Validation of Sleep Apnea Screening Device

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) results in tiredness, depression and fatigue, and has several associated common comorbidities. It is believed that over 80% of OSA remains undiagnosed. Poorer and disadvantaged communities are at higher risk for sleep disorders, including OSA, even after accounting for other risk factors. The gold-standard method for diagnosing OSA is in-laboratory polysomnography; however, this procedure is generally available only to patients with health insurance due to its high cost. As a result, communities at particularly high risk for OSA are less likely to have this serious sleep disorder appropriately diagnosed and treated.

An affordable, available, FDA-approved and easy-to-use over-the-counter OSA screening tool would allow greater screening of at-risk individuals, especially in underserved communities with low socioeconomic status, hopefully encouraging a greater proportion of such individuals to seek treatment for their condition. Zansors® has developed a bioengineered, semiconductor prototype that measures breathing and movement during sleep. It is a 1.5 x 2.5 x 0.2 inch wireless package using four key technologies:

• an adjustable microphone;
• a 3-axis accelerometer;
• embedded algorithms to measure sleep events; and
• acrylic adhesive.

The product will be designed as an FDA-approved over-the-counter device that the patient can wear during sleep and wake up with a color score of red, yellow, or green depending on their sleep apnea status. The features of this product include that it is home-based; easy to use; non-invasive; wireless; disposable; low cost ($20-50); and presents easily understandable test results. However, such a device must first be validated against gold-standard polysomnography.

The specific goal of this project is to compare the Zansors® micro sleep sensor screening device against gold-standard polysomnography to establish the device's preliminary validity to screen for OSA accurately.

Inclusion criteria

• Must be over 18 and referred by medical staff for an overnight assessment for suspected sleep apnea

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Heart disease including congestive heart failure or a pacemaker
• Breathing disorder (emphysema or chronic obstructive breathing disorder)
• Neurological disorder such as Parkinson's Disease
• Restless leg syndrome or Periodic limb movement
• Allergies to metal
• Pre-existing skin conditions where sensor would be attached