Game-changing sleep-monitoring pyjamas from the University of Cambridge are here to help people sleep well. A team of researchers has developed a smart device to detect sleep disorders accurately and in a non-invasive way using graphene ink and artificial intelligence.
Polysomnography sensors and at least one night in hospital are currently required to assess sleep quality. But in the not-too-distant future, assessment could be done in the comfort of your own home with a pair of smart pyjamas.
Scientists at the Graphene Centre of the University of Cambridge, led by Italian researcher Luigi Occhipinti, have developed a prototype that is extremely reliable, comfortable and easy to use.
This device could pave the way for a new generation of instruments for monitoring biological functions. As we know, there are other wearable “devices” out there that can provide information on sleep. But such devices can only infer sleep quality and aren’t effective when it comes to accurately detecting disorders, according to the British researchers.
A “collar” to analyse sleep qualityUn “collare” per analizzare la qualità del sonno
As reported in the scientific journal PNAS, the pyjamas are made of a washable fabric and a series of state-of-the-art sensors. Their distinctive feature is a soft collar that uses graphene ink to identify six different types of sleep, from normal to disordered.
The researchers had previously developed a similar device for people with speech disorders, such as stroke or laryngeal surgery patients. They adapted the device, successfully developing an effective system for sleep monitoring and diagnosing sleep-related disorders.
The sensors embedded in the collar detect changes in skin resistance caused by breathing, without the need to be fitted tightly to the body. This means that the device even works when the pyjamas are worn loosely around the neck and chest.
Monitoring sleep with artificial intelligence
One of the key features that make this device effective is the artificial intelligence programme SleepNet, which doesn’t need to be connected to a computer or mobile phone.
The algorithm accurately identifies six sleep behaviours (normal, mouth breathing, snoring, teeth grinding and two types of sleep apnoea), while ignoring accidental situations such as coughing or involuntary vocalisations.
When put to the test, SleepNet showed enormous potential, identifying sleep states correctly in more than 98% of cases. What’s more, the device is affordable and can be reused over and over again.
It is estimated that around 60% of adults experience sleep problems, with a considerable number of working days lost every year as a result. Moreover, it has been proven that people who sleep badly are at greater risk of conditions like high blood pressure and depression.
Smart pyjamas could be a game changer, enabling millions of people to sleep better and reduce sleep problems in a simple and accessible way.
