Smart mattress that detects face-down sleepers and gently repositions them to prevent sudden epilepsy deaths
A Device to Prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
A company is building a mattress that senses when a person with epilepsy is sleeping face-down and automatically turns them to a safer position.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Soterya, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180278 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is developing the Korus, a smart mattress that detects when someone with epilepsy is lying face-down during sleep and can physically lift and turn them into a recovery position within minutes. The team already made a Phase I prototype with sensors that detect prone position with over 95% accuracy and strong expandable lift cells. In Phase II they will build improved hardware and software for fully autonomous repositioning and create a digital twin simulation and biomechanical model using 16 key body landmarks. The goal is rapid, automated turning during nighttime events to reduce the immediate risk of SUDEP.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with epilepsy who are at risk for nighttime seizures or SUDEP, including children and adults who spend time sleeping in settings where a mattress-based device could be used, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without epilepsy, those whose seizure risk does not involve prone sleep events, or individuals whose medical needs prevent safe mattress-driven movement may not benefit from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could lower the risk of fatal sleep-related events in people with epilepsy by detecting prone position and repositioning them before harm occurs.
How similar studies have performed: This is a novel approach because there are currently no products that both detect prone sleep position and physically reposition patients, though monitoring devices exist.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Soterya, INC. — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bansal, Pranav — Soterya, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bansal, Pranav
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.