Medpage Limited T/A Easylink UK began trading in 1984 after the invention of an alarm clock to wake deaf people. After an introduction to a deaf lady in a residential home who proudly demonstrated her alarm clock, I realised that not only was it cumbersome and potentially dangerous, it was also potentially unreliable.
The product consisted of a mains powered alarm clock, modified to produce an output at alarm time to switch power to a huge vibrating disk, positioned under her pillow. With all the wires, connectors and obvious discomfort of having this huge disk under her a pillow, I realised that a modern LCD clock could be constructed that contained everything needed to replicate her antiquated alarm. With RS components only down the road, it did not take long to design and make a prototype that actually worked.
The product, first called Travel Mate was later branded as Shake Awake and was sold worldwide, at a price people could afford. The Shake Awake helped millions of deaf people live a more independent life as they had a means of reliably waking up in the morning for work.
Medpage, a technology that can help thousands of families
The company also introduced the first wireless smoke alarm and wireless baby monitor for deaf people. Our expanding expertise in vibrating devices attracted the attention of a specialist epilepsy nurse, who obtained our details through the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). We received an enquiry from her requesting a reversal of our vibration technology, detecting vibrations instead of creating them. Why was our question? It was then explained that one of her families has a daughter who was experiencing multiple epileptic seizures throughout the night, so bad in fact that the daughter (13 year old) had moved into bed with Mum and pushing out Dad into another bedroom. Can you do anything to help?
Not having much knowledge or experience of people having epilepsy, some major research was required. With the internet in its infancy and limited options where to obtain information from, the epilepsy nurse provided a detailed description of how seizures happen, what happens, and what would be required to detect them. After some major head scratching and team brainstorming, an idea came forth using our baby alarm for deaf people as the basis for design. The baby alarm detected sound only then transmitted an alarm signal to a vibrating pager. After some serious tweaking and tests, a prototype emerged.
The prototype was duly packed up and sent to the specialist nurse with a note saying, we do not expect this will be perfect first time so we expect there may be some to-ing and fro-ing until we get it right. Several weeks went by without hearing anything from the nurse. We had begun to think our box of tricks had ended up in a box never to be mentioned again. Out of the blue the nurse telephoned us to say the family had tested the alarm for a week, with mum and dad taking turns watching their daughter in her own bed, in her own room, throughout the night. They had then trusted the monitor enough, as it did detect her seizures, to try it out for real with our monitor, their daughter, in her own bed, without supervision. Sure enough the monitor detected her seizures and alerted the parents. The epilepsy nurse informed us that this new technology could help thousands of families and that she had told the Epilepsy organisations about our new invention. We named it the Medpage.
The Medpage was certainly a revelation back in 1995. There had been some crude methods of detecting epileptic seizures, or epileptic fits as many referred to. Some of them are quite comical, depending on your sense of humour. One in particular made me chuckle. With the old type sprung bed base, a hand bell was suspended from the bed springs by a length of cord. When the person had a seizure the rocking motion of the bed swung the bell making it ring. Another one, a little more advanced (slightly) used a swinging pendulum suspended from the bed connected to a mechanical buzzer. When the person experienced a seizure, the swinging action of the pendulum made contact with a switch making the buzzer sound. I have also heard stories of a length of string attached to someone’s toe linked to another person. How technology has moved on.
Technology certainly has moved on. The Medpage (MP5) Epilepsy alarm for more than 20 years has provided a reliable method of detecting Tonic/Clonic (Grand Mal) epileptic seizures and has helped thousands of families manage epilepsy. We continually research new technologies and developments in research into epilepsy and work closely with a large number of epilepsy specialists. Medpage has recently (April 2013) introduced two new members to the Medpage seizure alarm family. The MP5V2, and the MP5 ULTRA. The MP5V2 uses new sensor technology combined with computer analytical software to determine if a person is having a seizure on their bed. The sensor, because of the computer, can be used with extremely high sensitivity levels that will detect seizure typical movement from babies and adults with mild seizure movement. The MP5 ULTRA is not generally available unless prescribed/recommended by an epilepsy professional.
Now in 2016 we launch a further advancement in epileptic seizure detection. The MP5V2-S is the first bed seizure alarm to offer Smartphone connectivity and features bed sensor sensitivity adjustment and seizure movement detection control via special software controlled via a Smartphone APP. The APP has an auto-updating seizure activity diary, complete set up control of the seizure monitor and options for alarm control and emergency phone call dialling.
We are the only company in the UK supplying systems to detect epilepsy seizure movement that are accredited by BSI to ISO 13485:2003. Google “ISO 13485:2003” to see how serious we take the manufacturing, and quality of our products.
Easylink UK are partnering with The Voice For Epilepsy to raise awareness of their epilepsy products which detect seizures during the night, alerting a family member
Products
Children’s Epilepsy Seizure Alarm Medpage MP5-UT Ultra-Sensitive Movement Detection
Caring for a child with epilepsy can be an extremely worrying, especially for parents concerned with the safety of their child during the night.
The Medpage-MP5-UT uses a patented ultra-sensitive sensor specifically engineered to detect when a child is having a Tonic/Clonic seizure while in bed.
Children’s Epilepsy Seizure Alarm Medpage MP5V2 High Sensitivity Seizure Monitor
The MP5V2 is of higher specification to the MP5-UT and UTB models, the seizure detection performance is exactly the same.
The MP5V2 is supplied with our recording Wi-Fi camera useful for recording seizure data to show a specialist nurse or GP.
Epilepsy Bed Movement Seizure Detection Alarm MP5-UTB
The MP5-UTB is a reliable nocturnal seizure movement detection alarm for babies through to adults at an affordable price.
Positioned under the mattress, the patented sensor analyses the user’s body movements while they are sleeping and differentiates between normal sleeping movement and seizure activity.
Epilepsy seizure alarm Medpage MP5 ULTRA
The most advanced seizure movement monitor in the MP5 range. The ULTRA features specialist software programming that accurately detects nocturnal seizure movement from people of all ages who experience non-typical convulsive seizures while in bed.
Suitable for complex epilepsy, specialist beds including airflow mattresses an incredibly high level of movement detection sensitivity and control.
MP2-V3K Medpage seizure movement detection alarm for care homes with pager
The MP2-V3 monitor is designed to deliver the performance in signalling required by larger care homes or hospitals where transmission range can cause notification issues.
This is a complete system including a carer alert pager for seizure alert notifications within 60M from the monitor.
Irregular Sleeping Movement Detection Alarm System For USA BMA-01
The Medpage BMA-01 is an advanced movement sensing alarm, specifically designed to detect certain types of movements people make while sleeping. A cluster of muscular spasms, for example, will trigger an alarm from the movement monitor. Unusual twitching actions or prolonged shaking movements will also trigger an alarm.
When it is important to know if a person is making such movements during sleep, there is nothing more reliable than the BMA-01.
Epilepsy Alarm Bed Seizure Detection Medpage MP5
The monitor is very easy to use and is suitable for general seizures and most bed types.
The Medpage MP5, despite its advanced seizure movement analysis software and high-grade processing power, is priced to be affordable by families without compromise on quality or performance.
Medpage epileptic seizure alarm for nurse call Telecare connection MP5V2-NC
The sensor has a sensitivity control to allow adjustment for patient body weight and bed/cot mattress type. This setting allows a person to turn over or reposition themselves without an alarm generated. Settings are digitally stored to prevent tampering or accidental adjustment.
MP5V2-NC will detect movements resulting from an epileptic nocturnal seizure including minute prolonged movements from children
Digital video baby monitor watch (MEDBM-03)
High performance digital wire-free video baby monitoring from a compact video watch. Keep an eye on the kids wherever you are in the house.
View live video with audio with the wrist monitor, vibration alert to baby crying (or sound). Ideal for deaf parents.
Medpage Epileptic Seizure Detector Monitor MP5-NC
The MP5-NC is primarily for use in respite and care homes specialising in epilepsy care. Detected seizures from a patient are reported via a cabled connection to an existing nurse call system.
The MP5-NC can also be connected to Telecare monitoring systems. The seizure movement alarm is very easy to use and is suitable for general Tonic/Clonic seizure detection and can be used on most bed types.
