New Tech Targets Epilepsy With Lasers, Robots

Short Wave

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4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2023

⏱️ 14 minutes

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Summary

About three million people in the United States have epilepsy, including about a million who can't rely on medication to control their seizures. For years, those patients had very limited options. But now, in 2023, advancements in diagnosing and treating epilepsy are showing great promise for many patients, even those who had been told there was nothing that could be done. Using precise lasers, microelectronic arrays and robot surgeons, doctors and researchers have begun to think differently about epilepsy and its treatment. Today on Short Wave, host Aaron Scott talks with NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton about these advances in treating epilepsy. He explains why folks should ask their doctors about surgery — even if it wasn't an option for them a few years ago.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to shortwave from NPR.
0:04.6	Hey shortwavers, today we are going to talk about new ways to treat severe epilepsy,
0:10.6	which means we have summoned NPR's resident brainophile Mr. John Hamilton.
0:16.2	Hello John.
0:17.2	Hey Aaron.
0:18.2	So understand you were recently in California reporting on some cutting edge advances
0:22.5	in epilepsy care.
0:23.5	I was.
0:24.5	I was at the University of California San Diego.
0:27.6	They have a major epilepsy center there and it does a lot of research on diagnosing
0:32.5	and treating the disorder.
0:34.4	So while I was there, I was really struck by how fast this field is changing because
0:39.0	of advances in technology.
0:41.3	I am hoping today's episode involves robots.
0:43.9	Of course it does Aaron.
0:45.4	When we are talking about microelectronics that can help find the source of seizures,
0:50.7	we're talking about tiny lasers that can zap the brain tissue causing a problem.
0:55.4	And of course robot surgeons to help out in the operating room.
0:59.8	And what all this technology is doing is making it possible for many more patients to
1:04.4	get their seizures under control.
1:06.6	It's also allowing people who do get surgery to spend less time in the hospital and to
1:11.0	get back to their lives.
	...

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