The Nov. 1 issue of the journal Sleep contains the first reported study of “thermal infrared imaging” to monitor airflow during an overnight sleep study. Can this technology be used to detect obstructive sleep apnea?
Typically, contact sensors are placed around your nose and mouth to measure airflow during a sleep study. The authors report that these sensors and wires may cause discomfort during sleep.
The advantage of thermal infrared imaging is that it uses “non-contact” sensing to detect airflow abnormalities. It is unobtrusive and doesn’t touch your body while you sleep.
The automatic thermal monitoring system (ATHEMOS) uses an infrared camera to record your sleep from a distance. It acquires thermal information as heat radiates from your nostrils.
The thermal signature of the nostrils varies. It is cooler as you inhale, and warmer as you exhale air from the lungs. This thermal signal provides information about your breathing.
But is it effective? The small pilot study found a high degree of agreement between thermal infrared imaging and conventional airflow sensors.
But the system wasn’t tested during a full night of sleep. The average recording time was less than two hours per person.
This is because the method produces massive data sets. Recording a full night of sleep would require an investment in upgraded computer systems for data management and storage.
Thermal infrared imaging also involves another major expense: the camera. The authors note that an entry-level, thermal camera can cost about $60,000 at this time.
The benefit of this system is that it doesn’t require the sterilization or replacement of sensors; this minimizes the operating costs over time.
The automatic thermal monitoring system is a unique prototype that is still in development. The authors are optimistic that it could be useful in the detection of obstructive sleep apnea. But much more testing is needed to validate its effectiveness.
Showing posts with label sleep study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep study. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sleep Apnea: Microsoft Developing a Diagnostic Device
The 10th annual Microsoft Research Faculty Summit is taking place today and tomorrow in Redmond, Wash. The summit brings leading academic researchers and educators together with Microsoft® researchers.The theme of the 2009 summit is “Addressing World-Scale Challenges.” One of the challenges on the agenda is the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.
Tomorrow from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. there will be a breakout session on, “Monitoring and Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in the Home.” The talk will focus on technology that the Microsoft Research hardware team is developing.
They are creating a device to generate predictions of sleep apnea. It is a “neck cuff” that contains diagnostic sensors. The goal is for it to be used in the home.
OSA is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the muscles relax during sleep.
As a result soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway. A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night.
Untreated OSA has been linked to other serious medical problems. These include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and depression.
It is estimated that about 80 percent of men and 90 percent of women with moderate to severe sleep apnea are undiagnosed.
An overnight sleep study at a sleep disorders center has always been the standard diagnostic tool for detecting OSA in children and adults. But recent advances have made home sleep testing another option for adults who have a high risk of OSA.
How do you know which method of diagnosis is right for you? You should schedule an appointment at an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center.
There you will meet with a board-certified sleep specialist. He or she will determine the best way to evaluate your sleep problem.
As a result soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway. A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night.
Untreated OSA has been linked to other serious medical problems. These include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and depression.
It is estimated that about 80 percent of men and 90 percent of women with moderate to severe sleep apnea are undiagnosed.
An overnight sleep study at a sleep disorders center has always been the standard diagnostic tool for detecting OSA in children and adults. But recent advances have made home sleep testing another option for adults who have a high risk of OSA.
How do you know which method of diagnosis is right for you? You should schedule an appointment at an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center.
There you will meet with a board-certified sleep specialist. He or she will determine the best way to evaluate your sleep problem.
Image courtesy of Microsoft
Friday, July 10, 2009
Regis Philbin’s Sleep Study Results: It’s Sleep Apnea
Who wants to feel like a millionaire? Talk show and game show host Regis Philbin says that he does.
The Emmy Award-winning TV personality can’t get a good night’s sleep. Regis said that he wakes up multiple times during the night.
And after waking up it can be a struggle to get back to sleep. As a result he rarely feels his best during the day.
For years he’s been complaining about his sleep problems on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” And his wife Joy has her own sleep problem: His snoring keeps her awake at night.
But now Regis knows what’s causing his disturbed sleep. He spent the night at a sleep disorders center in New York. His experience was documented on Thursday’s show.
Results of his overnight sleep study show that he has obstructive sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder occurs when the muscles relax during sleep. As a result soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway.
Breathing pauses can last from 10 seconds to a minute or longer. A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night.
So what is going to help Regis sleep better? On the show he took a look at a CPAP unit and mask. CPAP therapy is the most common treatment for OSA.
The small unit plugs into the wall and sends air through a long, flexible tube. The tube connects to a mask that you wear during sleep. The stream of air keeps the airway open, preventing breathing pauses.
On SleepEducation.com you can learn more about how a sleep study may be your best investment for long-term health. You also can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea.
Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
The Emmy Award-winning TV personality can’t get a good night’s sleep. Regis said that he wakes up multiple times during the night.
And after waking up it can be a struggle to get back to sleep. As a result he rarely feels his best during the day.
For years he’s been complaining about his sleep problems on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” And his wife Joy has her own sleep problem: His snoring keeps her awake at night.
But now Regis knows what’s causing his disturbed sleep. He spent the night at a sleep disorders center in New York. His experience was documented on Thursday’s show.
Results of his overnight sleep study show that he has obstructive sleep apnea. This common sleep disorder occurs when the muscles relax during sleep. As a result soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the upper airway.
Breathing pauses can last from 10 seconds to a minute or longer. A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night.
So what is going to help Regis sleep better? On the show he took a look at a CPAP unit and mask. CPAP therapy is the most common treatment for OSA.
The small unit plugs into the wall and sends air through a long, flexible tube. The tube connects to a mask that you wear during sleep. The stream of air keeps the airway open, preventing breathing pauses.
On SleepEducation.com you can learn more about how a sleep study may be your best investment for long-term health. You also can answer these questions to learn more about your risk for sleep apnea.
Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sarah Connor is Right: A Sleep Study Can Help You Terminate Your Sleep Problem
Sarah Connor has the right idea. If she is going to save the world, she has to get some sleep first. If only she could get rid of these pesky nightmares.
So in tonight’s episode of the Terminator TV series she checks into a sleep clinic for a sleep study. Of course, things don’t quite go as expected. Or as the show’s promo says, “Suspicious things begin happening.”
You can check out the episode “Some Must Watch While Some Must Sleep” at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.
For your own sleep problems, you can check in at one of nearly 1,700 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country. It sounds like Sarah should have made sure that her sleep center was accredited before she spent the night.
AASM accreditation is the “gold standard” for the profession. It shows that a sleep center or lab maintains the highest standards in all it does.
It also ensures that you receive expert care. AASM-accredited sleep centers are required to have a board-certified sleep specialist as the medical director.
A sleep study gathers the information that will help your doctor solve the riddle of your sleep problem. This provides the foundation for an effective treatment plan.
Treating a sleep disorder promotes your health and well-being. In the long run it also can save you money.
Want to learn more? Find out how A Sleep Study May be Your Best Investment for Long-Term Health.
So in tonight’s episode of the Terminator TV series she checks into a sleep clinic for a sleep study. Of course, things don’t quite go as expected. Or as the show’s promo says, “Suspicious things begin happening.”
You can check out the episode “Some Must Watch While Some Must Sleep” at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.
For your own sleep problems, you can check in at one of nearly 1,700 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country. It sounds like Sarah should have made sure that her sleep center was accredited before she spent the night.
AASM accreditation is the “gold standard” for the profession. It shows that a sleep center or lab maintains the highest standards in all it does.
It also ensures that you receive expert care. AASM-accredited sleep centers are required to have a board-certified sleep specialist as the medical director.
A sleep study gathers the information that will help your doctor solve the riddle of your sleep problem. This provides the foundation for an effective treatment plan.
Treating a sleep disorder promotes your health and well-being. In the long run it also can save you money.
Want to learn more? Find out how A Sleep Study May be Your Best Investment for Long-Term Health.
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