Embrace2 was a wrist-worn medical device developed by Empatica for people living with epilepsy. It is FDA-cleared (for ages 6 and up) to monitor and alert for generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), also known as convulsive seizures. It uses sensors on the wrist to detect certain physiological signals and motion patterns, triggering alerts to caregivers when a seizure is detected.
EpiMonitor is the next generation epilepsy monitoring system Empatica is promoting, intended to replace/upgrade Embrace2 in many regions. It builds on the legacy of Embrace2, with enhanced features and improved capabilities. Existing Embrace2 users are (in many locations) eligible for trade-ins toward EpiMonitor.
Core Features & How It Works
Here are the main hardware, algorithms, and workflow aspects of Embrace2 / EpiMonitor.
Sensors & What’s Measured
Embrace2 contains multiple sensors to capture physiological and motion data:
- Electrodermal Activity (EDA) ‒ measures skin conductance (related to sweat and sympathetic nervous system arousal).
- Accelerometer (3-axis) ‒ to detect motion, especially repetitive movements typical in convulsive seizures.
- Gyroscope ‒ helps detect orientation and motion patterns.
- Peripheral temperature sensor ‒ measures skin surface temperature.
Algorithms & Seizure Detection
- The device (combined with its app and backend) runs an algorithm trained on data from hospital epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) to recognize patterns associated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. These patterns include: repetitive, intense motion lasting >20 seconds; autonomic arousal (via EDA); changes in temperature, etc.
- Embrace2 is optimized for detecting GTCS (convulsive seizures). It does not detect non-convulsive seizure types (absence seizure, complex partial, etc.) because these typically do not involve the distinctive motion or autonomic signatures needed by the algorithm.
Alerts & Apps
- When a possible generalized tonic-clonic seizure is detected, Embrace2 sends an alert to a paired smartphone via Bluetooth. The phone (with the “Alert” App) then sends SMS and phone call notifications to designated caregivers.
- There is also a “Mate” App, for the wearer and caregivers, to view seizure history, trends, sleep/rest/activity statistics, etc.
Usage Requirements & Setup
- Device must be worn snugly on the wrist so sensors maintain skin contact.
- A dedicated smartphone (iOS or Android) is required, kept within ~30 feet / 10 meters of the device. Bluetooth and internet connection are needed so alerts can be sent.
- Subscription plan required for alert service.
Technical Specs
- Battery life: ~48+ hours on a full charge.
- Charging time: ~1 hour 40 minutes for a full charge.
- Memory: Can store ~14 hours of sensor data before internal memory fills up. If memory is full, recording stops until synced.
- Water-resistance: Up to 1 meter / 3 feet. Can be worn in the shower or pool (non-salt water).
- Weight & size: Light wrist wearable (~13 grams). Interchangeable bands.
People living with epilepsy who experience generalized tonic-clonic seizures and want an automated way to alert caregivers quickly.
Especially helpful at times when the wearer might be alone or unable to communicate (e.g. during sleep, overnight).
Caregivers/family members who want peace of mind that they’ll be notified promptly if a major seizure occurs.
Medical professionals can use the data (seizure timestamps, signal traces) for follow-ups, adjustments of treatment, and understanding seizure patterns.
Embrace2 / EpiMonitor represent a significant advancement in wearable seizure detection and alerting technology. They are not perfect or all-encompassing solutions, but for people with GTCS, they provide:
- High sensitivity in detecting convulsive seizures
- Automated alerts to caregivers to enable a faster response
- Continuous monitoring with useful data for sleep, rest, activity and seizure trends
Embrace2 Seizure Monitoring | Smarter Epilepsy Management | Embrace Watch | Empatica