I’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?
How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
11–20 of 170 posts
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#12Considering 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’m confident there’s more to it than just sensor availability. Compute power for starters, as well as the fact that a Series 1 accelerometer may not have the necessary resolution, etc.
Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation.
Ah, the ol’ “Apple didn’t build what I want, ergo, Apple doesn’t innovate” trope.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#13Considering 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.
However, reading on PAT (Peripheral arterial tone) and existing FDA-approved devices using that, they indeed use oxygen but not temperature. See for example "WatchPAT ONE" device.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#14I’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?
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#15The 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…
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#16Considering 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?
nothing really stops them from adding this feature to all Apple Watches… I’m confident there’s more to it than just sensor availability. Compute power for starters, as well as the fact that a Series 1 accelerometer may not have the necessary resolution, etc. Reserving it to Series 10 and 9 really exposes their lack of hardware innovation. Ah, the ol’ “Apple didn’t build what I want, ergo, Apple doesn’t innovate” trop…
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#17I’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?
They still don't have the regular oxygen monitor mode back yet because of a patent dispute. That might be part of it.
(My flimsy understanding is that blood oxygen measurement is how at-home sleep studies work?)
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#18I have no idea how some people can charge their smartwatch 1 or more times a day.
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#19I’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?
Re: How on-the-wrist sleep apnea detection works
#20Considering 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?