Wearable Epilepsy Detector
Medical electronics project
Introduction
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide. Seizures can occur suddenly and unexpectedly, creating dangerous situations. This project builds a wearable Arduino-based device that detects the characteristic motion patterns of epileptic seizures and immediately sends an alert to caregivers.
How It Works
The device uses an accelerometer/gyroscope (MPU-6050) worn on the wrist to detect the repetitive, involuntary muscle movements characteristic of tonic-clonic seizures. When a seizure pattern is detected, the Arduino triggers an alert via buzzer and/or wireless communication module.
- Accelerometer detects high-frequency oscillatory motion
- Algorithm distinguishes seizure patterns from normal movement
- Alert sent via buzzer and optional WiFi/Bluetooth notification
- Battery-powered for portability
Components
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Arduino Nano | Compact microcontroller for wearable |
| MPU-6050 (Accelerometer/Gyro) | Motion detection |
| Buzzer | Local alert |
| LiPo Battery + Charger | Portable power |
| Optional: ESP8266 WiFi Module | Remote notifications |
Summary
This project combines medical awareness with electronics engineering. It demonstrates sensor interfacing, signal processing, threshold detection, and alert systems — all on a compact wearable platform. The same approach can be extended for other health monitoring applications.