A groundbreaking wearable sensor is transforming how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is monitored and treated. The medical-grade device, worn as a ring, offers continuous data collection that provides more comprehensive insights than traditional sleep studies. Unlike consumer wearables, this technology is clinically cleared and allows both patients and healthcare providers to track treatment responses in real-time. By bridging the gap between complex medical testing and accessible monitoring, the device represents a significant advancement in personalized sleep disorder management.
May 21, 2025
Wearable sensor can monitor obstructive sleep apnea treatment response: Study
"It
may be better to collect one or two channels of data over 25 nights than 25
channels over one night" - Ketan Mehta, Apnimed
A
wearable pulse oximeter and connected software platform show promise for
monitoring obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related breathing
diseases, according to new research released on Sunday.
Key
Points
1 Advanced pulse oximeter enables longitudinal sleep
apnea monitoring
2 Wearable device provides continuous medical-grade
data collection
3 Smartphone app facilitates shared decision-making
between patients and providers
4 Technology potentially expands access to sleep
disorder management
The
device (pulse oximeter), which is cleared for medical use, was designed for
comfort and ease of use; a clinical trial found high rates of utilisation by
patients. It could be used to track patient response to OSA treatment over
time.
“Investigators
in our clinical research trials report how useful longitudinal data are to
observe night-to-night variability and the response to treatment of OSA,” said
Ketan Mehta, head of product and engineering for Connected Wearables at
Apnimed.
“One
sleep specialist even reported that it may be better to collect one or two
channels of data over 25 nights than 25 channels over one night, which is
considered the gold standard with in-lab polysomnography,” Mehta added.
Wearable
sensors like the Oura ring and Apple Watch that measure biometrics during sleep
are widely used by consumers, but are not cleared for medical use.
At
the same time, other medical devices used in sleep studies gather clinically
relevant data, but are too cumbersome and costly to use for frequent
monitoring.
This
tool could potentially expand patient access to care through pulmonologists to
manage routine sleep apnea in their patients, instead of having to refer them
out to a sleep specialist, he added. The device provides a bridge between these
two extremes, he said.
Worn
as a ring, the device offers several key differences from other consumer
wearables. Notably, it uses transmittance-based photoplethysmography, which has
been shown to be more suitable for the proximal phalanx region, provide better
signal-to-noise ratio, and is more effective in low perfusion situations.
It
also engages in continuous data collection, rather than spot checks, he added.
The
device connects to an app that users can access from their smartphone, giving
patients access to a subset of the same data as their health care providers.
“These
data empower both parties to be informed, and they’re able to have more
meaningful conversations. This offers the opportunity for shared decision
making between patient and provider using digital medicine,” Mehta said.
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