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How EpiMonitor Works

EpiMonitor is a globally certified medical-grade seizure monitoring solution, bringing peace of mind to thousands of people living with epilepsy. It is designed to be simple and reliable. This page explains how the EpiMonitor system works, how alerts are triggered, and what’s needed for optimal performance.

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A wearable and app combination designed for daily life

The EpiMonitor system consists of the EmbracePlus watch and the companion EpiMonitor app, installed on the user's phone.

EpiMonitor sends a seizure alert phone call and SMS to designated caregivers when it detects a possible convulsive seizure. It also provides a seizure, sleep and activity diary.

Monitoring is passive and automatic—as long as EmbracePlus is worn correctly and paired with a functioning smartphone, the system runs in the background.

Full safety, max control: Automated and manual seizure alerts

How alerts work

You can set up your Caregivers directly via the EpiMonitor app. Alerts are sent instantly to all active Caregivers. Your Caregivers don’t need to be close to you to receive an alert — they can be sleeping next door, or thousands of miles away. All they need is a working phone.

Step 1

Every EpiMonitor user needs to add the phone number of at least one caregiver inside the EpiMonitor app for the alerting system to work.

Step 2

EmbracePlus monitors physiological data from the user's wrist using its sensors, and sends it to the companion app via Bluetooth.

Step 3

When a possible seizure is detected, the app uses the phone’s internet connection to trigger an alert. It’s that simple!

Step 4

The caregiver receives a phone call with an automated message, telling them that the EpiMonitor user needs their help.

What alert success depends on

Alerts rely on several conditions being met:

Device placement:

EmbracePlus must be worn snugly on the wrist - not too loose, not too tight

Bluetooth connection:

The user's smartphone must be within Bluetooth range (5 meters/15 feet) of EmbracePlus, without obstructions and not in airplane mode

Internet connection:

The user’s smartphone should be connected to the internet to ensure alert delivery to caregivers

EpiMonitor app active:

The app should always be running in the background of the user’s smartphone

What does an alert look like?

Once an alert is triggered, a 15 second countdown starts. During this time, in case it’s a false alarm, the user has the option to cancel the alert, either from their EmbracePlus watch, or from the app. At the end of this countdown, if the user doesn’t cancel, the alert is sent.

The alert will appear on the Caregiver’s phone like a regular phone call and SMS. Once Caregivers pick up they will hear a pre-recorded message that tells them the user needs their help. If the Caregiver doesn’t pick up, the system will repeat the call.

What about manual alerts?

We know there are times when you might feel like you need to call for help. That is why EpiMonitor provides the option to trigger manual alerts (available for our Plus plan subscribers). You can simply do this by pressing a combination of buttons on EmbracePlus.

Once a manual alert is triggered, it works just like an automatic alert. Caregivers are notified via a phone call and SMS, so they can come to help.

Minimize false alerts with adjustable sensing precision

EpiMonitor combines high accuracy with a low false alarm rate. However, some false alerts may still occur during vigorous activity or unusual wrist movements, especially if EmbracePlus is not worn correctly.

That’s why EpiMonitor has an adjustable sensing precision feature, which allows you to choose the sensitivity of the algorithm to match your current activity.

Developed from years of scientific research

What does electrodermal activity (EDA) do?

EDA, or skin conductance, reflects changes in the skin’s electrical properties and provides insight into the body and mind.

Research, including studies by our Chief Scientist Dr. Rosalind Picard, shows significant EDA responses correlate with tonic-clonic seizures. This discovery inspired us to build a significantly more accurate method of detecting tonic-clonic seizures.

The EmbracePlus electrodes continuously measure these subtle electrical changes, allowing our algorithm to be more precise and reduce false alarms compared to relying on movement alone.

How we balance sensitivity and specificity

Our seizure detection algorithm is trained on thousands of hours of clinical data, and uses a combination of electrodermal activity and movement data to guarantee maximum accuracy.

The algorithm is FDA-cleared and CE-marked, with an accuracy of 98% and a False Alarm Rate (FAR) of 0.02 per day for adults and 0.05 for children during rest.

It’s designed to:

Minimize missed seizures (false negatives)
Reduce false positives, while maintaining high responsiveness

Everyday technology, everyday care

The EpiMonitor app works with both iOS and Android. You can check all compatible phone models here.
For the system to work, the app needs to be installed on a phone with a working internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) and Bluetooth activated.

FAQ

Does EpiMonitor call 911?

No, EpiMonitor alerts caregivers only. It does not dispatch emergency services.

What if I get a false alert?

The system will notify you once an alert is about to be triggered, so you’ll have 15 seconds to cancel it.

Can I use it outside the country I’ve purchased it in?

Yes, EpiMonitor works globally, as long as where you are located has an internet connection for your phone (either cellular or Wi-Fi). Please note that the EpiMonitor app can only be downloaded in countries EpiMonitor is available in.

Can I use it with my child?

Yes, EpiMonitor is FDA-cleared and CE-certified for children aged 6 and up. If your child is younger than 6 years old, please consult your doctor.

Will the system notify me if something isn’t working?

Both the EmbracePlus and the EpiMonitor app will notify the user if there are any issues with the system that they need to address (for example, low battery or disconnections).