How Radar Technology is Bringing Intelligence to Wellness
Sleep takes up almost one-third of our entire lives. Sleep is crucial for forming new memories, maintaining concentration, and removing by-products from the brain. However, various problems prevent people from getting meaningful and restorative sleep, and the number of people suffering from sleep-related diseases and disorders is rapidly increasing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 to 70 million adults have sleep disorders, while around 22 million Americans suffer from severe sleep apnea. According to the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the numbers are only rising. There are about 700,000 people in 2021 with sleep disorders, a level that represents a 43% increase from about 490,000 in 2016 - a trend of 100,000 more sleep disorder patients every two years.
The increasing demand for quality sleep has led to a surge in the size of the sleep-tech market, which now includes a variety of sleep measurement devices. However, most of these technologies are wearable devices or products requiring direct contact with the body, which is cumbersome - especially while sleeping. In frequent cases, wearable devices are usually removed during sleep to allow for a recharge or are worn for long periods, causing discomfort and intermittent awakenings, eventually causing the wearer to discontinue wearing the device. These devices are no help unless worn or attached to the body. Thankfully, bitsensing has a solution.
Introducing the radar-based Smart Sleep Care AI Wellness solution, a complete sleep monitor minimizing such hassles while providing PSG-like accuracy.
Introducing the Radar Solution for Wellness
bitsensing' AI Wellness Radar is a radar sensor for sleep care built to detect sleep patterns based on breathing data while providing scores and health indicators for daily sleep quality. Differentiating itself from its competitors, it does not require a discomfort-inducing wearable device, which means it is free from any contact and even offers privacy protection since it does not use a camera. bitsensing's unique bio-signal detection radar technology detects events such as falls and apnea during sleep, can be used in dark or damp areas, and provides stable detection performance regardless of clothing or blankets.
The solutions’s sleep measurement is based on the most accurate sleep multidimensional test data on polysomnography (PSG). To date, approximately 1,000 sleep multi-tests have been utilized for sleep data analysis, and through cooperation with several hospitals, the AI Wellness Radar received data to advance its functionality.
What is PSG?
PSG(Polysomnography) is a test used in hospitals and sleep centers to detect sleep disorders by measuring physical changes occurring during sleep. Sensors are attached to the head, forehead, next to the eyes, and chin to detect brain waves, respiratory movements, and oxygen saturation to measure various sleep data during an overnight examination. Posture, leg movements, and overall condition may be videotaped along with the examination. The records obtained from the PSG are analyzed by a specialist to diagnose and determine a treatment plan for sleep-related disorders.
PSG delivers precise detection because various sensors are attached to different parts of the body. PSG has become the gold standard in the industry thanks to its accurate sleep data capabilities. However, it is performed in an environment not normally used for sleeping and requires multiple crowded wires, making it difficult to obtain accurate data when sleep is sensitive. Data and indicators required by specialists can be challenging to understand in general, adding the hurdle of complicated and uncomfortable wires interfering and causing issues in getting accurate data.
“The most serious limitation is that the overnight in-laboratory PSG is labor intensive, time consuming, and expensive. A single night's PSG may miss the diagnosis of mild OSAS, PLMS, parasomnias, or nocturnal seizures. PSG data and the patient's clinical findings may not be concordant.”
bitsensing AI Wellness Radar
bitsensing's 5cm x 5cm compact sized AI Wellness Radar solution is installed around the bed where the user usually sleeps, so there is no need to sleep elsewhere, as is the case with sleep multimodal testing to test for sleep disorders and diseases. It is a non-contact sensor detecting radar-based biometric signals without the hassle of wearing various items, allowing even sleep-sensitive users to obtain stable sleep data and receive care for sleep disorders.
The solution provides a dashboard representing the important factors obtained from sleep data analysis in terms of sleep score, health score, etc., making it easy for anyone to understand and grasp results intuitively. Designed in an ultra-compact size taking up no unnecessary space, itr can rotate 180° and has a wide 120° viewing angle to minimize blind spots.
The AI Wellness Radar does not use cameras, but rather detect breathing data to monitor user movement, thus protecting privacy. It offers real-time monitoring for sudden situations such as falls, slips, and apneas to alert relevant personnel and guardians of dangerous situations. It also provides information on the degree of dementia thanks to data on breathing patterns - the same type of care received in hospitals and nursing homes. This AI-based solution also identifies arousals during sleep, obstructive apnea, and central apnea.
Contributing to Smart Healthcare to All
The AI Wellness Radar is currently installed in various hospitals and nursing homes in Korea and abroad to manage the health of patients and the elderly.
In the Seoul Senior Tower center, the solution is contributing to creating a safer living environment for patients by providing notification services for those unable to walk or having difficulties in their daily lives through a daily monitoring system. This allows for prompt action to be taken in the event of a fall or other emergency - something that can be lifesaving.
Recently, the social service agency Lion Befrienders, located in Singapore, has set up the solution in their facility to validate the technology. Once validated, this solution will be fully deployed to help provide health and sleep management with stable biometric signal detection.
Beyond Sleep Care to Illness Prediction
An early detection and diagnosis are key in delaying the effects of Dementia to maximize the proper care and support while having this incurable disease. Early intervention allows those who are diagnosed to receive medications that may slow the disease progression. Additional benefits of early detection include participating in clinical trials, improving safety, and ruling out reversible and treatable causes of dementia.
To provide accurate prediction of this hard-to-catch illness, bitsensing is advancing the solution and working with hospitals, analyzing a range of sleep data and breathing data.
Radar Reimagined
bitsensing’s “Radar Reimagined” campaign reinforces our company’s dedication to designing and building cutting-edge radar technology transforming the healthcare industry. Our AI Wellness Radar solution was specifically created to elevate the quality of life for those suffering from sleeping disorders, those who want better understanding of their sleep, and those who will face the imminent effects of Dementia. Groundbreaking technology such as this show that the impossible is possible when there is commitment to innovation that creates a safe and conveniently connected world.