World Sleep Day: Devices that could make a difference

To mark World Sleep Day, we take a look at a couple of examples of technology being used to try and help people get their 40 winks. 

Here’s a few examples of the sleep technology currently available:

Urgonight

UrgoTech has developed Urgonight, which aims to train the brain during the day to allow the user to sleep better at night.

Comprised of a wearable electroencephalogram (EEG)-headband and app, it helps people naturally learn to increase the brainwaves that impact sleep, using technology that has been clinically proven to help people to fall asleep 40% faster and cut nighttime interruptions by half.

The URGOnight headband uses two channels and dry electrodes that do not require the application of gel. It is placed above the sensorimotor cortex of the user’s brain to capture readings and is protected against ambient noise and interference toensure accuracy with the cables on its electronic board shielded to French Office of the Atomic and Alternative Energies standards. The system is designed to be used 20 minutes a day, three times a week. People place the headband over their head and connect it to the app. Within the app, users can see their brainwaves in real-time before they start the dedicated 20-minutebraintraining exercises. 

The sleep training programs consist of exercises inspired by various themes. Within the games, users are assigned tasks (that are triggered when SMR waves are produced) and see their results, scores and in real-time. There are several themes to choose from with tasks ranging from growing leaves on trees, herding jellyfish and drawing relaxing patterns.

Withings ScanWatch

Withings has developed a hybrid smartwatch to detect both the risk of arrhythmia (AFib) and sleep apnoea – developed by cardiologists and sleep experts.

ScanWatch is able to detect the presence of night sleep apnea episodes through an SpO2 sensor that emits and absorbs a light wave passing through blood vessels. All night long, it measures oxygen saturation levels to identify when levels are inadequate due to breathing disturbances such as sleep apnea.

In addition, ScanWatch provides sleep monitoring and analysis of sleep patterns, including the length, depth and quality of sleep. Users can access their Sleep Score in the Health Mate app that is based on sleep duration, depth regularity and interruptions. It also has a Smart Wake-up capability that wakes users with vibration alarms at the most optimal time in their sleep cycle.

Motion Pillow

The Motion Pillow has been developed for anyone struggling with chronic snoring. The Solution Box detects, records, and analyses snoring patterns, inflating the airbag in the pillow to create a sleeping posture aimed to provide unimpeded nasal breathing.

Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed

The Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed uses temperature technology to create a microclimate. Additionally, it senses movement and automatically adjusts firmness, comfort and support.

Dreem

Dreem is developed to try and 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. You can read our feature piece on Dreem, here. 

Modius Sleep 

Developed by Neurovalens, Modius Sleep actively stimulates sleep neurons in the brain in a bid to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and keep the user asleep for longer. The headset is worn for 30 minutes before bed and sends electrical pulses into the vestibular nerve that influences the areas of the hypothalamus and brain stem that controls the user’s circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.