Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Electrical Impedance Tomography of Epilepsy

This research is exploring a new, gentle scanning technique called Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for people who have epilepsy. EIT uses small pads, like those for an ECG, placed on your head to look at your brain's electrical activity. We want to find out if EIT can create clear and accurate pictures of seizures and brain function, just as well as other scans you might have had, such as an MRI or CT scan. The hope is that EIT could become a quick, portable, and affordable way to understand epilepsy better, potentially leading to more targeted treatments and helping manage severe seizures, especially in children and babies.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University College, London

Enrolment target

Start

30 May 2017

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Epilepsy

What is this study about?

This study is all about improving how we understand and treat epilepsy. We're looking at a new type of brain scan called Electrical Impedance Tomography, or EIT for short. Imagine a regular heart monitor (ECG) that uses sticky pads on your chest, but for your brain! EIT uses similar pads, either on your scalp or, for some people, on internal electrodes already in place from other medical assessments.

The main goal is to see if EIT can give us clear and accurate pictures of what's happening in the brain during a seizure, or even when there's abnormal electrical activity between seizures. Currently, we use scans like MRI, CT, or EEG, which are very good. However, EIT could offer some exciting advantages: it's quick, portable, and doesn't involve strong magnetic fields or radiation, making it very safe and gentle. If successful, EIT could help doctors see exactly where seizures start and how they spread in the brain, helping them make better decisions about treatment.

For people with severe epilepsy who are being considered for surgery, EIT might provide incredibly detailed information from their existing internal brain electrodes. This could lead to more precise diagnoses and help doctors choose the best treatments, including targeted drug therapies or even new ways to stop seizures with electrical stimulation. This research also holds great promise for understanding epilepsy in very young children and babies, where existing imaging can sometimes be challenging.

Key takeaways

Exploring a new, safe brain scan (EIT) for epilepsy research.
Aims to get clear images of brain activity during seizures.
Could lead to more precise diagnosis and treatment in the future.
Involves placing small, non-invasive pads on the scalp or connecting to existing internal electrodes.
No extra hospital visits are required, recording happens during routine care.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time without affecting your care.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for volunteers who have epilepsy. If you experience active seizures or if your routine brain wave tests (EEG) show changes between seizures, you might be able to take part if you're in the group wearing pads on your scalp.

If you have severe epilepsy and are already having tests for possible epilepsy surgery, you might be able to join the group where the EIT system is connected to your existing internal brain electrodes. Regardless of which group you might fit into, you need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part yourself.

You must be 18 years old or older to participate, and the study is open to both men and women.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Do I have epilepsy?
Am I experiencing seizures or do my routine EEG tests show activity between seizures?
Am I 18 years old or older?
Am I able to understand information about the study and agree to take part myself?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, the EIT recording will happen during your normal hospital stay, alongside other routine recordings, such as video-EEG. This means there won't be extra visits just for the EIT part of the study.

For most participants, up to 32 small, non-invasive pads (electrodes) will be gently placed on your scalp. These are similar to those used for standard EEG tests. If you already have internal electrodes as part of your epilepsy assessment, the EIT system will be connected to those existing electrodes. The recording will go on for a period while you are on the ward.

After the recording is finished, any scalp pads and paste will be removed, and the EIT system will be disconnected from any other monitoring equipment. There are no medications involved in this study, and no long-term follow-up specifically for the EIT part is mentioned.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits. While it won't directly change your current treatment, the information from EIT could help us understand epilepsy better in the future, potentially leading to better diagnosis and more targeted treatments for many people. For those undergoing assessment for epilepsy surgery, the new information might aid in better surgical planning. The main risks are minimal; placing scalp electrodes might cause slight temporary redness or stickiness, similar to a standard EEG. If you have internal electrodes, the EIT system connects to existing equipment and doesn't involve any new invasive procedures. You are free to ask any questions at any time and can withdraw from the study without giving a reason, and this will not affect your care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

EEG telemetry unit Neurophysiology National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is EIT?

EIT (Electrical Impedance Tomography) is a new type of safe brain scan that uses small pads on your head to measure electrical signals and create images of brain activity.

Will taking part change my epilepsy treatment?

No, taking part will not change your current epilepsy treatment. This study is for research to help us understand EIT better.

Will I have to have extra appointments?

No, the EIT recording will happen during your routine hospital stay and will not require extra visits outside of that.

Are there any side effects from the EIT scan?

EIT is safe. The scalp pads might cause minor, temporary skin redness. If you have internal electrodes, the system connects to existing equipment and doesn't add new risks.

Can I still withdraw from the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, and it will not affect your medical care.