Close-up on the sleep apnea detection patch: a flexible and breathable device incorporating printed micro-circuits and a cut structure to marry the shapes of the face. An innovation designed for comfort and precision in night surveillance. © Ban et al., Biosensors and Bioelectronics
Diagnosing sleep apnea remains today a heavy, expensive and inexpensive procedure. The Woon-Hong Yeo (Georgia Tech) team has an unexpected innovation: a light, light, flexible and wireless patch capable of monitoring brain activity and detecting apnea with clinical precision. A concentrate of technology as discreet as a sticker.
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A connected patch to detect sleep apnea, wireless or stress
Sleep apnea is one of the most frequent nocturnal disorders … and less well diagnosed. Between machines, sensors, technicians and hospital beds, the obstacle course put off more than one patient. Hence the interest of a radical innovation: a wireless bioelectronic patch, designed to monitor night breathing without ever leaving home.
Our system detects sleep apnea with precision greater than 92 %.
Simply glued to the forehead, this patch measures brain (EEG) and eye (EOG) in real time, while letting the skin breathe thanks to a perforated kirigami structure. Result: a comfortable port, even for several hours, with impeccable support despite perspiration or night movements.
Flexible and wireless patches developed to detect sleep apnea: front and chin, perforated silicone structure, integrated EEG/EOG electrodes, transmission of multi-layer wireless data and architecture. An innovation from Georgia Tech for comfortable and precise screening, without polysomnography. © Science Advances, Georgia Tech
Kirigami, derived from the Japanese word “Kiru” (cut) and “kami” (paper), designates the art of creating shapes by cutting. Transposed to materials engineering, it makes it possible to manufacture flexible, stretch and breathable structures thanks to ultra precise patterns.
Under the surface, an artificial intelligence system interprets the signals captured to classify sleep stages and automatically detect apnea, with precision greater than 92 %. Ultimately, this patch could serve as a home screening tool, for people at risk, chronic snoring or patients under post-operative follow-up.
The patch holds perfectly in place and avoids errors due to movements during the night.
Made without white room, the device is inexpensive to produce, and could therefore be deployed on a large scale. A very concrete example of gentle electronics at the service of a more accessible medicine – and a sleep finally released from the threads.
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