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Polysomnography (PSG) is widely considered the gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea and determining eligibility for Inspire® hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy. Yet this case study highlights how equipment artifacts and single-night variability can lead to misleading results with serious clinical consequences. A 59-year-old patient with longstanding OSA was initially deemed ineligible for Inspire® after a PSG suggested central apnea predominance. Upon re-examination, the effort belts were found to have produced flat signals that misclassified obstructive events as central apneas.
To clarify the diagnosis, the patient underwent two nights of home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) with the Wesper Lab system. Both studies confirmed severe OSA with minimal central events, contradicting the initial PSG. This evidence secured insurer approval for Inspire® therapy, leading to successful implantation. The case underscores the importance of integrating clinical judgment, data review, and complementary tools like HSAT to ensure accurate patient selection, avoid treatment delays, and expand access to advanced therapies such as Inspire®.
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Total Sleep Time (TST) is a cornerstone metric in diagnosing and managing sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It reflects only the minutes a patient spends asleep, excluding wakefulness, making it critical for accurate interpretation of indices like the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and hypoxic burden. At Wesper, TST is determined through an FDA-cleared, AI-powered sleep scoring platform that analyzes physiological signals from our wireless biosensors and pulse oximeter.
Using deep learning algorithms trained on thousands of gold-standard polysomnography (PSG) studies, the system segments data into 30-second epochs, classifies them into Wake, N1, N2, N3, or REM, and calculates TST by summing all sleep stages. This approach mirrors manual scoring by certified technologists but provides a standardized, automated, and scalable solution for home-based diagnostics.
Validation studies confirm the reliability of this method, showing a 95% correlation with expert scorers, a mean absolute error of ±20 minutes, and epoch-level agreement exceeding 85%. Sleep stage classification also demonstrates strong sensitivity and specificity across stages, from light NREM to REM sleep.
By delivering clinical-grade accuracy outside of the sleep lab, Wesper empowers providers with real-time, validated insights that reduce diagnostic delays, improve patient access, and support more informed treatment decisions.
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RIP SUM (Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography SUM) is a non-invasive method for monitoring respiratory effort and airflow, widely used in sleep apnea diagnosis. This technique combines signals from thoracic and abdominal sensors to measure respiratory effort and airflow without requiring facial sensors. Validated by studies and included in AASM guidelines, RIP SUM provides reliable data on airflow mechanics, distinguishing between obstructive and central apneas. Devices like Wesper LAB leverage this principle to deliver real-time, accurate respiratory monitoring, offering advantages over PAT and PPG technologies by focusing on direct physiological signals, unaffected by peripheral factors or heart arrhythmias, and ensuring high diagnostic accuracy in clinical and home settings.
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This article explores the significant impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on men's health, highlighting the increased risks of cardiovascular complications, hormonal imbalances, and mental health issues. It delves into how OSA, characterized by repeated airway collapses during sleep, leads to poor sleep quality and a host of serious health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The article also discusses the importance of early diagnosis and tailored treatment options, such as CPAP therapy and lifestyle changes, to mitigate these risks and improve overall health outcomes for men.
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Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by intermittent pauses in breathing due to a failure of the brain's respiratory control centers. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the pauses are caused by physical blockages in the airway,...
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