Diagnostic Sleep Studies

Somfit and Somfit Pro Home Sleep Tests

The Somfit system is a comfortable, small, and simple wearable device designed to allow you to easily perform a comprehensive sleep evaluation in the comfort of your own home. The system is intended to collect physiological information primarily to assist medical professionals in diagnosing various sleep disorders.

The core difference lies in the level of detail collected:

Somfit: This basic setup is ideal for screening, collecting essential physiological information.

Somfit Pro: This comprehensive system adds a breathing module (called RespiFit) to the basic Somfit device, capturing significantly more clinical data, particularly related to breathing mechanics.

What the Test Measures

The purpose of both devices is to gather data about how your body behaves while you sleep, aiding in the diagnosis of sleep disorders.

The standard Somfit measures key signals that include your blood oxygen levels, heart rate (pulse), movement, head position, and snoring. This approach can be used for a one-night screening if a doctor suspects breathing problems during sleep, or for a longer investigation (up to seven nights) if issues like insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep) are suspected.

The Somfit Pro adds detailed information regarding your respiration, including measurements of air moving in and out (airflow), and the breathing effort exerted by your chest and abdomen.

How the Test is Conducted

Since this is a home test, the process is straightforward using the Somfit App on your smartphone.

Preparation: Both the main device and its breathing companion (RespiFit, for Somfit Pro) must be charged. Before bed, you clean your forehead with a preparation pad.

Application: You attach the small Somfit device to a disposable adhesive sticker (electrode) worn on the center of your forehead. For Somfit Pro, you will also attach lightweight sensors, including a thin tube near the nose (cannula) and belts around the body to measure breathing efforts.

Recording: You run the Somfit App, enter a personal code provided by your doctor, and press the 'Start Study' button once you are ready to sleep. It is important to keep your phone charging on the bedside table and put it on silent to avoid disturbances.

Completion: When you wake up, you simply press the 'END STUDY' button in the App. The data automatically uploads to a secure server for processing.

Usefulness of the Data to the Doctor

After the test is complete, the recorded data is transmitted and analyzed by dedicated computer software. This analysis generates a detailed picture of your body’s physiology throughout the night, using information like changes in oxygen and heart rate, coupled with your movement and breathing patterns.

By evaluating these multiple streams of data, the doctor gains the necessary insight to assess if you have a sleep disorder, such as identifying breathing interruptions during sleep or patterns linked to poor sleep habits. This objective information helps the medical professional confirm a diagnosis and determine the best course of action or treatment.