin and being contaminated by sweat, oils, and bacteria from the skin, and/or other undesirable elements.

In other aspects, the collector <NUM> can be configured to collect VOCs <NUM> through a patient's sweat, saliva, breath (e.g., exhalation), or any other suitable bodily process. Also in other aspects, the seizure-indicative VOCs can further or alternatively include β-bourbonene, β-cubebene, or any other suitable VOC that may be identified as a seizure biomarker. Furthermore, in some aspects, instead of being in contact with the patient's skin, the collector can be positioned near the patient (e.g., next to a patient's chair or bed, or elsewhere in a patient's room) and can be configured to collect VOCs from the ambient air surrounding the patient, which have been released into the air through the patient's skin and/or through the patient's exhalation.

Example aspects of the heater <NUM> can comprise a heating coil <NUM> configured to emit a thermal pulse, which can desorb VOCs <NUM> received in the collector material <NUM> into a flow channel(s) <NUM> between the heating coil <NUM> and the collector material <NUM>. In example aspects, a power cord <NUM> can be connected to the heater <NUM> to provide power to the heating coil <NUM>. In some aspects, the power cord <NUM> can be connected to the battery <NUM> or other power source to transfer power to the heating coil <NUM>. When the VOCs <NUM> are desorbed from the collector material <NUM> and into the flow channel <NUM>, the pump <NUM> can then sweep the VOCs <NUM> out of the flow channel <NUM> and through the transfer tube <NUM> to the separator <NUM> (shown in <FIG>).

The seizure detection device <NUM> can allow patients to position themselves such that they can avoid accident, injury, embarrassment, and unnecessary trips to the emergency room. In some aspects, the seizure detection device <NUM> can also alert families, friends, and medical personnel to oncoming seizures, potentially reducing the amount of prophylactic medications need by patients on a daily basis. As many of these medications can be toxic and accompanied by unpleasant, occasionally life-threatening side effects, any reduction in daily dosage can result in vast improvements in patient wellbeing and functionality. Furthermore, the predictive seizure detection device <NUM> can allow for the development of rescue protocols in some aspects, which could reduce the severity of an oncoming seizure or, in some instances, prevent onset altogether, thus reducing or avoiding the damage that seizures can cause to the brain and the body of the patient.

Evidence indicates the presence of these seizure-indicative VOCs during the preictal (i.e., pre-seizure) stage, building in different patients at different times and at different levels of concentration based on the individual patient's metabolism and blood chemistry. Consequently, the timing of a predictive alert issued by the seizure-protection device <NUM> can necessarily vary from patient to patient. As a form of reference, the seizure-indicative VOCs can remain in the patient's system anywhere from about five to forty minutes postictal (i.e., post-seizure) based on the individual's metabolism.

Example aspects of the seizure detection device <NUM> can be on a small enough scale that the seizure detection device <NUM> can be easily transported with a patient as they go about daily activities, including working, exercising, eating, and sleeping. As such, various elements of the seizure detection device <NUM> (e.g., the column, the processor, etc.) can be formed as miniature or micro versions of such elements.

In accordance with the present invention, a collector for a seizure detection device comprises a collector material that can be configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a patient's skin, a wrapping that can be configured to isolate the collector material from an external environment, a heater that comprises a heating element, wherein the heating element is configured to emit a thermal pulse to desorb the volatile organic compounds from the collector material, and a mesh layer that is configured to prevent the collector material from contacting the patient's skin, wherein the collector material can be received between the wrapping and the mesh layer.

In a further exemplary aspect, the volatile organic compounds can comprise at least one of menthone, menthyl acetate, and <NUM>-ethoxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-octadiene. In a further exemplary aspect, the heater can be one of integrated with the wrapping and received between the wrapping and the collector material. In a further exemplary aspect, the collector material can comprise polydimethylsiloxane. In a further exemplary aspect, the wrapping can comprise an adhesive configured to adhere the collector to the patient's skin.

In another exemplary aspect, a seizure detection device can comprise a collector comprising a collector material that can be configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a patient's skin, a separator comprising a gas chromatography column, wherein the gas chromatography column can comprise a chemically-selective film, and wherein mixtures of the volatile organic compounds can be configured elute from the collector and to diffuse into and out of the chemically-selective film to separate the mixtures into their constituent chemicals, and an identifier comprising a detector and a processor, wherein the detector can be configured to receive, ionize, and detect the constituent chemicals eluting from the gas chromatography column to create ionized chemicals, and wherein the processor can be configured and to process information about the ionized chemicals to identify specific volatile organic compounds indicative of a seizure.

In accordance with the present invention, the collector defines a patch configured to contact the patient's skin, and the patch comprises an adhesive for adhering the collector to the patient's skin. In a further exemplary aspect, the collector can comprise a chemically-clean wrapping that can be configured to isolate the collector material from external environmental contaminants. In a further exemplary aspect, the collector can further comprise a mesh layer that can be configured to isolate the collector material from the patient's skin. In a further exemplary aspect, the seizure detection device can further comprise a heater, the heater can comprise a heating element, and the heating element can be configured to emit a thermal pulse to desorb the volatile organic compounds from the collector material. In a further exemplary aspect, the seizure detection device can further comprise a pump and a transfer tube, and the pump can be configured to pump the volatile organic compounds through the transfer tube to the separator. In a further exemplary aspect, the seizure detection device can further comprise a valve that can be configured to inject a gas plug into the gas chromatography column, wherein the gas plug can comprise a carrier gas and the volatile organic compounds. In a further exemplary aspect, the detector can be an ion mobility spectrometer detector comprising a drift tube, the ionized chemicals can be configured to travel through the drift tube, and the processor can be configured to calculate a reduced mobility value of the ionized chemicals traveling through the drift tube. In a further exemplary aspect, the specific volatile organic compounds can comprise at least one of menthone, menthyl acetate, and <NUM>-ethoxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-octadiene.

In another exemplary aspect, not forming part of the claimed invention, a method of detecting a seizure can comprise collecting volatile organic compounds with a collector material of a collector, separating a mixture of the volatile organic compounds into its constituent chemicals with a gas chromatography column, ionizing the constituent chemicals to create ionized chemicals and detecting the ionized chemicals, and analyzing the ionized chemicals to identify seizure-indicative volatile organic compounds.

In a further exemplary aspect, the method can further comprise transferring the volatile organic compounds from the collector to the gas chromatography column, wherein transferring the volatile organic compounds from the collector to the gas chromatography column can comprise emitting a thermal pulse from a heater to desorb the volatile organic compounds from the collector and pumping the volatile organic compounds through a transfer tube. In a further exemplary aspect, separating a mixture of the volatile organic compounds into its constituent chemicals with a gas chromatography column can comprise diffusing the volatile organic compounds into and out of a chemically-selective film of the gas chromatography column. In a further exemplary aspect, the method can further comprise injecting the volatile organic compounds into a carrier gas to form a gas plug and injecting the gas plug into the gas chromatography column. In a further exemplary aspect, analyzing the ionized chemicals to identify seizure-indicative volatile organic compounds can comprise calculating a reduced mobility value of the ionized chemicals with a processor. In a further exemplary aspect, the method can further comprise generating a signal related to the seizure-indicative volatile organic compounds with a processor.

In another exemplary aspect, a seizure detection device can comprise a collector that can be configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a patient's skin, a separator that can be configured to separate mixtures of the volatile organic compounds into their constituent chemicals, and an identifier that can be configured to ionize the constituent chemicals to create ionized chemicals and to process information about the ionized chemicals to identify specific volatile organic compounds indicative of a seizure.

One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Claim 1:
A collector (<NUM>) for a seizure detection device comprising:
a collector material (<NUM>) configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a patient's skin;
a wrapping (<NUM>) configured to isolate the collector material from an external environment;
a heater (<NUM>) comprising a heating element, the heating element configured to emit a thermal pulse to desorb the volatile organic compounds from the collector material, the heater being one of integrated with the wrapping and received between the wrapping and the collector material; and
a mesh layer (<NUM>) configured to prevent the collector material from contacting the patient's skin, wherein the collector material is received between the wrapping and the mesh layer
wherein the collector defines a patch (<NUM>) configured to contact the patient's skin, the patch comprising an adhesive for adhering the collector to the patient's skin.