Sleep Surveillance: Exploring the Importance and Ways of Monitoring Sleep

In the hustle of our daily lives, sleep is an oasis of comfort and tranquillity - a magical realm where our bodies heal and recharge. It's crucial for our physical well-being, as it helps our cells and tissues regenerate. During sleep, our bodies produce proteins and growth hormones that promote physical restoration. But sleep isn't just about the body; it's also essential for our minds.

When we sleep, the brain strengthens recently learned information, transferring these memories from short to long-term storage. Did you know that our brain continues to work on unresolved problems and tasks, leading to new insights when we wake up? In general, a healthy amount of sleep can affect our everyday performance and is essential for maintaining good mental and physical health. Monitoring this phenomenon can allow us to understand the benefits of sleep and its anatomy. 

However, people of all ages are increasingly affected by sleep disorders such as Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and Narcolepsy. The elderly population even grapples with heart diseases, which can put them at risk of experiencing strokes while asleep. By monitoring their sleep patterns, the elderly can ensure they receive timely intervention and potentially prevent adverse outcomes, including the loss of precious lives. 

To measure the quality and quantity of sleep, diagnose disorders, doctors utilise the Polysomnogram (PSG) and Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) to conduct Sleep Tests. Let’s explore what this looks like! 

Exploring the Sleep Test 

According to Green et al. (2022), PSG is an overnight sleep test typically done in hospitals while HSAT is done at home. Both setups involve a complex system of wires, monitors, and electrodes. Each sensor is connected to different parts of the body and serves different functions. For example, a pulse oximeter is connected to the finger to measure oxygen saturation level (SpO2), and Electrodes (EMG) are connected to the legs to measure leg muscle activity. 

While these measurements have proven to be accurate, the process of setting up these sensors is very time-consuming and uncomfortable for the patient. Imagine the inconvenience of taking 1 hour to set up a bunch of wires and sensors and the discomfort of having them taped to your body while asleep! This may ultimately affect the accuracy of data and diagnosis as changes in sleep quality may arise due to discomfort and distractions. 

Monitoring Sleep with Actywell

Here at Actywell, we develop the idea of using in-ear wearables to measure the quality and quantity of sleep. Our product, Hera Leto ZzzBuds (HLZ) is an all-in-one device designed to revolutionise your sleep experience.

Like most of our other products, HLZ offers comprehensive vital sign monitoring, including, heart rate, heart rate variability, SpO2 per second, snore detection, and respiratory rate. Beyond this, an important feature of HLZ is that it provides support for Positional Therapy (PT). 

PT, a non-invasive approach to treating sleeping disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), simply requires a change in sleeping position. Instead of sleeping on their back (a supine position), PT promotes sleeping on one’s sides, which allows OSA patients to return to normal breathing. 

HLZ also provides valuable data on sleeping patterns, including head position/angle, sleep stage, and sleep duration. Working with sleep clinics and hospitals, healthcare professionals can use this data to take proactive action to manage their patients’ sleeping disorders. For example, suppose the data finds that a user snores heavily, sleeps in a supine position, and has unusual SpO2 per second level. In that case, healthcare professionals may engage in PT by adjusting their sleeping position accordingly. Ideally, the user’s sleep data will progressively show improvement as a result of such intervention.

Therefore, by leveraging the power of PT and utilizing the insights derived from sleep pattern data, HLZ empowers sleep clinics and individuals to proactively take control of sleep and avoid costly and potentially invasive medical operations!

You may be skeptical that a device capable of measuring such a wide range of data with high accuracy must be bulky, uncomfortable, and difficult to use. But no! With the same accuracy and reliability as data obtained from traditional sleep tests, the Hera Leto ZzzBuds are designed to be sleek, slim, and comfortable, ensuring minimal user complications and distractions during sleep!

In collaboration with our B2B partners, the HLZ is currently in use by individuals from institutions such as hospitals and sports organizations to monitor their sleep quality and conditions. Keep a close eye on this page for more updates on the HLZ and our latest sleep research! 

Editor: Aidan Yuen, Ric Tse