The first wireless home test for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to receive approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently being showcased at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Produced by NovaSom, the AccuSom home sleep test is designed to monitor symptoms of OSA, an underdiagnosed sleep disorder than can lead to severe health complications including an increased risk for heart attack, stroke and hypertension among other problems if not treated. Nearly 18 million Americans have OSA, and another 15 million are thought to have undiagnosed OSA.
The first FDA-approved wireless home sleep test, AccuSom is a roughly smart phone-size cardio-respiratory monitor that features a multichannel sensor to track the factors essential to accurate OSA diagnosis including:
- Oxygen saturation
- Pulse rate
- Respiration airflow
- Respiration effort
- Snoring
AccuSom is capable of testing patients over multiple sleep cycles, which can more effectively identify the symptoms of OSA than one-night tests in sleep laboratories. The device collects then transfers your individual sleep data to a platform used by your physician for interpretation and diagnosis.
AccuSom requires a prescription from your physician. After being prescribed, the AccuSom unit is mailed directly to you and self-administered at home. The device uses voice prompts to steer you through the testing process.
Although NovaSom claims the AccuSom device is appropriate for approximately 80 percent of prospective sleep apnea patients, AccuSom may not be the best diagnostic tool for everyone. It is important to consult with a physician specializing in sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment if you believe you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea symptoms.