Sleep Apnea Monitors

Some setups for home testing require a prescription from your doctor, preferably a sleep specialist who has ruled out the need for a full overnight sleep study.

They're usually provided by a local sleep center or sent to your home.

After returning the test, a medical professional will read the recordings and write a report for your doctor.

The alternative is to buy an inexpensive sleep apnea monitor and give the results to your doctor or sleep clinic.

Some clinics rent out the more complex appliances.

These tests vary greatly in terms of what and how they measure. Here is a sample of some of the models out there.

SNAP Test (Sleep Apnea and Snoring Analysis): The wireless ARES straps on to your forehead and includes a nasal cannula.

Together they measure and record oxygen saturation, pulse rate, head movement, head position, snoring sounds, and airflow.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a sleep apnea screener device for home testing, called SleepStrip.

It is also known as the "electronic mustache" because of its appearance, and it traces nasal airflow to keep track of full or partial apneas for the purpose of identifying people at high risk of sleep apnea syndrome.

The SleepStrip contains: A built-in microprocessor to analyze the breathing patterns of the patient.

Thermosensors for sensing airflow, one for each nostril and one for the mouth.

A display to show the recorded results to the physician, and a three volt lithium battery to power the unit.

There are also two adhesive "wings" to hold the SleepStrip to the upper lip.

Another sleep apnea monitor is a wristwatch-like device worn on the wrist with two probes that attach to your fingers. The Watch-PAT100 measures and records pulse, oxygen saturation, actigraphy (movement), and changes in blood volume that occur when you stop breathing.

A dime-size microphone affixes to your throat with double-sided tape to record snoring. And a small, plastic patch on your chest measures movement.

In the assessment of patients with sleep disorders, it is essential to obtain objective, accurately measured data on the patient's daily life.

The recent advent of the Actiwatch and Actigraphy software has made this possible - it is now possible to measure a person's activity, environmental temperature, light levels, mood state all by means of a device that looks and fits like a wrist watch.

By means of a simple device, similar to a wristwatch, patients can be effectively screened for the presence of breathing related sleep disorders.

...Small and portable design won't affect your sleep

...Record the blood-oxygen saturation and pulse rate in real time

...Store the measured data and transfer to a computer

...Use software to analyze blood oxygen and pulse rate statisticsspecially designed to help people self-diagnose in their home

...Back-lit, digital display includes day and date

...Offers vibrating alarm, ringing alarm, or both

...Includes software to help you track your sleep patterns

...Digital watch monitors your sleep patterns to help you wake up feeling refreshed

...Monitors physical data and wakes you at an optimal almost-awake moment.

Home pulse oximetry is a widely accepted and important component of both polysomnography (PSG) and PM. However, when it is more valuable as a diagnostic tool when used in conjunction with another apparatus.

Ambulatory Sleep Studies: Respiratory related sleep disorders such as OSA can be now be diagnosed in the comfort of your own home through the use of the Embletta© Portable Diagnostic System (PDS).

This system uses a pocketsize digital recording device attached to a belt system that the patient wears to bed.

It is fast becoming the Gold Standard in the ambulatory screening for sleep disordered breathing.

Sleep apnea monitors can give strong clues to the severity of your sleeping disorder, and the convenience and inexpensive cost of home testing should make the diagnosis of conditions like sleep apnea more accurate and effective.

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