Signifier Medical Technologies partners with Sunrise for better sleep apnea diagnosis

Steven Loeb · May 10, 2023 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/56bd

Sunrise uses AI to analyze sleep apnea signals through a sensor placed on the chin

When I had to get my diagnosis for sleep apnea over 10 years ago it involved going to a sleep lab, first to determine if I had even had it, and then, again, to determine the right levels for the CPAP machine. I wish I could have just done the test at home, where I would have been more comfortable, and probably would have slept more. I also wish it had been simpler than being hooked up to a bunch of wires.

Luckily, there are a number of companies that now offer just that, including Sunrise, which allows for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from home through the use of artificial intelligence-powered technology that analyses apnea signals, including, mandibular jaw movements, from a single sensor simply placed on the chin.

Now the company has announced a partnership with with Signifier Medical Technologies, a medtech company focused on the development and commercialisation of solutions for patients with snoring and sleep-disordered breathing conditions.

This collaboration will involve combining Sunrise's AI solution with eXciteOSA, a device that delivers targeted Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to help people breathe better, even when they are awake, as well as Signifier Medical’s patient management portal, allowing healthcare providers to gather data on their patients, and provide them with tools so they can understand each patient's unique needs.

“We look forward to offering this innovative home sleep test to provide millions of patients suffering from OSA with easier access to diagnostics and personalized treatment," Akhil Tripathi, Signifier’s co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.

Founded in 2015, the Belgium-based Sunrise unveiled its technology one year ago exactly, and announced in February that it received FDA clearance for its second-generation home sleep test.

Signifier has offices in London and Needham, Massachusetts, and this partnership will help get Sunrise's product onto the market in the United Kingdom.

“We are excited to partner with Signifier Medical Technologies, starting with the UK market, and offer our innovative home sleep test to more patients suffering from OSA,” Laurent Martinot, CEO of Sunrise, said in a statement.

Sunrise has raised €26.4 million in venture funding, including a €17 million Series A in March from Kurma Partners, VIVES IUF, Namur Invest, Sambrinvest, IMBC, InvestBW, Sofinex, and the EIC Fund.

Other companies offering at-home sleep tests include Onera Health, which has raised $21.8 million, and Wesper, an FDA-cleared home sleep lab that uses wireless biometric sensors and algorithms that allow for an at-home medical diagnosis, which raised $9.6 million in November.

(Image source: hellosunrise.com)