EpiCentr Mobile App FAQ

How to set up Apple Watch for seizure detection and other frequently asked questions:

What seizure types can be detected with the app?

The app detects seizure-like patterns by analyzing data from Apple Watch sensors using a proprietary algorithm. It specifically analyzes seizure-like movements, sudden fall patterns, and abnormal heart rates. The best results are achieved for tonic-clonic seizures due to the variety of data points available. For other seizure types, the heart rate is the only relevant parameter that can be technically tracked. If the heart rate elevates too high or decreases below a set threshold, the app will also detect such seizures. However, beyond tonic-clonic seizures, this may not be sufficient.

I want to monitor my seizures at night, but my watch needs charging. What can I do?

Usually, the watch battery lasts through the night, and you can charge it quickly in the morning. However, there is an alternative monitoring method for cases when there’s no need to send alerts at night.
The app offers a Sleep Monitoring feature that doesn’t require your Apple Watch. Some of the most common indicators of nighttime seizures include unusual vocal sounds and irregular heavy breathing. In Sleep Monitoring mode, the app records sounds while you sleep, monitoring audio levels and filtering out periods of silence. This allows you to review or share the processed audio clips with your doctor, and you can perform the recording while your phone is charging. This feature doesn’t initiate sending alerts, though.

How else can I utilize the app, aside from detecting seizures and alerting Emergency Contacts?

The app offers an Epilepsy Journal feature designed to help you track essential information about your seizures. You can effortlessly monitor triggers, record side-effects, track auras, and add personal notes. Seizure records are automatically captured, and you have the option to edit or add necessary details. All important statistics can be provided in reports that you can download in a PDF format or share with your doctor.

How will Emergency Contacts be notified?

If a seizure-like pattern is detected, the app will notify your Emergency Contacts using various alert options that you can customize. Here are all the available options: a phone call (highly recommended for its speed and reliability), a text message (including geo location), and an email (including geo location). You can customize these alert types for each of your Emergency Contacts in the Settings.

In which countries does the app operate?

The app currently operates in the following countries:
North America: United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama.
Europe: all countries except Russia.
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay.
Asia: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam

The app currently supports the following languages:
English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian. We are actively working to expand this list.

Can I use the EpiCentr app on an Apple Watch paired to a family member’s iPhone via Apple Family Sharing?

Yes. To use the app on an Apple Watch paired to someone else’s iPhone, please follow these steps:

1. Install the EpiCentr app directly from the App Store on the Apple Watch. To find the app, type ‘EpiCentr’ in the App Store search bar.
2. Install the EpiCentr app on the iPhone you want to pair the watch with. Set up the account for the primary user role — a person with seizures.
3. On the iPhone, go to Profile > Family setup for Apple Watch, tap ‘Link Apple Watch,’ and see the family code.
4. Enter this code in the EpiCentr app on your Apple Watch. The link will be established.

The app on the iPhone will suggest adding the account as an Emergency Contact. If you want to receive alerts on this iPhone from the linked Apple Watch, you should add youself as a contact (this also can be done later in Profile). In this case, the iPhone app will have both user roles simultaneously — the primary user (main functions like Journal, Sleep Monitoring, settings, etc.) and the emergency contact (for receiving alerts).

Can I share the data with my doctor?

Yes, the app collects essential seizure statistics and presents them in PDF reports for saving or sharing. You can customize the reporting period, and the app offers comparative statistics for a similar preceding period to facilitate analysis.

Is the app available for Android?

Currently, all features are exclusively available for iPhones. The Android version currently supports only the Caregiver role, but we’re actively working on expanding its functionality.

Do I have to have an Apple Watch to use the app?

You need an Apple Watch to use the seizure detection feature. However, the app also offers a number of useful features on your iPhone.
Here are the main features:
– Manual alerting. There are two types of manual alerts: ‘Alert Now,’ which sends an immediate alert to your Emergency Contacts, and ‘Delayed Alert,’ which sends the alert after a pre-set delay unless you manually cancel it.
– Epilepsy Journal. It allows you to keep organized, detailed records of seizures, preceding events, potential triggers, sleep monitoring, and more. You can also create a comprehensive report for your doctor for any chosen period.
– Sleep Monitoring. This feature allows you to record sounds with your phone while you sleep for further analysis as potential symptoms. The app processes the sounds in a specific way, removing any silence. The sounds are then saved in your journal as a special entry. The feature itself doesn’t detect seizures or send alerts.

I want the most affordable subscription plan. How can I manage my subscription?

You can achieve significant savings by switching to a quarterly or yearly plan. The longer the plan duration, the lower the price (please note that the entire subscription period is prepaid upfront).
To change your subscription you need to open the Settings app on your iPhone, Tap your name, Tap Subscriptions, Tap the subscription you want to change, Tap See All Plans, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete your purchase.

How can I cancel my subscription or get a refund?

To cancel your subscription you need to open the Settings app on your iPhone, Tap your name, Tap Subscriptions, Tap the subscription you want to cancel, and then Tap Cancel Subscription. You might need to scroll down to find the Cancel Subscription button. If there is no Cancel button or you see an expiration message in red text, the subscription is already canceled.

If you purchased a subscription by mistake and need a refund please follow this link:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084

Is the app approved by the FDA?

Please be aware that the EpiCentr app is not a medical device and does not provide clinical recommendations or make medical decisions concerning your healthcare. It is not designed as a diagnostic tool or a substitute for medical devices or clinical treatment; therefore, it does not have FDA approval. While the app can detect seizure-like patterns using device sensors and send alerts, always consult a doctor for medical advice.

How can I make my watch battery last longer?

To detect seizures, the app uses the motion and heart rate sensors of the Apple Watch in real-time, which is quite power-consuming. This is why the monitoring mode may drain your watch battery faster.
Here are several recommendations to help prolong battery life.

I. Watch screen settings (go to Settings > General > Display & Brightness)
Adjust the screen brightness to a lower level
If your watch has the Always On mode, you can turn it off.
Disable the Wake on Wrist Raise feature.

II. Background App Refresh (Settings > General > Background App Refresh)
Turn off Background App Refresh for some or all apps.
In general, using fewer apps can extend battery life (which may seem obvious, but it helps). Unused apps can also be removed from the watch to prevent them from consuming additional energy while auto-updating.

How do I connect the watch to my phone?

The app consists of two parts: the iOS app (iPhone) and the WatchOS app (Apple Watch). When you first install the app on your iPhone, iOS automatically installs the companion app on your watch. Sometimes this may take a few minutes. When you first launch the app, ensure your watch is paired and connected to your iPhone (with Bluetooth and WiFi On). Open the app on both your watch and your iPhone simultaneously to allow initial synchronization. After that, you can start using the monitoring mode.

Is it possible to keep the watch app in the background while monitoring is on?

Yes, you can hide the app on the watch while it’s active.
On your watch, go to Settings > General > Return to Clock, scroll down to find our app, and select it. There will be a switch labeled “Return to App (when in session)” at the very bottom, which you can turn off.

There is also a Watch Faces feature in the app. Once you start the monitoring mode on the watch, you can swipe the screen from right to left to see a watch face screen without the big alert button. You can choose different styles using the button in the bottom left corner.

What is the countdown for?

The countdown is a delayed alert. In case of false detections or minor short seizures, you have a chance to cancel the alert during the countdown before it goes off.

Can I change the delay time for a delayed alert?

Yes, you can change the delay time. On the iPhone app, go to Profile > Settings > Delayed Alert to set a longer or shorter delay time.

Can I use the EpiCentr app on an Apple Watch with a cellular module (LTE) when away from my iPhone (e.g., during walks, at work, etc.)?

Yes, the app can work on a watch with a cellular module (LTE) even when it’s away from your iPhone. After installation, the app on the watch needs to be launched together with the phone for the first time, but after that, it can function independently. Make sure the LTE (cellular) connection is active. Sometimes there’s a delay when the watch is no longer connected to the phone but hasn’t yet switched to LTE data.

Which Apple Watch models work with the EpiCentr app?

The oldest supported model is the Apple Watch Series 4 running WatchOS 9+. The watch doesn’t have to have a cellular module (LTE), but it’s definitely an advantage if it does. Having a cellular module increases the chances of staying connected and sending alerts when needed, especially if your iPhone isn’t nearby. The newer the watch model, the better, as it will have a longer-lasting battery and support the latest WatchOS versions for a longer period.


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