Study Highlights Role of 6-Minute Walk Test in Predicting the Severity of Sleep Apnea
With this app, patients will be able to monitor their symptoms with a less invasive method
Sleep apnea patients typically need to be diagnosed with a polysomnography (PSG) test, which records their blood oxygen level, brain waves, breathing, eye and leg movement, and their heart rate while they're asleep with contact sensors. However, with this new technology, contact sensors would not be used. The system works by installing this new technology in the smartphone or any device that has ambient microphones. It evaluates the patients’ speech while they're awake and assesses their breathing while they're asleep.
Compared to other methods, this new system is less expensive and easier to use. According to the developer of the sound-breathing system, Eliran Dafna, all sleep studies conducted at home settings or laboratories require patients to be connected to various sensors and electrodes. Processing the sleep-wake data and their corresponding physiology aspects is tedious, costly, and time-consuming due to its complexity and the demand for technical expertise. Dafna said the market badly needs a better solution.
Professor Tarasiuk said they are excited about the non-contact tracking system, which does not require patients to wear invasive and distressing monitoring equipment. He added that the system can also be helpful for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine users who wish to monitor their therapy’s effectiveness.
