Research Spotlight
A New Way of Assessing Sleep Disorders
Date: 8/3/2009
For individuals with sleep apnea, getting a good night’s rest can be but an elusive dream.
A widespread sleep disorder, sleep apnea causes patients to stop breathing for short periods of time throughout the night leaving them groggy and unrested, no matter how early their bedtimes. The condition is as common as adult diabetes, affecting upwards of 12 million individuals in the U.S., and doctors suspect that many more cases of sleep apnea may be undiagnosed -- and untreated.
Now, a new technique developed by a scientific team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) uses information gleaned from an electrocardiogram (ECG) to diagnose sleep apnea and distinguish “healthy sleep” from “unhealthy sleep.” Known as a cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) system, the technique has been incorporated into devices and software which is manufactured by Embla Systems, Inc. a Colorado-based sleep diagnostic software and equipment company. The CPC technology is currently being distributed throughout Europe and the U.S.
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