A wireless patch-based polysomnography system for conducting overnight sleep studies

Current polysomnography (PSG) methods are limited to address high demand (eg: Covid-19 pandemic). We aim to test the usability of a wireless patch-based PSG system (Onera Health, NL), and whether the Onera PSG system can detect inspiratory flow limitation (IFL), and inspiratory duty cycle (IDC) as a quantifiable trait for UAO [Schneider H et al. ERJ 2009; 33(5):1068-76] and hypoventilation [Schneider H et al. JAP 2003; 285:11-19]. We developed a wireless patch-based PSG system consisting of disposable head-, chest- and leg-patches to simultaneously record EEG, EOG, EMG, SaO2, ECG, respiratory airflow and effort via bioimpedance (BioZ), snoring sounds, body position, and leg movements. Signals are stored on reusable electronic modules attached to each patch. We measured PSG hook-up time in 15 healthy laypersons (60% F, age 18-70 yrs). We also measured IDC in response to CPAP using BioZ in 3 male patients with mild OSA (AHI 13.5 SD 2.4/h). Mean hook-up time for applying all 3 patches was 3:08 min (SD: 42 sec). Fig. 1 shows BioZ derived airflow and effort detecting breaths with IFL. Detection of IDC demonstrated that CPAP reduced %breaths with IDCg0.5 in 3 patients (average 7%). We conclude that the Onera wireless PSG system is an easy to set-up solution for conducting overnight PSG, lowering the burden to conduct multi-scale sleep research studies, and performing clinical PSG at home or in the sleep lab.