Brain Heatsink Could Reduce Epilepsy

SimonNight writes "Attaching a heatsink to the brain can reduce the severity of epileptic seizures, Japanese researchers say. They've developed a surgically implanted heat conduit that connects a brain region to a heatsink on the outside of the skull. Seizures get worse when they abnormal activity of brain cells overheats the brain and causes more abnormal firing patterns."

Comments

awesome!

[jollyreaper]

Now we can start overclocking! Break out the red bull and inject-into-the-heart adrenaline.

Re:awesome!

[infestedsenses]

I can see it now... a big, fat heatsink sticking out of the side of my head, with a frikkin' laser attached to it!

Oh, glee!

I wonder...

[torkus]

...if that means we can start overclocking our brains too.

I can't wait to see people walking around with heat sinks sticking out of their skull. Will they have designer ones? :)

Re:I wonder...

[FireFury03]

I can't wait to see people walking around with heat sinks sticking out of their skull. Will they have designer ones? :)

Bah, I'm waiting for the transparent-skull with blue cold-cathode brain lighting mod...

Fan?

[InvisblePinkUnicorn]

Nice diagram. Is that a fan sticking out the side of the guy's head? Should newegg add a new category for 80mm and 100mm brain cooling fans? Or maybe go water cooled for complete silence? The worst that could happen is it leaks and you finally get the shower you're long overdue for...

I'd avoid the liquid nitrogen option at this time.

Re:Fan?

[Hoi Polloi]

Koolance has released an aluminum, water cooled, brain case. It comes with transparent temple windows too.

Too much heat?

[sucker_muts]

If the problem seems to be too much heat, why do they try to use difficult to install heatsinks?

Underclocking people! Makes the system way more stable.

Re:Too much heat?

[torkus]

Nonononono. We've already CLEARLY proven that underclocking produces undesirable results. e.g. country music, "war on terror", wardrobe malfunction paranoia, and "for the children!!!11!1one1oneone" movement.

Here is what it looks like

[JackMeyhoff]

http://img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/9/10/8/f_BalmerFanm_cd5ddbc.jpg

Re:Sounds like a gread DIY project!

[QuickFox]

Just make sure you have health insurance before you sink your electric drill into your temple. Are you sure opening your brain chassis won't void your warranty?

Liquid cooled

[benhocking]

The funny thing is the brain already is liquid-cooled. That liquid being the blood, of course. (Perhaps you were already going for this in your joke, but if so, it'll go over so many heads that I thought it worthwhile to explain it in more depth.)

My Canine Experience

[Scot Seese]

Years ago our family had a Brittany Spaniel that started Grand Mal epileptic seizures at around 1 year of age. Phenobarbitol only moderately increase the time period between seizure clusters by a week or so.

  While comforting the dog immediately post-seizure one evening, I noticed that he felt warm - his entire body was overheated, as though he'd just come in from a long walk on a hot summer day. To me, the obvious thing to do was to crush 10-15 ice cubes, dump them in a ziploc bag and apply it to the crown of his head. The effect was immediate, and amazing. His anxiety and discomfort disappeared immediately, and the "brain chiller" icepack seemed to lessen the severity of any subsequent cluster seizures, and reduce the number of seizures in a cluster (to almost petit mal effect.)

  To me, this feels like another forehead smacking "well, DUH" discovery. ;]

Re:My Canine Experience

[Scot Seese]

    I should add, that if you've never witnessed a Grand Mal seizure in either a human (or animal) - be glad. Short of hollywood's best effort at demonic possession I can't begin to describe how horrible they are to watch. We had to have the dog I mentioned above put down after he cluster-seized for almost a full day (about a year after his seizures began.) It was of great consolation to find out later, talking with people that suffered from epilepsy, that they (usually) are in no pain during the event. They feel an 'aura' (like migraine sufferers) and regain their senses a minute later, exhausted and sweaty on the floor or sofa, or wherever a kind passerby guided them.

  If you ever witness someone experiencing an epileptic seizure,

1. Catch them if they are falling, guide them gently to the floor and step away. If they have already fallen down, ask bystanders to step back, move furniture, tables, lamps away from them so they do not injure themselves or damage property while their limbs (may) flail uncontrollably.

2. Wait. Most seizures "ride out" after less than a minute. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTRAIN THEM and do NOT attempt to put ANYTHING in their mouth. They very well may bite your fingers off. The "they will swallow their tongue" bit IS A VERY DANGEROUS MYTH.

  If they do NOT stop seizing after 10-15 seconds, if they have injured themselves, if you have reason to believe there is a problem with their breathing or pulse, CALL 911. Not all seizures are epileptic in nature. They may be suffering a stroke, or have a non-epilepsy genetic disorder.

3. If they "ride out" the seizure, empathize. Help them sit up, hand them their purse, briefcase, smile. Tell them they had a seizure and they're OK, talk as though it happens to everyone every day. GIVE THEM A COLD BOTTLED WATER or buy them a soda, anything COLD. Ask if they feel they need medical assistance.

4. Be glad you don't live in ancient China or Rome, and the person you witnessed seizing was the Emperor. You would be executed. Thankfully we live in more civilized times.

  If you know any (humans) with epilepsy, suggest they look into getting a seizure dog. What?! Yep! Trained dogs that follow you around, and tell you that you're about to have a seizure. Scientists think they can cue in on changes in body odor caused by chemical changes. They are remarkably accurate, many kids with epilepsy can lead fairly normal lives with seizure dogs, even go swimming and ride bicycles. Their furry little pals just start barking a few minutes before the seizure is going to occur, they get somewhere safe and notify friends or family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seizure_response_dog

What about fevers?

[SwordsmanLuke]

Correct me if I'm wrong (IANAD), but I understood that part of the problem with high fevers was that the heat eventually caused brain damage. I wonder if such a device would have a fever-lowering effect as well. Obviously, we're not going to start installing these in every kid with the flu, but I'm curious if this would work.