Can a Wearable Sensor Effectively Monitor Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Responses?

San Francisco, May 18 (NationPress) A cutting-edge wearable pulse oximeter, combined with an innovative software platform, demonstrates significant potential for effectively tracking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and various other sleep-related breathing disorders, based on recent research published this past Sunday.

This device, a pulse oximeter approved for medical use, was crafted with user comfort and simplicity in mind; a clinical trial revealed a high rate of patient engagement. It holds the capability to monitor patient responses to OSA treatments over a substantial period.

“Researchers participating in our clinical studies indicate the value of longitudinal data for assessing night-to-night variations and treatment responses to OSA,” shared Ketan Mehta, the head of product and engineering for Connected Wearables at Apnimed.

“One sleep expert even mentioned that gathering one or two data channels over 25 nights might yield better insights than collecting 25 channels in a single night, which is typically deemed the gold standard in laboratory polysomnography,” Mehta elaborated.

While consumer wearables like the Oura ring and Apple Watch are popular for tracking biometrics during sleep, they lack medical approval.

Simultaneously, existing medical devices used in sleep studies may capture clinically pertinent data but tend to be cumbersome and expensive, making frequent monitoring impractical.

This innovative tool could significantly enhance patient access to care through pulmonologists, allowing them to manage routine sleep apnea without requiring referrals to sleep specialists, Mehta noted. The device serves as a vital link between these two domains.

Worn as a ring, this device boasts several important distinctions from typical consumer wearables. Notably, it employs transmittance-based photoplethysmography, which has proven to be more effective for the proximal phalanx region, yielding better signal-to-noise ratios and functioning more effectively in low perfusion scenarios.

Moreover, it facilitates continuous data collection instead of sporadic checks, Mehta added.

The device pairs with an application accessible via smartphones, allowing patients to view a subset of data similar to what their healthcare providers receive.

“This data empowers both patients and providers to stay informed, fostering more meaningful discussions. It opens up opportunities for shared decision-making between the patient and healthcare provider using digital medicine,” Mehta stated.