Detection of Sleep Stages and Arousals Using Neural Network Classifiers

CLINICAL APPROACH: To validate the SSAM's performance in determining sleep stages (N1/N2, N3, REM, Wake), arousals, and Arousal Index, two separate clinical studies are proposed. Both studies will use the same success criteria: to demonstrate that SSAM's performance is not statistically different from, or is statistically better, compared to the performance of its predicate device. More specifically, the studies, which will take place simultaneously, will compare the SSAM-derived measurements to those obtained from both a gold-standard (manual PSG scoring) and its predicate device (EnsoSleep, which uses AI-powered automated scoring). The proposed clinical approach is essentially identical to that used for Smart Mask's predicate device, EnsoSleep, as described in its 510(k) Summary. It will use the same number of participants, statistical analyses, and success criteria, as summarized below.

The SSAM detects autonomic arousals by processing cardio-respiratory signals, whereas PSG allows the scoring of cortical arousals through the measurement of brain electrical activity and other physiological signals. Despite these differences, PSG is proposed as the gold-standard reference based on the following considerations:

• For determining sleep stages and arousals, SSAM's predicate device (EnsoSleep) was validated using PSG.
• For measuring autonomic arousals and, from these, an arousal index, there is no agreed-upon gold-standard reference for validating these measurements.
• Inter-observer error for PSG-determined cortical arousals is imperfect and suffers limited reliability, with recent studies reporting ICC values for the number of arousals and the arousal index between 0.52 and 0.802.
• Previous studies by Ross et al., which were conducted with a similar neural network-based classifier used by SSAM for arousal detection, indicates that agreement between autonomic arousals and cortical arousals are characterized by an ICC of 0.73, which is within the inter-observer error for PSG-determined cortical arousals.

Based on these considerations, the proposed validation study will be conducted using two clinical cohorts tested at three sleep testing facilities. The first cohort will be used for training the neural-network classifiers used by SSAM (for both sleep stages and arousals), and will feature about 75 participants tested at a first clinical site. The second cohort will be used to validation the neural-network classifiers used by SSAM, and will feature at least 72 participants tested at a second and third clinical site, both independent of the first clinical site. The sample size for the second, validation cohort has been powered using a statistical model, and is consistent with the sample size used in the EnsoSleep validation study. All participants used in both the training and validation cohorts will be representative of the SSAM's intended-use population (i.e. patients suffering sleep-disordered breathing, e.g. from central or obstructive sleep apnea).

The study will adhere to guidelines published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine ('AASM'). All relevant documentations will be submitted for review and approval by a third-party Institutional Review Board ('IRB') and an IRB associated directly with one of the study sites. Study activities will not begin until the IRBs approve the clinical protocol and Informed Consent Form associated with the study.

The proposed clinical study will be performed at sleep testing facilities associated with three separate clinical sites: 1) University of California, San Diego ('UCSD'); 2) the Peninsula Sleep Center (https://www.peninsulasleep.com/) located in Burlingame, CA ('Peninsula'); and Amnova Research (https://amnovaresearch.com) located in Irvine, CA ('Amnova). UCSD has a dedicated IRB associated with the university, whereas Amnova and Peninsula will rely on the third-party IRB. Participants will primarily be recruited from the patient populations associated with these facilities.

VALIDATION STUDY PROTOCOL: The proposed clinical studies will follow a two-phase protocol. Phase I of the study will use study participants from the first cohort. This Phase will be used to collect data from the test, reference, and predicate devices; these data will be used to further train the neural-network classifiers used by SSAM. Participants enrolled in this Phase will not be included in the second (validation) cohort and will not participate in Phase II. Phase II will use study participants from the second cohort, and will serve as the formal validation study and will support the premarket notification (510(k)) submission to the U.S. FDA. Participants enrolled will be individuals diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing and prescribed PAP therapy.

Each participant in either phase will undergo an overnight PSG study at one of the designated clinical sleep testing sites. During the study, participants will wear the Smart Mask, which interfaces with a PAP device configured to match each participant's prescribed therapy settings. Participants will be selected to ensure representation across various PAP modalities, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), auto-titrating PAP (Auto-CPAP) and auto-titrating BiPAP (Auto-BiPAP) .

Benchtop studies using the Smart Mask and PAP devices with a simulated breathing system, incorporating replay libraries for normal breathing, snoring, and OSA, have shown that variations in therapy modality and pressure exert minimal impact on the flow waveforms analyzed by SSAM. Therefore, stratified enrollment across therapy types, with an aggregate sample size of approximately 72 participants, is deemed sufficient for clinical validation.

PSG will be conducted using equipment and data collection parameters outlined in the 'AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events'. Throughout the night, several physiological parameters will be recorded using the following equipment (sensors and monitors) attached to the participant. These may include: 1) EEG to monitor brain activity; 2) EOG to track eye movements; 3) EMG to assess muscle tone; 4) ECG to measure heart rate and rhythm; 5) a chest belt to monitor respiratory effort; 6) a respiratory sensor to evaluate airflow and oxygen levels; 7) pulse oximeter to measure PR and SpO2; 8) sound probes to capture snoring and other noises; and 9) a synchronized camera to record video of leg and other movements. In addition to these PSG sensors, each participant will also wear the Checkme O2 device, worn on the wrist and fingers, to capture additional signals for the EnsoSleep cloud-based software platform (e.g., PPG waveforms and values of SpO2 and pulse rate).

Upon completion of the study sessions, clinicians in the sleep testing facility will remove the Smart Mask from the participant and connect it to the WAM, which will then calculate sleep stages, arousals, and Arousal Index as described above. These data will be downloaded onto a computer (used for testing purposes only and not included in the SSAM's submission for premarket approval) and included in their respective analysis, as described below.

Once PSG data is collected and stored, three independent registered PSG technologists ('RPSGTs') will manually score the data to estimate sleep stages and arousals by following guidelines in the 'The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications', which is the definitive reference for the scoring of PSG and HSATs. The RPSGTs will be blinded, and, when analyzing the PSG data, a 2/3 majority score will be required to indicate each sleep stage and arousal event.

PPG waveforms and values of SpO2 and pulse rate measured by the Checkme O2 device will be uploaded to EnsoSleep's cloud-based software platform for analysis. Once this is complete, data from this software system will be downloaded, and included in its respective analysis, as described below.

DATA ANALYSIS AND SUCCESS CRITERIA: For each participants in the trial, sleep stages, arousals, and arousal indices will be determined by the test, gold-standard, and predicate devices described herein. These data will be collected and then synchronized after the measurement is complete. For each parameter, an external statistician, provided by the Sponsor, will group data into 30-second epochs, aggregate all epochs from all participants, and then use bootstrap estimates on this data set to determine the percent positive agreement ('PA'), percent negative agreement ('NA'), and the overall agreement ('OA'), along with the 95% confidence intervals, for:

• Test device vs. gold-standard reference device
• Predicate device vs. gold-standard reference device

Data collected during the study will be displayed and analyzed in a manner similar to that described in the 510(k) Summary for EnsoSleep. Success criteria for sleep stages, arousals, and Arousal Index-as also described in EnsoSleep's 510(k) Summary-is that for Evaluation 1 the PA, NA, and OA performance that is observed is not statistically significantly different or is statistically significantly greater in all comparisons relative to Evaluation 2. Stated another way, the overall success criteria, similar to that used by EnsoSleep, is to definitively prove using the intended-use population that SSAM achieves clinical performance (PA, NA, OA with PSG) for sleep staging, arousals, and arousal index that is substantially equivalent to its predicate device's clinical performance (again, PA, NA, OA with PSG) for the same parameters.

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects must be at least 18 years of age at screening.
• Subjects are individuals diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing who have been prescribed PAP therapy or referred for a PSG.
• Subjects must be willing and able to comply with the study requirements, which include using test, reference and predicate devices (if needed), completing training, interacting with study personnel and filling out questionnaires.
• Subjects must be fluent in English.
• Subject must be willing to undergo the screening and informed consent process prior to enrollment in the study.
• Subjects must be deemed suitable candidates for this study based on the PI's evaluation of their condition and the features of the investigational device being tested.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects unable or unwilling to wear a PAP mask as required for the study.
• Subjects currently employed by, previously employed by or in any way affiliated (consulting, etc.) with any manufacturer or provider of PAP equipment and/or services.
• Subjects who are pregnant.
• Subjects with or requiring an implantable device, such as an electronic defibrillator, pacemaker, or other device.
• Subjects considered by the PI to be medically unsuitable for study participation.