New Remote Patient Monitoring Technology for Sleep Apnea Announced

On September 13, 2022, Silent Night Therapy announced a new remote patient monitoring technology for sleep apnea. This technology could revolutionize sleep apnea testing, which currently requires uncomfortable testing.

To provide some background, the press release states, “originally, sleep apnea testing involved an overnight stay for in-clinic testing. This was uncomfortable and a hassle for many people. The second iteration of testing was a take-home test. While this was better than having to travel to a clinic and sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, the test still required wearing a pulse oximeter, a nasal cannula, and a belt (or two) across the chest.”

Current remote patient monitoring techniques for sleep apnea are complicated and unreliable for patients.

The new test is called the Night Owl Mini Home Sleep Test. Compared to current patient monitoring devices for sleep apnea, this device is significantly smaller and weighs only one ounce, making it easy for patients to take home. Additionally, the device is fully disposable, like only one other medical sleep device.

Simply put, the technology involves a single sensor attached to the finger, which monitors blood oxygen, heart rate, and body movement.

The press release states, “this tiny device can detect apnea events and oxygen desaturations, read via Bluetooth, and log in to an app. All the patient has to do is download the app, slip the device on their finger, and sleep close to their phone to get an accurate result.”

In addition to addressing concerns about size and inconvenience in the monitoring aspect, the press release states that this device will also address concerns about collecting data. Unlike traditional sleep apnea monitoring devices, physicians will be able to access data such as Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI), your rapid-eye movement (REM) and non-rapid-eye movement (non-REM) sleep, your oxygen saturation, and sleep time within 48 hours of the test’s conclusion.

The quick turnaround time of this device may eliminate long patient wait times and allow providers to implement treatments faster.

In addition to the current benefits, developers anticipate this device will be cost-efficient. The projected cost of 1 two-night test with diagnostics and retesting after treatment is $250, assuming no insurance coverage. That said, providers may be able to reach and impact a broader patient population.

Clinicians should monitor the progression as this device is developed and undergo the FDA approval process. Researchers in the future may consider implementing this technology for remote patient monitoring in other disorders.