How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
empirical.health
How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
1–10 of 170 posts
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#2Considering they use accelerometer for it, nothing really stops them from adding this feature to all Apple Watches, potentially even the Series 1, right?
Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation. I mean, we were talking about them measuring glucose levels for years and this is what we get as a new flagship feature?
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#3Considering they use accelerometer for it, nothing really stops them from adding this feature to all Apple Watches, potentially even the Series 1, right? Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation. I mean, we were talking about them measuring glucose levels for years and this is what we get as a new flagship feature?
I suspect they also need oxygen saturation (introduced in the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020) in order to make their overall sleep apnea detection algorithm work. Given that it only works with the Series 9 or above, it's possible they're also using the the temperature sensor as another input into their algorithm.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#4Is it released or they are waiting for fda approval?
Little unclear on macrumors.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#5Is it released or they are waiting for fda approval? Little unclear on macrumors.
Waiting for fda.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#6I wouldn't put a ton of stock into this, but it could still be useful. The WatchPAT device is purpose-built for this test and includes a full fingertip oximeter and while it's FDA-approved, it's still not very accurate. It's also a notoriously tricky condition to diagnose and can't really be done just by looking at numbers. I think there's value in the test being accessible to so many more people, it will likely have a positive outcome on detection and treatment, but I would not expect you to push a button and get a confirmed diagnosis.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#7Considering they use accelerometer for it, nothing really stops them from adding this feature to all Apple Watches, potentially even the Series 1, right? Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation. I mean, we were talking about them measuring glucose levels for years and this is what we get as a new flagship feature?
They absolutely could be segmenting features by generation even if they could introduce them into earlier products and it's pretty normal across the industry to do so, but "well, it seems to use the accelerometer" provides no evidence of that on its own.
Without knowing more details about the implementation, it may rely on combining data from other sensors as well, it may need a certain frequency/resolution from a sensor that's not available in earlier generations of hardware, it might place too much demand on compute or power to maintain prior products' expected behavior, etc
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#8The gatekeeping in the CPAP field is so insane.
1. Yes, we should regulate manufacturers intensely.
2. No, we shouldn't regulate to whom companies should be allowed to sell them. The defaults are good enough for most. Provide an easy to use control for max pressure and people will figure it out. Perhaps a knob?
I claim: During the past decade, the risk of being maltreated by a personally set-up CPAP unit has been far, far smaller than the risk of not being treated at all. (Ways to access these menus have been been shared online for 10+ years, many use them.)
I wonder how many premature deaths happen every year because of this - including secondary victims from traffic accidents.
These things should be $500 mass-market consumer units that you pick up at Target, Walmart, etc.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#9Considering they use accelerometer for it, nothing really stops them from adding this feature to all Apple Watches, potentially even the Series 1, right? Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation. I mean, we were talking about them measuring glucose levels for years and this is what we get as a new flagship feature?
I suspect they also need oxygen saturation (introduced in the Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020) in order to make their overall sleep apnea detection algorithm work. Given that it only works with the Series 9 or above, it's possible they're also using the the temperature sensor as another input into their algorithm.
Did Apple resolve the patent issue that disabled oxygen saturation in the Series 9?
Although it's possible that Sleep Apnea detection uses the oxygen saturation sensor but doesn't show its results directly.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#10I’ve always wished I could put Apple Watch into a “constant oxygen monitor mode” for sleep. That seems to be the obvious way to assess sleep apnea.
Anyone know why that isn’t the method?