Troubleshooting

Here you will find the most frequently experienced problems about the features and intended use of the NightWatch+.

NightWatch+ is a Class IIa medical device under the Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 designed to detect nocturnal epileptic motor seizures of people with epilepsy 4 years and older. Read the user manual carefully before first use.

How to customise the elastic strap of the sensor

The strap may need replacement or may not have been set up correctly.

Analysis
The strap must be set up correctly to wear NightWatch+ comfortably and make sure the sensors can continuously track the heart rate and movement during use. If the sensor is too tight or too loose, you may need to adjust the setup. The strap may need replacement.

Proposed solutions
Please follow the instructions in the video below on how to set up the strap.

The NightWatch+ alarm station is out of range of the sensor

If the alarm station is unable to establish communication with the sensor for a duration exceeding 2 minutes, an audible alert will be triggered (a falling melody of three beeps).

Analysis
The maximum communication distance between the sensor and the alarm station is typically 15 meters but depends on the construction of the building. When the alarm station fails to communicate with the sensor for more than 2 minutes, the alarm station will warn the user by emitting a falling melody of three beeps.

If the alarm only occurs accidentally during the night, a possible cause could be that the person wearing the sensor is completely covering the sensor with their body, which may decrease its range.

Proposed solutions

  • Make sure that the sensor is switched ON.
  • Position the alarm station closer to the location where the sensor is worn. Also, moving the alarm station to a location that is not close to a wall may increase its reach.
NightWatch+ is giving an epilepsy alarm but there is no seizure

NightWatch+ may produce some false alarms. This is an epilepsy alarm, while no seizures seem to be taking place. Click the play button below to hear what the epilepsy alarm sounds like.

Analysis

Most NightWatch+ users occasionally experience false alarms. NightWatch+ may detect short-lived seizures, which are visually unnoticeable during the time the caregiver arrives. Other false alarms may be caused by strong heart rate fluctuations during sleep or rhythmic movements during sleep, such as scratching. The rate of false alarms may change over the year.

Proposed solutions

  • If you are not sure if an alarm was false, we advise using the NightWatch Portal to gain more insight into the reasons for the alarm.
  • If you are not sure if the alarm was false or perhaps it was a minor seizure, you could consider making a video recording to verify.
  • If false alarms are triggered by movement, try to wear the sensor around the least dominant arm.
  • When in doubt, you could always email your portal graph and question to info@nightwatchepilepsy.com
NightWatch+ does not track a heart rate

The orange technical alarm light is flashing and the alarm station sounds a monotone melody of three beeps. Click the play button below to hear what this technical alarm sounds like.

Analysis
Each time, after disconnecting the sensor from the charger, the alarm station indicates that the system has started and no heart rate has been tracked yet by emitting a monotone melody of three beeps. This alarm sound will stop as soon as a heart rate has been tracked. A green light on the alarm station indicates that a heart rate has been reliably tracked.

NightWatch+ tracks heart rate and movement to detect seizures. The reliability of the heart rate tracking may vary depending on the wearer’s movements. The wearer may have removed the sensor or may be lying on it during sleep. When the sensor cannot find a heart rate or does not track the heart rate and movement for over 2 minutes, the alarm station will alert the user.

Proposed solutions
Test if your NightWatch+ functions correctly by performing a self-test following the video. If your sensor fails to measure the heart rate or loses track of the heart rate during the night, try the following:

  • Experiment with setting the strap a little bit tighter.
  • Make sure the sensor is positioned on the biceps, not on the side of the arm, to avoid lying on it.
  • Clean the green LEDs on the sensor regularly with an alcohol wipe.
NightWatch+ has not detected a seizure

There was no epilepsy alarm during a seizure.

Analysis
Since seizure characteristics may differ from person to person, it is possible that NightWatch+ does not detect all seizures. NightWatch+ is optimised to detect as many nocturnal epileptic motor seizures as possible. These are seizures that result in stiffening or spasms of the muscles of the limbs or/and changes in heart rate. Other seizure types, such as absence seizures, will not be detected by NightWatch+.

Proposed solutions

The battery low alarm occurs while the sensor has been charged

The blue battery light and orange technical alarm light flash while the alarm station emits a rising melody of three beeps. Click the play button below to hear what this technical alarm sounds like.

Analysis
In normal use, the capacity of the battery should be well sufficient to last all night. If the sensor is not sufficient or if it is not correctly charged during the daytime, it will raise an alarm when the battery level is close to empty.

Proposed solutions

  • Charge the sensor at least 2 hours before use.
  • Make sure the sensor is switched ON when charging.
  • We advise keeping the sensor connected to the charger when not using NightWatch+. This ensures that NightWatch+ is always fully charged and ready to be used. The sensor is protected against overcharging so it can safely be connected to the charger all day.
  • Do not fully drain the battery for a longer period (>3 months) without recharging since this may shorten the battery life.
  • Storage temperatures above 25°C will increase the rate of self-discharge, reducing the available capacity of the battery.
  • For best battery life, avoid charging the sensor in a hot environment like putting it on a radiator or in direct sunlight.
  • Replace the sensor when a low battery alarm occurs frequently within 12 hours after a full charge.
The NightWatch+ alarm station has lost connection with the sensor

If the alarm station is unable to establish communication with the sensor for a duration exceeding 2 minutes, the alarm station emits a falling melody of three beeps. Click the play button below to hear what this technical alarm sounds like.

Analysis
First, make sure the sensor is switched ON and that it is in close range of the alarm station. If the problem remains, your sensor may need to pair again with the alarm station. If in doubt, please first check “The NightWatch+ alarm station is out of range of the sensor”. 

Proposed solutions
Please follow the instructions in the video below to reconnect the sensor to the alarm station or follow these steps:

Step 1. Power the alarm station so that it starts up.
Step 2. Disconnect the sensor from the charger and switch it subsequently from OFF to ON (3 times).
Step 3. Within 30 seconds of performing step 2, throw the sensor three times up in the air approx. 1.5 meter high and catch it again.
Step 4. Reconnect the sensor to the charger.
Step 5. Press and hold both volume buttons on the alarm station for at least 15 seconds. After this, the sensor should be reconnected.

Contact NightWatch Support Team

Skin irritation after wearing the sensor

Skin irritation, rash, red spots, imprinting, or itching where the NightWatch+ sensor is worn.

Analysis
Some people experience skin irritation from wearing a device directly on the skin for long periods of time. This can also occur with NightWatch+.

Proposed solutions
For most people with skin irritations after wearing NightWatch+, the following measures may provide relief:

  • Regularly change the arm where NightWatch+ is worn.
  • Make sure the bottom of the NightWatch+ is clean and free of a buildup of bacteria by cleaning it with a damp cloth and a disinfectant.
  • Use the provided comfort patches on the sensor that will reduce symptoms in >95% of all cases. These patches should be changed regularly, about every month. A set of 3 comfort patches is provided with the device, new comfort patches can be ordered.

How to start using the NightWatch Portal

With the NightWatch Portal, you can read the measurements that NightWatch+ has tracked. This can give insight into how your NightWatch+ works and why it alerts.

Note: NightWatch Portal data should not be used to diagnose. Users should consult their neurologist.

Analysis
To use the NightWatch Portal, your alarm station must be continuously connected to the internet during use.

Proposed solutions

  • Ensure your NightWatch+ alarm station is connected to the internet using a LAN cable. If you do not have a LAN connection, see the manual for suggestions.
  • If your NightWatch+ is connected correctly, the blue internet light should be continuously on.
  • After your first recording, go to https://portal.nightwatchepilepsy.com and log in to see your data.
  • See the portal manual on how to log in and how to read the NightWatch Portal.
I don't see any data in the NightWatch Portal
The NightWatch Portal should show the recorded data after each night.
Analysis
The NightWatch Portal only receives data from your NightWatch+ when it is connected to the internet during use. Data may be missing if the internet connection is lost during the night.

Proposed solutions

  • If your data portal is empty, please check if your NightWatch+ alarm station shows the blue internet light continuously on indicating a correct connection to the internet. If not, see how to connect to the portal.
  • If parts of the data are missing your internet connection may be unstable. Check the connection regularly.
  • If you cannot reach the portal login screen at https://portal.nightwatchepilepsy.com, the server may be down. In most cases, the server will be back up shortly.
Test your NightWatch+

How to perform a test to see if your NightWatch+ is functioning correctly.

Analysis
If you’re unsure whether your NightWatch+ functions correctly, you can perform a self-test.

Proposed solutions
Follow the instructions in the video below to perform a self-test.

If you’re in doubt whether your NightWatch+ is functioning as expected , or if you have questions about the functioning, please make a video of the problem and upload the video here.