Daijiworld Media Network - San Francisco

San Francisco, May 19: A newly developed wearable pulse oximeter combined with an advanced software platform is demonstrating significant potential for the effective monitoring of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related breathing disorders, according to recent research findings.

This medically approved device prioritizes user comfort and simplicity, which contributed to its high usage rates in clinical trials. It offers an ongoing way to track how patients respond to OSA treatments over time, providing valuable insights into night-to-night variations in breathing patterns.

Ketan Mehta, head of product and engineering for Connected Wearables at Apnimed, emphasized the value of continuous data collection. “One sleep specialist suggested that collecting data from one or two channels across 25 nights may provide better insights than collecting many channels in a single night, which is the traditional gold standard in laboratory polysomnography,” Mehta explained.

While consumer wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura ring are popular for tracking sleep metrics, they are not cleared for clinical diagnosis. On the other hand, conventional medical devices offer detailed clinical data but tend to be bulky and expensive, limiting their practical use for frequent monitoring.

This new device could broaden patient access to sleep apnea care by allowing pulmonologists to monitor their patients routinely without needing to refer them to sleep specialists. Mehta describes it as a bridge between consumer gadgets and clinical-grade equipment.

Designed as a ring, the device utilizes transmittance-based photoplethysmography, which provides improved signal quality, especially in low blood flow conditions, and is better suited for the finger’s proximal phalanx area. Unlike many devices that perform only spot checks, this tool captures continuous data throughout the night.

Users can access their health information through a smartphone app, which shares a portion of the data with both patients and healthcare providers. “This transparency empowers both parties to make informed decisions and facilitates more meaningful communication, enabling shared decision-making through digital medicine,” said Mehta.

This wearable technology promises to revolutionize how sleep apnea and related conditions are monitored, making routine and precise care more accessible to patients.