Continuous and precise monitoring helps doctors identify seizure patterns and adjust treatment. Over 15 months, the team collected over 72,000 hours of brainwave data from people with epilepsy. Working alongside the Mayo Clinic epilepsy team, the research helps identify where seizures begin in the brain, information essential for patients whose epilepsy is difficult to control. In results published in the journal Epilepsia, the team correctly predicted about 75% of seizures, with few false alarms. According to Dr. Brinkmann, the idea is simple: to warn people. In the future, these alerts could even automatically trigger treatments, such as administering drugs or mild brain stimulation when the risk of a seizure is high.
Together, the studies of the implant and the smartwatch show what is possible when brain activity can be monitored continuously. The results suggest that prolonged brain monitoring at home can reveal seizure patterns that go unnoticed in short clinical visits. Dr. Brinkmann also led a study on wearable technology—a smartwatch that uses artificial intelligence to help predict seizures before they happen. The watch monitors heart rate, movement, skin conductance, and temperature, and employs machine learning to help clinicians identify patterns that may indicate a seizure. His long-term goal is to move from predicting seizures to interrupting them before they begin.
An example of this work is a study led by Dr. Brinkmann in collaboration with international researchers. For many people living with this condition, medication keeps seizures under control. However, in those with drug-resistant epilepsy, episodes can occur without warning, disrupting daily routines and autonomy. Dr. Brinkmann, a biomedical engineer, has dedicated his career to improving the care of people with epilepsy. The goal is ambitious: systems capable of detecting a problem and responding immediately to stop it.
In Dr. Brinkmann's lab, every signal contributes to that future—each one provides a clearer picture of epilepsy and how its care might evolve in the coming years. In a study conducted at Mayo Clinic, the team tested a small implant placed just under the skin, behind the ear, that records brain activity as people go about their daily lives. The participants recorded 754 seizures, nearly double those reported in their seizure diaries. This research is opening a new window to understanding how seizures develop and is helping to define the next generation of neurotechnology at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Brinkmann's work contributes to the Mayo Clinic's BIONIC program—Bioelectronics Neuromodulation Innovation to Cure—which brings together scientists and clinicians to develop smarter, more responsive technologies and therapies for the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system.
