Nerve gas agents are seen by many as the poor man's atom bomb. As demonstrated in the March 1995 Tokyo subway attack, they can be used to inflict mass casualties in densely populated, confined air spaces. Medical management consists primarily of removing patients to an open air space. Atropine is administered and convulsions are titrated with benzodiazepines to seizure termination (de Jong 2003). Importantly, if convulsive activity stops, it may represent nerve agent-induced paralysis rather than termination of seizure activity, and EEG monitoring is required (Hostege et al. 1997). This project develops a first-responder EEG device for seizure management in the event of a nerve gas attack. A modified version of Persyst Reveal software will be used to solve the steady-state seizure detection problem. A wireless EEG amplifier will be developed by the Bio-Signal Group. The computing platform will be based on an off-the-shelf Pocket PC. Our goal is to make the device usable without prior instruction. Mass casualties are expected at the scene of a nerve gas attack. The proposed device should greatly reduce the neurological complications - including irreversible brain damage and death - due to prolonged seizures, which might otherwise go undiagnosed due to the paralytic effects of nerve gas agents. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Cooperative Agreements - Phase II (U44)
Project #
5U44NS057951-03
Application #
7474023
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DIG-A (57))
Program Officer
Stewart, Randall R
Project Start
2006-09-30
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$817,968
Indirect Cost
Name
Persyst Development Corporation
Department
Type
DUNS #
159514244
City
Prescott
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
86305