Itamar Medical, an Israeli firm, released the latest model of its WatchPAT sleep apnea detection system. It’s indicated for use by patients at home to help clinicians diagnose sleep apnea without requiring a visit to the sleep lab. It uses Itamar’s Peripheral Arterial Tone (PAT) technology, which involves measuring the arterial tone changes in peripheral arterial beds. This data, along with that coming from an accompanying pulse oximeter and heart rate sensor, lets an algorithm detect obstructive as well as central sleep apnea.
The new WatchPAT 300 doesn’t require any nasal canula or chest belts, as other technologies, and it has been made more comfortable and intuitive to use. It is now able to measure PAT amplitude and pulse rate so as to allow it to identify sleep with and without rapid-eye-movement (REM). It provides clinicians with data on sleep stage architecture, efficiency of sleep, latency to get to sleep, and REM latency.
Because the technology is designed for use within the patient’s own home, it is hoped that results are more accurate and appropriate to base diagnosis and treatment on.
Link: Itamar Medical homepage…
Via: Itamar…
