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OREM — Ian Olsen cares for his daughter, Adalyn. They live independently and he supports his family through his career. It wouldn't be possible without a small implant that looks like a pacemaker.
The responsive neurostimulation epilepsy treatment, or RNS, is implanted in the skull, and measures brain activity and recognizes oncoming seizures.
"If it senses a seizure is about to start, it can provide a low-level electrical stimulation that you don't feel," said Dr. Paul House with University Healthcare.
The neurostimulator connects to tiny wires places in seizure onset areas. It stabilizes brain waves and returns the brain to normal activity. A remote monitor at home wirelessly collects information for the doctor to improve care.
"It has been a complete life-changer," said Ian Olsen, who lives in Orem. Before his surgery, he suffered frequent seizures.
Sudden lapses in attention caused short-term and long-term memory loss.
"I would get lost and be hours late for work because I would have a seizure and get lost and not be able to get to work," Ian Olsen said.
Once, in the middle of the night he had a major seizure. His wife, Kathleen, remembered it well.
"I woke up to him just completely shaking and convulsing, and I had never seen that before, and he was hitting his head against the pillow and the doctor told me if I wasn't there he could've died," Kathleen Olsen said. "That was probably the scariest day of my life."
Diagnosed at 21, he suffered up to 30 seizures a month, even despite medication. Surgeons in California placed his implant in February of 2015. He hasn't had a seizure since.
"It is what keeps you coming to work, seeing folks get better and do things they've never done before," House said. The battery-operated implant lasts about three years. "It's quite a dramatic breakthrough."
It's also tailored to each patient's needs.
"Over time this low level of stimulation only at the right times just diminishes the seizure activity in the brain, so it actually gets getter over time," House said.
For the Olsens, the technology helps Ian be the husband and father he always wanted to be.
