ApneaBand is a medical screening solution to detect and measure sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing is periodically interrupted during sleep. The solution uses a non-intrusive, wearable device that records breathing, which is then analysed with special software. This EIT Health project supports testing of the ApneaBand system so it can be brought to market.

Origins

Sleep apnea is linked to major chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular and neurocognitive disorders and cancer. The problem is underdiagnosed despite its high prevalence. By making diagnosis easier and less obtrusive for patients, the ApneaBand increases awareness of the condition and provides an appropriate, cost-effective tool for doctors who are prescribing treatment.

Team

The knowledge of the team covers medical expertise, the device and market strategy:

• International experts of sleep respiratory disorders
  – in medicine (Prof J.L.Pepin (UGA), Pr. J.M. Montserrat (UB))
  – in engineering/ home care support (Prof R.Farre (UB), Dr. J.C. Borel (UGA)). `
• CEA Leti for medical devices technology and associated marketing strategy
• AQuAs for organizational and budget impacts evaluation
• Airfan for industrialization

The project

Through this project, the ApneaBand will be clinically validated and investigated for its medical effectiveness, adoption by patients and the possibilities of introducing the solution into healthcare systems. The project will assess how wider use of the band for medical monitoring can improve medical data and facilitate healthier living. Ultimately this work will strengthen the strategy for bringing this product to market.

A consortium of industry, hospitals, researchers and stakeholders will demonstrate to medical staff how this wearable technology provides opportunities in addressing sleep apnea. The product will then be tested with extended monitoring applications, to show how ApneaBand provides patients and doctors with better assessment of sleep habits and screening of sleep disorders.

Impact

The benefits for patients and doctors include an affordable, easy to use solution that promises to increase the practice of testing for, and diagnosis of, sleep apnea. Patients who discover they have sleep apnea can take measures to treat the problem and avoid associated comorbidities. Better detection and prevention of complications mean savings for payers as well as a benefit for society, as loss of productivity is reduced.

Why this is an EIT Health project

EIT Health is eager to support innovations that make diagnosis easier and more affordable. ApneaBand is aligned with the EIT Health Focus Area of “Towards Health Continuum Care Pathways” because it encourages early detection of the underdiagnosed problem of sleep apnea, and that can lead to improved treatment.

External Partner:

• Airfan