Sweet Dreems: How a headband aims to solve sleep disorders
Ian Bolland spoke to Loic Pauthenet, growth and marketing manager of Dreem, which provides a solution aimed to address insomnia and sleep disorder.
The platform consists of two aspects – a headband to measure brain activity and an application. The headband is a polysomnography which measures the brain activity using seven sensors.
Pauthenet explains: “You have two parts of the device – the headband for measurement, and also activities. There’s meditation, relaxation, breathing exercises to try to fall asleep faster, stay asleep and wake up at the optimum moment. The core value of the product is the programmes that are in the application.
“Every night we gather the data and then every morning the user has access to a very precise sleep report with an infogram. You can follow this programme which is based on different therapies which are very well known and recommended by medical communities around the world.”
Habitual change appears to be at the centre of what Dreem is trying to achieve. Pauthenet explains the principles behind the treatment are the same as cognitive behavioural therapy in changing habits, behaviours and cognitive bias.
“We address anxiety and depression but it’s not focussed on this.
“It’s like a circle – anxiety, insomnia, depression, everything is linked. If we work on one part, then we would work on the other. This is pretty much the same principle.”
The company is now on its second version of the product. Pauthenet explains the headband was made to be comfier for the user – made from foam and other flexible materials. It also allows for the headband to be adjusted so it remains in place on the user’s head throughout the night, enabling better and more precise data collection. It also provides day-by-day recommendations and support during its eight-week programme from psychological experts.
Dreem 2 has been given FDA clearance with the company currently working towards CE marking in Europe.
“The headband weighs 130g. We wanted to be very precise and we wanted to have something that analysed sleep precisely without disturbing the user.
“You have the small part, the top arch with all the electronic components. Inside you have the monitor, the battery, everything.”
After it has achieved CE Marking, Pauthenet is hoping the platform can become the go-to treatment when it comes to sleep issues for patients.
“We want to be the treatment for sleep disorder and insomnia because all of the medical community and especially GPs are recommending sleeping pills; but they don’t really like it and know it is not good for the patient.
“We want them to understand that this solution, that CBT for insomnia is the best thing for sleep disorder and insomnia.
“We want to be agile and develop several solutions for the different uses we can have in the headband.”
Ultimately, Dreem would like to be adopted by healthcare services and system by providing accessible treatment to patients, and work with clinics, GPs and scientists is what Pauthenet can help Dreem achieve its objective.
“Putting electrodes on the head and sleeping with a machine is very complicated. You have to go to a sleep clinic and wait for a long time. It can cost a lot of money, and you don’t sleep in your own bed.
“With Dreem you can have the same accuracy but from your own bed, several days a week –every day if you want. We can provide new perspectives for a better care path and scientific research.”