ITRI unveils new point-of-care sleep device for apnea

According to the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), over one quarter of the population suffers from sleep disorders, with 450,000 of them affected by sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing during sleep.

Collapsible soft tissue along the throat can obstruct breathing as the body relaxes muscles during sleep, leading to the disorder.

Unlike traditional sleep studies where the patient is wired up and monitored overnight, the handheld diagnostic simply requires the pulse oximeter to be clipped onto a fingertip for a duration of six hours.

Measurements of the oxygen saturation in the blood could then be retrieved and assessed by medical personnel the following day.

ITRI has also presented a sleep respiratory treatment device, which could lower observances of sleep apnea. The device, to be used orally like a pacifier, removes the discomfort that comes with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks, which help keep a patient's airway open through the introduction of pressurized air into the throat.

Amid an ongoing A(H1N1) epidemic where most A(H1N1) flu-related fatalities have involved those with pre-existing conditions, the institute has also unveiled a point-of-care testing apparatus for metabolic syndrome that researchers hope will bolster disease prevention.

The apparatus can test blood samples at a touch of a button and churn out results within 15 minutes, saving patients a follow-up visit to the doctor's office.

ITRI will showcase the new technologies at this year's international medical and health care exhibition, MEDIPHAR Taipei, between Nov. 5 and 8.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email