NCT07088835 · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
SeizEAR Safety Study
What this study is about
Determine the safety and feasibility of an in-ear device to measure seizures or suspected seizures compared to the standard scalp-based electroencephalogram (EEG). The study team anticipates enrolling five healthy participants through meeting announcements and a research email list serv in the Neurology Dept.
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Determine the safety and feasibility of an in-ear device to measure seizures or suspected seizures compared to the standard scalp-based electroencephalogram (EEG). The study team anticipates enrolling five healthy participants through meeting announcements and a research email list serv in the Neurology Dept. Based on the appropriate positive initial test of healthy individuals, test the in-ear device on 10 participants with seizures or suspected seizures scheduled for a clinical scalp EEG test.
Interventions
DEVICE
SeizEAR
The in-ear electrode is a two-electrode device that fits snugly into the ear canal of the user. The device electrodes consist of a Ag/AgCl layer over a substrate. In one iteration, the substrate is a silicone rubber. In another iteration, the substrate is copper. The copper iteration consists of a Ag/AgCl ink that is manually applied to the copper, whereas the other iteration is purchased in a finished state with the Ag/Agel already adhered to the silicone. The electrodes are attached to a foam earpiece during the molding process. The foam earbud is made in-house and can be designed to be more firm or less firm.
Primary outcome measures
Sensitivity
Time frame: at week 16
The sensitivity of ear-EEG will be measured by sensitivity the percentage of ear-EEG predictions that overlap with conventional EEG annotations for at least 1 second per 24 hours accordingly. The ear-EEG annotations will be considered as predictions and the conventional EEG annotations as the truth. Any prediction was deemed true if they overlap at least 1 second with the truth. All seizure annotations were either true positive (TP), false positive (FP), or false negative (FN).
F1 score
Time frame: at week 16
The Device F1 Score is a metric used to evaluate the performance of the ear-EEG device in detecting seizures. It is the harmonic mean of precision and recall, providing a balance between these two metrics. Precision is the proportion of true positive (TP) predictions out of all positive predictions (TP + FP), while recall (or sensitivity) is the proportion of true positive (TP) predictions out of all actual seizure events. The F1 Score ranges from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating better performance in accurately detecting seizures. The performance of ear-EEG will be measured by the device F1 score per 24 hours accordingly.
Positive predictive value (PPV)
Time frame: at week 16
The Device Positive Predictive Value (PPV) is calculated by dividing the number of true positives (TP) by the total number of positive test results (TP + FP), where FP represents false positives. PPV measures the accuracy of the ear-EEG device in predicting seizures, indicating the likelihood that a positive prediction made by the device is a true seizure event. The PPV ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better accuracy in predicting seizures. The performance of ear-EEG will be measured by the positive predictive value (PPV) per 24 hours accordingly.
False detection rate
Time frame: at week 16
The Device False Detection Rate is a metric used to evaluate the performance of the ear-EEG device in terms of false positives. It is calculated by dividing the number of false positives (FP) by the total number of test results (TP + FP + FN), where TP represents true positives and FN represents false negatives. The false detection rate is typically expressed as the number of false positive predictions per 24 hours. Lower values indicate better performance, with fewer false alarms generated by the device.. The performance of ear-EEG will be measured by false detection rate per 24 hours accordingly.
Comfort Rating Scale
Time frame: at week 16
The Comfort Rating Scale is a 6-item questionnaire that asks participants about their comfort with the device. Responses are on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not comfortable at all) to 5 (completely comfortable). The items assessed include tightness, weight, security, softness, overall comfort, and overall fit of the device in the ear. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater comfort.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Age: \> 18 and \<70
- No History of Seizures or seizure-like activity based on self-report
- Normal parameters for vitals, afebrile, blood pressure.
- Able to read and write English
- Capable of providing informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- History of seizures or seizure-like activity based on self-assessment
- Any major health conditions based upon self-report
- Concurrent participation in another investigational protocol.
- A history of skin sensitivity, or rash on the head, neck or ears.
- A history of silver allergy.
- Treatment for an ear infection in the previous four-week period
- Medications that would be contraindicated to participate in the study that would interfere with the EEG Testing Phase 3 Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Participants with Seizures or Suspected Temporal Lobe Seizures Inclusion Criteria:
- Age \> 18 and \< 70
- Individuals scheduled for clinical EEG for seizures or suspected temporal lobe seizures documented by a neurologist
- Stable Health Conditions based upon the principal investigator's opinion
- Normal parameters for vitals, afebrile, blood pressure
- Able to read and write English
- Capable of providing informed consent. Exclusion Criteria:
- Any major issues with the skull or ear that would interfere with the EEG testing.
- A history of skin sensitivity, or rash on the head, neck or ears
- A history of silver allergy.
- Treatment for an ear infection in the previous four-week period.
- Concurrent participation in another investigational protocol
- Any psychiatric disorder (i.e. uncontrolled depression, mood disorders, cognitive impairment, schizophrenia), that complicate measurement of changes associated with the EEG testing.
Where
- New York, New York
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Dec 23, 2025 · Source of record for eligibility and locations