Validation of radar technology as a new tool for wireless sleep assessment

Currently, two major methods are used to objectively analyse sleep. The gold standard is polysomnography, where different stages of wakefulness and sleep are defined by changes in numerous physiological functions (i.e. brain activity (EEG), eye movement (EOG) and muscle tonus (EMG)). Actigraphy defines wakefulness and sleep based on activity-inactivity. Actigraphy is an affordable technology, but it displays poor specificity compared to polysomnography parameters.

Radar is a new technology for the clinical study of sleep and wakefulness. Radar monitoring is affordable, easy-to-operate and easy-to-score. However, it is not known if this technology generates reliably scored data. This project will validate Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband pulse-Doppler radar technology against polysomnography and actigraphy and evaluate whether the participant-specific sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity are higher for radar technology compared to actigraphy.

If the radar technology proves to give high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity compared to polysomnography, this non-invasive technology can be used in sleep medicine and sleep research for several consecutive days. In particular, this can be an essential tool for certain groups such as demented, psychotic and critically ill patients.

Publications from this project

Validation of sleep stage classification using non-contact radar technology and machine learning (Somnofy®). Toften S, Pallesen S, Hrozanova M, Moen F,  Grønli J. (2020). Sleep Medicine [Epub ahead of print]

A Pilot Study of Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband Radar Technology as a New Tool for Sleep Assessment. Pallesen S, Grønli J, Myhre K, Moen F, Bjorvatn B, Hanssen I, Heglum HSA. (2018). J Clin Sleep Med 14(7):1249-1254.