Apple recently introduced a feature for the Apple Watch that alerts users to potential obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), helping to raise awareness of sleep health, particularly among individuals without noticeable symptoms. However, there are important considerations for consumers using consumer-grade wearables or software as medical devices (SaMD) to detect sleep apnea: 

1) Limited Accuracy for clinical diagnosis

Consumer-grade wearables, including the Apple Watch, often exhibit moderate accuracy suited for general health monitoring rather than clinical diagnosis. For example, the Apple Watch can only detect severe OSA, potentially missing individuals with mild or moderate OSA and providing false reassurance. Even detected cases of severe OSA may not always be accurate, leading to potential misdiagnosis. 

2) Restricted Metrics and Misinterpretations

These devices typically measure basic health metrics with limited data points and precision. They often inaccurately derive critical sleep parameters based on standards from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). For smartphone acoustic apps, users should note that sleep measurements can be compromised by the presence of bed partners or pets sharing the same room.  This can result in misinterpretations and confusion when physicians attempt to explain inconsistencies in wearables or software-derived reports to patients. 

Many wearable devices and sleep apps track basic health data but may not be very accurate. They often estimate important sleep details using methods that don’t always follow trusted medical standards, which can lead to errors.

For smartphone apps that use sound (acoustics) to measure sleep, keep in mind that the presence of a bed partner, pets, or even background noises in the room can interfere with the results. This can lead to confusion, especially when doctors try to explain why the app’s reports don’t match your actual sleep patterns.

3) Limited Validations and Limitations

Caution is necessary when relying on consumer-grade wearables or even FDA-cleared SaMD for sleep assessment. Most are validated only in healthy populations, not in real-world clinical settings. While some devices or apps might be FDA-cleared, they are typically limited to assessing the risk assessment of OSA, not providing a definitive diagnosis.

4) Data Privacy Concerns

Health data collected by wearables may be vulnerable to breaches or misuse due to commercial considerations. Many consumer-grade devices and apps do not adhere to strict data protection protocols required in clinical practice, raising concerns about privacy. 

5) Restricted to General Health and Fitness Usage

Consumer-grade wearables or SaMD should be regarded primarily as tools for general health monitoring and fitness tracking. Individuals experiencing sleep issues are strongly advised to undergo a proper sleep test for an accurate medical diagnosis.

Ultimately, while consumer wearables can increase awareness of sleep health, they are not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and care.

What Belun is capable of ?

The Belun® Ring stands as the only FDA-cleared wearable for sleep stage classification within OSA diagnosis, achieving a high accuracy rate of 89% for moderate OSA and above. The Belun® Ring demonstrates impressive performance in sleep stage classification, achieving accuracy rates of 88% for Wake, 82% for REM sleep, and 90% for NREM sleep.⁽¹⁾ The device shows excellent sensitivity (91%) and specificity (88%) in detecting moderate to severe OSA.⁽¹⁾

Extensively validated across diverse patient populations^(1–4), the Belun® Ring has proven reliable for clinical and research applications in sleep medicine and is used by over a hundred organizations locally in Hong Kong and globally. This includes universities, academic research units, hospital authorities, clinics, dental offices, and elderly centers. Internationally, the Belun Sleep System has expanded to Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia), the U.S., and Latin America (Mexico) for both clinical and research purposes.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) Strumpf Z, Gu W, Tsai CW, Chen PL, Yeh E, Leung L, et al. Belun Ring (Belun Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA. Sleep Health. 2023 Aug;9(4):430–40. (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

2) Gu W, Leung L, Kwok KC, Wu IC, Folz RJ, Chiang AA. Belun Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020 Sep 15;16(9):1611–7.(https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

3) Ou YH, Ong J, Thant AT, Koo CY, Leung L, Sia CH, et al. : The Belun Sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk. J Hypertens. 2023 Jun;41(6):1011–7. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

4) Yeh E, Wong E, Tsai CW, Gu W, Chen PL, Leung L, et al. Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(10):e0258040. (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Interpreting Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Diagnoses with Consumer Wearables or Software: A Cautionary Perspective first appeared on Belun Technology.

Singapore Health Sciences Authority Approves Use of Belun Sleep System for evaluating Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

Belun Technology, with its mission to provide innovative sleep health solutions, is pleased to announce that the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has officially approved the Belun Sleep System for evaluating sleep-related breathing disorders. This landmark regulation allows individuals across Singapore to conduct sleep apnea tests from the comfort of their homes, a significant advancement in improving accessibility to sleep health diagnostics & also echoes their long-term strategy of preventive healthcare launched under the Healthier SG program. 

A Breakthrough in Sleep Health Access: Belun Sleep System Receives HSA Approval

With HSA’s approval, patients experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea — such as loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and disrupted sleep — can now access convenient and accurate diagnostic tools from the comfort of their own homes.

“Receiving HSA approval is a major milestone in the field of sleep health in Singapore. This advancement not only enhances patient comfort and convenience but also allows healthcare providers to diagnose sleep apnea faster and more efficiently. The ability to perform these tests at home can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, improving the overall quality of life for those suffering from sleep disorders. It aligns with Singapore’s emphasis on managing chronic conditions and promoting overall well-being.”  said Lydia Leung, CEO of Belun Technology.

Alignment with the current Singapore Government’s program

The approval of the Belun Sleep System aligns seamlessly with Singapore’s ongoing healthcare initiatives aimed at addressing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension through early detection and management.

1. Chronic Disease Management: Proper sleep is essential in managing chronic diseases. The Belun Sleep System empowers healthcare providers to enhance treatment outcomes by identifying and addressing sleep-related issues that can exacerbate these conditions.
2. Health Screenings: Integrating sleep health assessments into routine health screenings, especially for individuals at risk of conditions like OSA, would facilitate discussions of sleep issues related to overall health during routine health assessments. Sleep data from Belun Sleep System would also facilitate these discussions.
3. Lifestyle Counseling: Lifestyle counseling may be included in personalized health plans to discuss lifestyle factors such as stress management, which can impact sleep. Belun Sleep analytics would empower long-term monitoring for lifestyle changes, and the increase in user engagement would also promote a gradual shift with more long-term impact.

Simplifying the Path to Diagnosis

Sleep apnea, a serious but underdiagnosed condition, can lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Traditional diagnostic methods typically involve in-clinic sleep studies, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient.

The Belun Ring, leveraging Photoplethysmography (PPG) technology, addresses these challenges by allowing patients to:

• Perform simple at-home sleep tests.
• Monitor critical parameters such as oxygen levels, pulse rate, heart rate variability, and actigraphy.
• Receive accurate, clinically validated data for professional diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

The Benefits of Home Sleep Testing (HST)

The advent of HST represents a significant shift in how sleep apnea is diagnosed, making it easier for patients to access critical care without the constraints of traditional in-clinic testing. This innovative approach caters to the growing need for accessible, cost-effective, and reliable diagnostic tools

Here are the key benefits of HST:

• Convenience: Patients can conduct sleep studies in the comfort and privacy of their homes, eliminating the need for overnight clinic stays and minimizing disruptions to daily routines.
• Cost-Effective: Home sleep testing offers a more affordable alternative compared to traditional in-clinic sleep studies, making it accessible to a broader population.
• Timely Results: The streamlined nature of home testing enables quicker results, allowing healthcare providers to diagnose and initiate treatment earlier, which can significantly improve patient outcomes.
• Clinically Accurate: Equipped with advanced technology, HST devices such as the Belun Ring deliver clinically validated data, providing healthcare professionals with the precision needed for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment planning.

With this approval, Belun Technology is poised to redefine sleep health management in Singapore, making diagnostic tools more accessible and empowering individuals to take charge of their sleep health. This milestone reflects a leap forward in healthcare innovation and underscores the importance of sleep in overall wellness and chronic disease prevention.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/Supplement_1/A420/7182347)

5) “The Belun sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Congratulations to Belun as evaluation tool for sleep-related breathing disorder in Singapore first appeared on Belun Technology.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent and serious sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans. Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) are an effective treatment option, especially for those who cannot tolerate Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. However, the titration process—where the device is adjusted to find the optimal advancement that effectively reduces the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)—can be time-consuming and challenging.

The Challenge: Slow Titration Process

Traditionally, the titration of MADs has relied on periodic sleep studies or follow-up appointments, often spaced weeks or months apart. During this time, patients may continue to experience poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and associated health risks due to insufficient control of their OSA. The intermittent nature of monitoring makes it difficult for dentists to quickly determine if adjustments are effectively lowering the AHI, leading to a prolonged titration period and delayed therapeutic outcomes.

The Solution: Daily AHI Monitoring

Integrating AHI monitoring into the treatment process can revolutionize the titration of MADs, offering a faster and more precise approach. By utilizing Belun Ring, the advanced home sleep monitoring device, which can track AHI on a nightly basis, dentists can obtain real-time data on the effectiveness of the current MAD settings.

Key Benefits of AHI Monitoring:

1. Real-Time Feedback: Dentists can access AHI data, allowing them to make timely adjustments to the MAD. This continuous feedback loop accelerates the titration process by quickly identifying the optimal device settings.
2. Increased Patient Engagement: Patients become active participants in their treatment by monitoring their own AHI. This engagement can improve adherence to therapy and encourage patients to report back on their comfortability and any residual symptoms.
3. Reduced Time to Optimal Therapy: By identifying the correct titration settings sooner, patients can achieve therapeutic AHI levels more quickly, reducing the duration of ineffective treatment periods. This leads to faster symptom relief and improved overall health outcomes.
4. Customized Treatment Plans: Daily* monitoring allows for highly individualized treatment. Dentists can fine-tune the MAD to each patient’s specific needs, improving the overall treatment outcomes.
5. Improved Clinical Efficiency: For the dental practice, daily* AHI monitoring reduces the need for frequent in-person follow-up visits solely for MAD adjustments. This efficiency allows for better resource allocation and more focused patient care.
6. Mobile app BelunPro X*: To collect the daily AHI data, Healthcare professionals make the decision if the optional mobile app will be used to get the data remotely. BelunPro X is available at both Apple App Store or Google Play.

Conclusions

AHI monitoring is a game-changer in the management of OSA with MADs. Data empowers dentists to accelerate the titration process, ensuring that patients receive the most effective treatment in the shortest possible time. This approach not only enhances treatment outcomes but also improves the overall efficiency of OSA management in dental practices across the U.S.

Adopting Belun Sleep System in the titration process of MAD treatment could mark a significant advancement in the standard of care for OSA patients, offering a faster path to better sleep and health.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/Supplement_1/A420/7182347)

5) “The Belun sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Accelerating MAD Treatment for OSA Patients through AHI Monitoring  first appeared on Belun Technology.

The Belun Sleep System, an AI-enabled system for diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with sleep stages classification, has received approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India as a diagnostic tool. This clearance allows more convenient and accessible diagnostic solutions for millions of Indians who suffer from sleep disorders.

Advancing Sleep Health for Millions

For individuals aged 30 to 69 years, it is estimated that about 936 million people worldwide¹ suffer from some form of OSA. In India specifically, studies show that the prevalence of OSA in adults ranges between 4.4% to 13.7% depending on gender and region. This means a substantial portion of the Indian population in this age group could have OSA, with Indian men being particularly at higher risk, where the condition could affect up to 19.7%² of males in certain studies​. 

“This is a breakthrough in India’s approach to diagnosing sleep disorders,” said Lydia Leung, CEO of Belun Technology. “With Belun Sleep System available to the Indian public, we aim to help facilitate early detection and treatment of sleep apnea, resulting in quicker, more accurate diagnoses and better treatment outcomes for the millions of Indians living with untreated sleep disorders.”

Convenient and Accessible Diagnosis

Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA), a serious condition that affects breathing during sleep, is becoming increasingly common in India due to rising rates of obesity, stress, and lifestyle changes. Traditionally, diagnosis required overnight stays in specialized sleep clinics, which could be costly and difficult for patients to access. With the approval of Belun, patients can now undergo a sleep apnea diagnosis from the comfort of their own homes.

The newly-approved Belun Sleep System, with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and optical technologies similar to PAT to collect physiological parameters such as pulse rate, heart rate variability, oximetry, and actigraphy, allowing healthcare professionals to remotely monitor Apnea Hyponea Index (AHI), oxygen saturation levels (SpO2), pulse rate and autonomic nervous system (ANS), without requiring patients to visit a sleep clinic. The system provides a simpler, more affordable way for patients to receive a diagnosis, particularly in areas where access to medical services may be limited.

Key Benefits of Belun Sleep System :

• Comfort: Tests can be performed in the patient’s own home, allowing for a more natural sleep environment.
• Affordability: Home testing reduces the cost burden of traditional sleep studies, making it more accessible to a larger population.
• Timely Diagnosis: Faster diagnostic results enable earlier treatment for sleep apnea, reducing the risk of associated conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Reach in Rural Areas: The Belun device empowers healthcare providers to serve patients in underserved areas, expanding the reach of sleep health diagnostics.

Expanding Healthcare Innovation in India

The approval of the Belun Sleep System in India aligns with the country’s broader healthcare goals of improving access to diagnostic services through innovative technologies. As part of this initiative, Belun Technology, a data technology provider of sleep health solutions, is committed to working with local healthcare professionals to integrate these tools into regular practice.

“India’s healthcare system is undergoing rapid transformation, and we are proud to be part of this journey,” added Lydia Leung. “By enabling patients to perform these tests at home, we aim to promote preventive healthcare and ensure that advanced medical technologies are accessible to all.”

Next Steps

With the clearance of local regulation, Belun is poised to support the roll-out of the Belun Sleep System across India. The company will collaborate with healthcare providers to offer training and educational resources on the use of these diagnostic tools, launch awareness campaigns to engage the industry and inform the public about the importance of early detection and treatment of sleep apnea.

To cope with the massive Indian market, Belun has teamed up with partners to customize end-to-end solutions for local communities.

Sources :

1/ A.V, Benjafield et al, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2019; 2. Susanna Ng et al, PLOS One, 2015

2/ RedMed India

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/Supplement_1/A420/7182347)

5) “The Belun sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Indian Health Authorities Approved Belun Sleep System as Diagnostic Tools for Obstructive Sleep Apnea first appeared on Belun Technology.

At Belun, we are passionate about revolutionizing healthcare through technology. Our wearable AI-driven devices allow patients to effortlessly conduct sleep studies in the comfort of their homes. The data collected by our innovative ring is meticulously analyzed to produce detailed clinical reports, paving the way for proactive and preventive healthcare solutions.

“Sleep occupies a third of our time and is the most critical period when our body recovers; it is also a precious moment to detect health abnormalities. We are thrilled to be working with IHH to further Belun’s vision to provide evidence-based support to medical professionals to personalise treatment as well as health insights and alerts through wearable medtech and AI”, said our CEO, Dr. Lydia Leung.

For more information, please refer to here.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721823000906)

5) “The Belun sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post New round of investment for Belun Global Expansion & New Development first appeared on Belun Technology.

Startup World Cup is a series of global startup conferences and competitions powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. It consists of 70+ regional startup competitions in more than 20 countries worldwide, leading up to the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.

https://www.startupworldcup.io/taiwan-regional
https://www.startupworldcup.io/

Belun Sleep System is the first AI-enabled medical-grade wearable ring for sleep apnea diagnosis with sleep stages. It has been clinically validated in accredited sleep labs to provide accurate AHI, sleep stages, and autonomic nervous system response. Belun Sleep System enhances sleep health management in HSAT & remote patient monitoring with multi-night testing & reusable capability.

The Belun Ring is the most cost-effective, convenient, and comprehensive way for Home Sleep Apnea screening, diagnosis, titration, and remote patient monitoring.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers, have selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721823000906)

5) “The Belun sleep platform to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37071415/)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Awards Announcement – Belun won in Startup World Cup 2023 first appeared on Belun Technology.

Belun Technology will partner with Nexter Living (SCG’s subsidiary), a healthcare extension from the conglomerate. A new Brand, “DoCare” is created to cater to the elderly market with the concept of “Making Eldercare Affordable and Convenient for Everyone”. ³

Thailand is among the fastest aging countries in the world; of its 67 million population, 12 million Thais are elderly, according to the latest national statistics report from WHO.² Since 2016, Nexter Living has innovated the smart living series to tackle the aging population.

Source : DoCare’s Facebook

According to the Lancet’s report, 36% of the Thai population has AHI (apnoea-hypopnoea index) >= 5, posing new challenges to the country’s healthcare system with its 20% aging population issue. Research shows sleep health is critical for the overall immune system & treatment effectiveness of chronic diseases. Nexter Living partners with Belun® Ring because of its medical accuracy backed up by the US FDA 510(k) clearance. Belun’s CEO, Lydia Leung, shared: “Belun® Ring is a user and environmentally friendly PPG-based wearable with medical accuracy. Belun will offer a superb convenient option that encourages suspected patients to take action and kick start their treatment journey.”

Nexter Living will promote the Belun Sleep Platform to the local hospital, hotels, wellness centers, elderly homes & new property projects promoting preventive care living. Thailand has been a hub for global medical tourism, and the expanding expatriate communities will also be the target.

Solutions from SCG for the elderly Source: SCG’s website

Chronic Disease Management via AI Preventive Healthcare

Belun’s vision is to help people better manage their chronic diseases through artificial intelligence and big data analytics to alleviate medical expenditures due to the aging population. Its solution allows caregivers and patients to follow their treatment effectiveness, select personalized solutions, and enhance treatment compliance. Lydia further shared: “Long-term monitoring using medical-grade wearables can help people to identify abnormalities earlier to achieve preventive healthcare.” 

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including 1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592) and 2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040).

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization or home use, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

References

1. A.V, Benjafield et al, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2019; 2. Susanna Ng et al, PLOS One, 2015

2. https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/feature-stories/detail/thailands-leadership-and-innovation-towards-healthy-ageing#:~:text=Thailand%20is%20among%20the%20fastest,for%2010%25%20of%20the%20population

3. https://www.scg.com/innovation/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A3-%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88/

The post Belun Technology announces Nexter Living as its Official Distributor in Thailand   first appeared on Belun Technology.

Q : What parameters does the Belun Ring measure?

A: Pulse Oximetry (Pulse Ox) & Pulse Rate by photoplethysmography (PPG) technology, Actigraphy (by Accelerometer)

Q : From what parameters does the Belun Ring prediction algorithm base? 

A: Our AI algorithm comes up with the bAHI (b= Belun) and sleep stages through PPG, pulse oximetry, pulse rate, pulse rate variability, and actigraphy (Motion Intensity).

Q: Where is the autonomic nervous system response derived from?

A: Pulse Rate Variability

Q: Can Belun Ring differentiate N1, N2, and N3 during NREM sleep? 

A: Currently, Belun Sleep System is FDA 510(k) cleared for wake, NREM, and REM. 

Q: How to identify insomnia from the report?

A: Sleep stages: wake, NREM, and REM.

Sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) are also provided. 

How is Belun Ring different from others? 

A: Belun Ring is FDA cleared for OSA diagnosis & Sleep stage.

We would love to have you our Belun Ring and get your feedback.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun® Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3) “Belun® Ring (Belun® Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA”  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) “Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721823000906)

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Belun® Ring: Top 5 FAQ asked by U.S. Sleep Specialists  first appeared on Belun Technology.

Visit Belun Technology at SLEEP 2023, Booth #1201

• See a demo of the latest Belun Ring, a FDA cleared medical device 
• Talk to us about Belun Sleep System, a FDA cleared AI system for OSA diagnosis with sleep stages 
• Schedule a meeting with our team https://meetings.hubspot.com/lydia-leung/sleep2023
• Check out our poster presentation

Belun Poster Presentation

• Tuesday, June 6th, 5:00 – 6:00 PM
• Poster board #452
• Belun Poster Presentation : (0954) Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability (PRV) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA

Belun® Sleep System BLS-100 is FDA 510(k) cleared for in-home sleep apnea tests

It allows your patients to conduct sleep tests comfortably.

• FDA 510(k) cleared for both device and AI software
• Clinically validated in U.S. ^1-3 and Asian¹¹ populations
• Accurate and reliable
• Re-usable, without one-off consumable part
• Simple and easy to use
• Small and light-weighted
• Cableless design, negligible sleep disturbance
• It can be used for remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) through system integration

Scan to schedule a meeting with us during SLEEP2023.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3)Belun® Ring (Belun Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA (Accepted in SLEEP conference 2023, Abstract ID: 954).

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization or home use, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

The post Belun in SLEEP2023 @ Indianapolis 5-7 JUN 2023 first appeared on Belun Technology.

Current unmet needs in objective assessment of sleep architecture in patients with insomnia and Co-Morbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea (COMISA)

In fact, a high prevalence (39%-58%) of insomnia symptoms have been reported with OSA, and between 29% and 67% of patients with insomnia have an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of greater than 5.¹ The bidirectional consequences of either untreated OSA or insomnia further limits the treatment response of one another ^2,3. Higher management costs are expected for this group of patients with COMISA, which have worse outcomes (e.g., cardiometabolic abnormalities) than in patients with either OSA-alone or Insomnia-alone ^4,5. Moreover, clinicians often find it difficult to diagnose whether the pattern is of secondary insomnia or co-morbid insomnia based on recalled symptoms⁶. While the diagnosis of insomnia is mainly based on the international classification of sleep disorders on symptom-based assessment, polysomnography(PSG) was not a recommended diagnostic tool for insomnia due to its scarcity, high-cost and inaccuracy caused by the phenomena of “first night effect” by one day only PSG recordings. Therefore, no objective sleep assessment is currently available to diagnose insomnia and COMISA.

How Belun Ring Speeds up the Classification of insomnia patients

Now with Belun, the easy-to-wear Belun Ring (“magic ring” as described in the paper) was used as a digital sleep diary, and objective sleep data collected via multi-night analyses made the diagnosis of insomnia possible rather than solely by subjective estimates of symptoms. The sleep efficiency data and architecture would speed up the classification of insomnia patients and healthcare professionals to efficiently differentiate OSA, insomnia, and COMISA.

Cutting down the patient wait time by 2.3X time

This triaging model sped up (from 104 weeks to 45 weeks, as stated in the paper) the sleep assessment for sleep-disordered patients and also identified insomnia x OSA group, whose cardiovascular risk is highest and needs more attention, often treating OSA alone could only have a sub-optimal improvement in sleep. The novel triaging model helps to precisely identify patients with COMISA and provide additional care (e.g. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)) apart from conventional OSA treatment alone.

Continued Reading :

See our previous story about CBT-I to understand how Belun’s applications would help clinical psychologists.

Partnering with Belun :

Up to now, over a hundred organizations, including HK hospital authority hospitals, medical groups, clinic groups, dentists, and elderly centers selected to use the Belun Sleep System, Belun Ring, and Belun® remoVital monitoring system. Many doctors read our medical journal papers, including: 

1) “Belun® Ring Platform: a novel home sleep apnea testing system for assessment of obstructive sleep apnea” (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8592),

2) “Detection of obstructive sleep apnea using Belun Sleep Platform wearable with neural network based algorithm and its combined use with STOP-Bang questionnaire” (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258040),

3)Belun® Ring (Belun Sleep System BLS-100): Deep Learning-Facilitated Wearable Enables OSA Detection, Apnea Severity Categorization, and Sleep Stage Classification in Patients Suspected of OSA  (https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/Abstract/2023/06000/The_Belun_sleep_platform_to_diagnose_obstructive.16.aspx), 

4) Correlation of Pulse Rate Variability(PRV) and Heart Rate Variability(HRV) Metrics During Sleep in Subjects Suspected of OSA (Accepted in SLEEP conference 2023, Abstract ID: 954).

If you would like to know more about how to adopt Belun’s solution in your organization or home use, please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting by filling out the form below:

Sources :

1. Comorbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Challenges for Clinical Practice and Research | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/full/10.5664/jcsm.27772
2. Benetó A, Gomez-Siurana E, Rubio-Sanchez P. Comorbidity between sleep apnea and insomnia. Sleep Med Rev. 2009;13(4):287-293. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2008.09.006
3. Wallace DM, Sawyer AM, Shafazand S. Comorbid insomnia symptoms predict lower 6-month adherence to CPAP in US veterans with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath. 2018;22(1):5-15. doi:10.1007/s11325-017-1605-3
4. Prevalence of insomnia symptoms in patients with sleep-disordered breathing – PubMed. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11742923/
5. Quality of life in obstructive sleep apnea is related to female gender and comorbid insomnia – PubMed. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29352360/
6. Bjorvatn B, Jernelöv S, Pallesen S. Insomnia – A Heterogenic Disorder Often Comorbid With Psychological and Somatic Disorders and Diseases: A Narrative Review With Focus on Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges. Front Psychol. 2021;12:639198. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.639198

The post Belun Ring was adopted in the multidisciplinary management of OSA & Insomnia in Hong Kong public hospital first appeared on Belun Technology.