Computer engineering
students at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates have
developed an award-winning smartphone application that is intended as a
preliminary diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA).
Since it was unveiled
in March, the Sleep Apnea Monitor (aka SAM) has won numerous international
awards for its innovative use of built-in smartphone features to detect whether
a person suffers from symptoms of sleep
apnea. The easy-to-use application is designed to run on Windows and
Android mobile phones and operate in the comfort of users’ homes.
SAM employs smartphones’
microphones and accelerometers to monitor snoring, record breathing patterns
and detect movement during sleep. This data is then sent to a server, which
uses statistical analysis software to assess the information for sleep apnea
risks.
The results are sent
back to the user’s phone and are also posted on a web interface, which allows
authorized physicians to review the data. The purpose of the application is to
help users and their physicians determine if more extensive—and expensive—testing
is necessary.
The developers of the
application are currently seeking capital to commercialize SAM for global use,
and they hope to make it available as a free download. According to the World
Health Organization, some 100 million people worldwide are thought to suffer
from OSA.
Although obstructive
sleep apnea can increase your risk for severe health complications including
stroke and heart attack, there are a number of comfortable and effective
treatment options available through the field of dental sleep
medicine. If you or a loved one experiences chronic snoring or other sleep
apnea symptoms, a qualified dentist may be able to determine the source of your
condition and prescribe a custom oral appliance or other treatment method.
Please contact IHateCPAP.com to find
a dentist near you who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep
apnea and other sleep disorders.