The research team has developed a point-of-care health technology that offers a new approach for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The technology uses a wireless wearable multi-sensor suite and algorithm to monitor an OSA patient's biorhythms during sleep, predict a sleep apnea event several minutes ahead of its inception and gently stimulate the muscles responsible for the obstruction when a sleep apnea episode is predicted to be imminent. Central to the technology is the suite of sensors coupled with advanced "big data" prediction methods.
The current treatments for OSA include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and various forms of surgery. The approach offered by this technology has the potential to be far less expensive than CPAP or surgery, and is less invasive. This technology would provide at-home monitoring and treatment of OSA and would benefit the biomedical solution providers who are interested in providing cost-savings and at-home monitoring and treatment.
The major outcomes from the project are as follows: 1. The team has successfully completed the I-Corps training, and has identified the market, developed a clear set of value propositions and a business model based on customer discovery for a point of care wireless "sleepwear" for prediction and prevention of sleep apnea. The technology aims to address the acute need in the society for an economical, and efficient method for preventing and managing sleep apnea. The device is based on the specific competitive edge accrued from the from the PI's research. 2. Based on I-Corps training the PI team has successfully won business plan competition (OSU Riata business plan competition), underwent training offered by NCIIA, published peer reviewed publications, started a company, and submitted a patent application (to convert a provisional patent into an utility patent). More specifically, the PI received two international awards for technical innovation. The student team lead by the entrepreneurial lead for the project has won multiple recognitions at the state level (best healthcare business plan at the Governor’s cup) and the regional level (2nd place in the Riata business plan competition, 1st place in the most innovative technology award at the Riata competition, Oklahoma State University). The technology also received the Health Innovation Award at the Second International Conference in Health Innovation. 3. The project has also provided learning experiences to faculty, post-doctoral associate as well as students interested in technology commercialization. The technology development aspect of the project has also involved multiple undergraduate students. One of the undergraduate students involved inthis project comes from underrepresented groups.
