New wearable device may help treat common sleep problem: ‘Gold standard’

People suffering from sleep issues may soon be able to rest easier, thanks to a new wearable device that could revolutionize the way we get our shut-eye.

Unveiled at the American Thoracic Society’s 2025 International Conference, the device is a ring-shaped pulse oximeter that appears to be effective at monitoring obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other common sleep-related breathing problems.

Unlike traditional polysomnography (PSG) tests, which require overnight stays in sleep labs with numerous wires and sensors, this wearable allows for easy at-home use over extended periods.

It connects to a smartphone app, providing both patients and healthcare providers with access to sleep data.

“This offers the opportunity for shared decision making between patient and provider using digital medicine,” Ketan Mehta, head of product and engineering for Connected Wearables at Apnimed, said in a press release.

In a clinical trial, patients were meant to wear the device for 9 nights over a 47-day period.

However, 85% of participants used it beyond the recommended length of time, with one patient wearing it for 44 nights.

“One sleep specialist even reported that it may be better to collect one or two channels of data over 25 nights than 25 channels over one night, which is considered the gold standard with in-lab polysomnography,” Mehta said.

While popular devices like the Apple Watch and Oura ring have introduced sleep apnea detection features, they are not yet cleared for medical use.

This new ring-shaped device, however, is FDA-approved — bridging the gap between cumbersome clinical equipment and less reliable consumer wearables.

The introduction of this device aligns with a broader trend of developing comfortable, at-home sleep monitoring solutions.

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Cambridge introduced “smart pajamas” capable of detecting sleep disorders — including apnea — with 98.6% accuracy.

“Poor sleep has huge effects on our physical and mental health, which is why proper sleep monitoring is vital,” said Luigi Occhipinti, a professor at the University of Cambridge who led the research.

“However, the current gold standard for sleep monitoring, polysomnography or PSG, is expensive, complicated and isn’t suitable for long-term use at home.”

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often due to a blocked airway or poor brain signaling.

If left untreated, it can lead to serious health risks including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and daytime fatigue that increases the likelihood of accidents.