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Pediatric Sleep Apnea Testing Device

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Home device for the diagnosis of pediatric sleep apnea that bridges critical healthcare gaps.

About the Technology

We’ve developed a groundbreaking home testing device for pediatric sleep apnea, addressing a critical gap in current healthcare practices. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severely impacts the growth and cognitive development of children, with obese children at significantly higher risk. Despite recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for screenings via overnight polysomnograms, such tests are costly, uncomfortable, and largely inaccessible, often leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

The need for this technology is clear. Currently, there are no FDA-approved home sleep tests for children, leaving many without a diagnosis. Adult devices have proven unreliable for pediatric use due to their complexity and lack of suitability for children. Our device will provide a reliable, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution that can diagnose moderate to severe OSA early, facilitating timely surgical interventions like tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, which are the primary treatments for OSA.

This innovation is expected to benefit patients, healthcare providers, and the broader health system. Early and easy diagnosis will improve patient outcomes and reduce the strain on healthcare resources by lowering both direct and indirect costs associated with untreated sleep apnea. Additionally, it will offer a much-needed solution for families in suburban and rural areas, who are often far from specialized sleep centers and bear the brunt of these challenges.

By enabling early, convenient diagnoses at home, we anticipate significant improvements in children's health outcomes. Economically, this device is expected to reduce the high costs associated with traditional diagnostic methods and the broader financial strain of untreated conditions. The HIT Fund support is helping us to quantify the tangible benefits of our technology, paving the way for its adoption and ultimately transforming the management of pediatric sleep apnea.

Team Members

Todd Coleman

Todd Coleman

Associate Professor of Bioengineering and, by Courtesy, of Electrical Engineering

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Sumit Bhargava

Sumit Bhargava

Clinical Professor, Pediatrics - Pulmonary Medicine

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