A technology has been developed that can accurately diagnose sleep apnea at home using a smartphone app.

A research team led by Professor Youngjae Byun of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at UNIST (President Yonghoon Lee) recently announced that they have developed an abdominally attachable sleep apnea diagnosis system using an electromagnetic wave-based sensor as a smartphone app.

This system can sensitively detect changes in various biomarkers with just one sensor, and can diagnose sleep apnea with an accuracy of over 91% compared to tests at existing sleep centers.

Simply attach it to your abdomen and you can diagnose sleep apnea yourself by analyzing your sleep data through a smartphone app. This is a technology where the entire process, from sensor operation to AI-based data analysis, is done in real time.

Previously, users had to wear multiple sensors at a sleep center or hospital and undergo sleep apnea tests while sleeping, which was inconvenient and expensive. Furthermore, in Korea, this test was only covered by health insurance once a year, so its use was limited.

However, the abdominal attachment diagnostic system developed this time is small and light, so it can be conveniently used in daily life. Unlike foreign companies' apps that diagnose sleep disorders based solely on recorded sounds during sleep, this system has proven its differentiated technological prowess by accurately analyzing sleep apnea through a sensor attached to the abdomen.

The research team obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety just seven months after developing this digital healthcare technology. While it usually takes about 1 year and 6 months to obtain approval for diagnostic assistance medical devices, the rapid completion of the review process has earned the MFDS recognition for its technological prowess and potential.

Professor Byun Young-jae said, “The goal of the research is to improve people’s health and quality of life through advanced biosensor technology,” and “This approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is an important opportunity to recognize our technological prowess.”

He also said, “Research should not remain in the laboratory, but rather be commercialized to create value in science and technology,” adding, “We will continue to focus on commercializing research results.”

Meanwhile, SB Solution Co., Ltd., a UNIST technology startup founded by Professor Byun Young-jae, is focusing on jointly developing this technology and commercializing various medical devices. In particular, it is expected that the development of this abdominally attached sleep apnea diagnostic technology will play an important role in promoting national health and improving sleep quality.