The American national winner of the 2019 James Dyson Award goes to Uma Smith for the invention of a unique epileptic seizure protection and alert device called Cocoon. Seizure safe spaces are not always easy to locate and bystanders are often uninformed in seizure recognition and first aid but her solution resolves both these issues in one simple, compact and portable item.
The James Dyson Award is an annual international design competition that celebrates young designers’ innovation and ingenuity and Smith took the cake this year with her clever design.
Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. In America alone, 3.4 million people have active epilepsy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epileptic seizures can be dangerous for not only an epileptic but for bystanders as well, which is a problem Smith, an epileptic and recent graduate of Pratt Institute, knows all too well.
Smith was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11 and has been hospitalized 4 times – 3 of them away from a safe-space and care-takers. She said:
My personal experiences with having seizures in potentially dangerous locations inspired this project. Everyone should be able to live an independent life, without fear. I am honored to be the national winner of the James Dyson Award, and truly inspired to make Cocoon a reality.
Seizures are a part of life for epileptics and are completely normal but there are still necessary steps to ensure safety. That’s where Cocoon steps in to provide epileptic seizure first-aid requirements – anywhere, anytime. Learning from her experiences, she knew that a device was needed that could not only provide a safe space for the user but also turn onlookers into care-takers if need be.
Cocoon solves two main problems in one device: the lack of independence for epileptics and the misunderstandings of how to respond to a person having a seizure by the general public.
She explains:
When an epileptic experiences an aura at the beginning of a seizure, they open Cocoon, lie on their side, and slip Cocoon over the top of their head, leaving their face unobstructed. Magnetic sensors detect when the device has been opened and alerts pre-designated caretakers of the epileptic’s GPS coordinates. An accelerometer detects convulsions while a cell-connected chip calls an ambulance if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes.
Five minutes is the threshold for when seizure activity can begin to cause neurological damage, according to the CDC. However, if the seizure stops before the 5-minute threshold and the user removes Cocoon from their head, the device will automatically cancel the ambulance and inform caretakers the device is no longer in use.
To inform informing bystanders how to care for an epileptic during a seizure, there are first-aid instructions clearly displayed on both sides of the pillow.
Judge Dr. You Wu said:
Uma of Cocoon paid detailed attention to the user experience for all stakeholders. Her solution effectively achieves two goals at once: protect the person who suffers from seizure, and empower the people who want to help but are unprepared.
The next phase of this project is to develop the device further with testing and continued prototyping. Future models should refine features, ensuring safety and ease of use in all conditions, as well as pass medical testing and approval by the FDA. Smith hopes to bring Cocoon to the market where it can help many people and enable them to feel safe and secure.
