Using real-time brain monitoring, it turns attention challenges into measurable progress
with smart feedback and therapist support when needed.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that some patients diagnosed as unconscious or in a disorder of consciousness are still capable of processing information, perceiving their surroundings, and even attempting to respond—despite being unable to speak or produce voluntary movements.
The primary challenge is detecting those first signs of voluntary response as early as possible. Today, admission to neurological rehabilitation facilities often depends on a patient’s ability to demonstrate signs of consciousness, voluntary response, or rehabilitative potential. Patients who do not show a clear response are frequently referred to long-term nursing facilities rather than rehabilitation centers. Early identification of voluntary responses can therefore carry immense clinical and rehabilitative significance.
Beginning the neurological rehabilitation process and assessing communication skills as early as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stage can help identify patients who still retain meaningful communicative capabilities and rehabilitative potential following severe brain injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other neurological conditions associated with altered states of consciousness.
The EyeCon system is an innovative platform designed to establish communication and initiate the rehabilitation process for unconscious patients and patients with disorders of consciousness during the earliest stages of hospitalization.
The system combines real-time brain activity monitoring (EEG) with the detection of subtle muscle responses (EMG)—primarily blinking—to identify clear, consistent responses and establish a baseline communication capacity. Through personalized stimuli and real-time feedback, EyeCon enables a gradual process of eliciting intentional responses from the patient, even when the patient has no ability to speak or produce meaningful movements on the path to recovery.
One of the first and most critical goals in the assessment of an unconscious patient is identifying a clear, voluntary response. In some cases this may be as simple as an intentional blink in response to a verbal instruction—yet even this single action can carry profound clinical and rehabilitative implications.
When a patient successfully demonstrates a consistent voluntary response, it can fundamentally change how the medical team evaluates their condition and their potential for neurological rehabilitation. In many cases, detecting such a response can support a referral to a neurological rehabilitation program rather than a long-term nursing care facility alone.
The system is also well-suited for advancing communication in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness, including those in a Minimally Conscious State (MCS) or those presenting with complex neurological conditions following brain injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or severe neurological damage. The overarching goal is to enable steady progress in communication skills through personalized, evidence-informed rehabilitation—grounded in the identification of voluntary responses and the tracking of residual cognitive abilities.
In the ICU, the initial rehabilitation protocol focuses on establishing foundational communication skills through simple voluntary responses:
Note: The majority of ICU patients who successfully demonstrate a clear “Yes” and “No” response are typically referred for continued institutional rehabilitation.
For patients who have remained in a minimally conscious state over an extended period (months or years), the EyeCon system is used to progress through more advanced stages. Building on Protocol 1 (establishing “Yes”) and Protocol 2 (establishing “No”), the process continues to Protocols 3 and 4:
For some patients, once communication is established, it may be possible to transition to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems designed for conscious patients, depending on their cognitive and functional capabilities.
One of the key advantages of EyeCon is the relative ease of operating the system. Following basic training, family members and caregivers can take an active role in the rehabilitation process and practice communicating with the patient beyond the hours allocated to healthcare professionals.
This approach substantially increases the patient’s exposure to stimuli, practice time, and continuity of care—without depending solely on the availability of occupational therapists or speech-language pathologists.
Beyond its therapeutic value, active family involvement fosters a meaningful sense of partnership during an exceptionally difficult time.
Submit your contact details via our website, including your phone number and email address. The EyeCon team will then reach out to review the patient’s most recent medical summary and conduct an initial assessment of their suitability for communication rehabilitation for unconscious patients and rehabilitation for disorders of consciousness.
If the initial assessment indicates that the patient is a suitable candidate for the system, and following payment arrangements, pickup of the specialized EEG headband will be coordinated.
An initial remote session (online / telemedicine) is then scheduled to walk you through how the system works. During this training, you will learn to use the system to detect early responses, and the family will conduct their first guided session with the device.
Following the compatibility check, an agreement is established for ongoing use of the system over a period determined jointly by the consulting physician and the rehabilitation team.
All training, support, and monitoring are delivered via telemedicine and remote consultation, ensuring continuity of care independent of the immediate availability of the primary medical team.
During day-to-day use, the family operates the system independently, while the EyeCon team monitors progress, assists in fine-tuning the rehabilitation protocol, and provides professional guidance throughout. This model significantly extends the scope of practice, stimulus exposure, and patient communication well beyond the constraints of a traditional rehabilitation setting.
*The specialized EEG headband can be collected from Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam Hospital) or from another location agreed upon during the onboarding process.*
For step-by-step setup instructions and answers to common questions, please refer to the User Installation & FAQ Guide.
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